Where surfing pros come from

Southern California’s Scholastic Surf league is divided into three areas: San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. Each high school team consists of six to nine shortboard men, three longboard men, two to three shortboard women, two to three longboard women, and one coed bodyboarder. Middle-school teams comprise nine shortboard boys, three longboard boys, two shortboard girls, two longboard girls, and three coed bodyboarders competing.

This coming weekend, San Diego high school divisions 3 and 4 will be competing in the surf at the Oceanside Pier in the second to last competition before the state championships, which will be held in late April at the Oceanside Harbor south jetty. Last year, San Clemente dominated the men’s shortboard, longboard, and coed bodyboard and the overall team honors in the San Diego A bracket. Carlsbad won the team women’s shortboard, while Coronado took top honors in women’s longboard.

Unlike many other sports, surfers can achieve professional status while very young. Standout Rachel Tilly of San Clemente High won her seventh individual title on the longboard in as many years — three in middle school, four in high school — and is now a world champion as a professional in the World Surf League.