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These local surfers have carved out impressive paths, from competing, traveling and sharing their adventure stories to bringing the community together and teaching others to hang 10.
By Sharon Stello
Laguna has long nurtured a community of surfers, with professional wave riders like Jon Rose, Jeff Booth and James Pribram calling this town home in recent years. Looking back, Hobie Alter got his start shaping surfboards in his parents’ Oak Street garage and the Brooks Street Surfing Classic is now in its 58th year.
But surfing isn’t just about competing. The following surfers are making an impact in other ways, from giving back while traveling to teaching the sport to the next generation or filling us with awe as they post videos of themselves catching impressive waves and exploring remote places, taking viewers along for the ride.
While it would be impossible to feature every standout surfer in town, here are just a few of the local watermen and women that are making their mark.
Nate Zoller
Professional surfer, writer and photographer Nate Zoller—who has spent the last decade-plus, as he says, “chasing waves, cultures and stories across the globe” for various brands and sponsors—grew up at the beach in Laguna, boogie boarding then skimboarding by age 7 and learning to surf a year later. At 13, Zoller went on his first surf trip with his uncle and he was hooked.
“Riding waves forces you to be completely in the moment and there is something therapeutic about that,” Zoller says. “This piece of energy has traveled thousands of miles across the ocean, and we ride it before it dissipates onto the shore to never be seen again. Each wave is different, which keeps it exciting and always changing. Riding a wave just satisfies the soul in a way that not many other things can, and it just never gets old.”
Zoller, 35, recently moved with his girlfriend to Seal Beach, but plans to return to Laguna soon.
“It’s the best place to come home to,” he says. “I’ve been traveling extensively for the last 10 years and, every time I come through the canyon and get to the stop light at Broadway and PCH at Main Beach, the smell of the ocean air just makes me feel at home. I love the beaches and the tight-knit surf community that feels like extended family.”
Rather than competing, he puts all his energy and money into travel. In fact, he first teamed up with Laguna adventure brand Roark for a surf trip to Iceland in the winter. That was almost 10 years ago and the partnership continues. Not one to shy away from the frigid temperatures, he recently returned from Norway, where he surfed in the Arctic Circle.
“I’ve surfed in some cold places like Alaska and Iceland, but Norway was on another level,” he says. “The air was below freezing most days and the water temp was around 37 degrees. Those cold water trips really make you work for it and, to be able to do what I love in a place so far removed from what people think of when they think of surfing, that’s pretty cool.”
Zoller makes a living out of sharing those experiences with others. He has served as an editor and writer for surfing magazines and worked on adventure films from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to New Zealand, Mexico, the Falkland Islands and Portugal. He also works with a few surfboard companies, offering feedback on design, and Roark, as a brand ambassador. “Wherever I end up, I make sure to bring [a] new product to test out and come back with video/photo assets as well as stories from the road,” he says.
Zoller has also volunteered during his travels, teaming up with the nonprofit Waves for Water. “Jon Rose, who started Waves For Water, is from Laguna as well. I’ve been going down to mainland Mexico for over a decade now and a lot of the area has small villages with the water source being stagnant wells,” Zoller explains. “Roark has a give-back initiative called Safecamp, and W4W agreed to give me some filters to bring down, so I went with my brother to install these water filtration systems at several elementary schools. We would surf in the morning and then install 500-gallon water tanks with filters in the afternoons.”
If he has one piece of advice to share, Zoller says, “Life is short. Once you find your passion, be sure to chase after it with everything you have.”
Go-to places in town
Laguna Surf & Sport for surfboard wax and sunscreen, The Taco Stand for a good al pastor taco; “I’m from south Laguna, so any beach that way. There’s [also] countless hiking trails
to name, but I will let you discover those
on your own.”
Favorite local surf spot
“I grew up surfing Thalia, so it will always
be a special spot to me.”
Favorite global surf spot
Fiji, Mexico, Tahiti and “pretty much anywhere … culture and the waves come together in harmony.”
Bucket list surf destination
Australia—“I think I’m going in September.
I can’t wait. I’m just scared I won’t ever
want to leave.”
Surfing style
“I try and keep my movements clean and efficient; I chase barrels in most of my travel destinations.”
His board
“My bigger wave boards are made by Chris Christenson. Stretch makes me some cool epoxy boards, Album just made me a fun asymmetrical board. I appreciate each different shaper’s approach and I think it’s beneficial to my surfing to keep it fresh.”
Other hobbies
Golfing with friends, diving around Laguna, skimboarding in the summer and photography
Hudson Saunders
Since graduating from high school this year, Hudson Saunders has already made an impression on the local surf scene, placing first in the Pro/Am division of the Brooks Street Surfing Classic in 2022.
“The Brooks is for sure my favorite contest. Having the whole town surrounding the event along with being able to surf heats with all the boys beats anything,” says Saunders, 18. “[I] can’t thank Brandy [Faber] enough for putting the contest on along with Laguna Surf & Sport—they crush it every year.”
When it comes to competing, Saunders made the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s U16 Juniors National Final a couple of years ago and has picked up some regional titles and solid finishes over the years. He’s also currently ranked No. 81 in the World Surf League Men’s Qualifying Series.
“I definitely hope to get that rating up in the future, but you have to start somewhere,” he says. “I am not all that focused on the QS at this point. I am heading to college in the fall and plan to still surf the QS as well as college events. … Overall, [I’m] proud of these achievements and excited to build on them.”
He plans to attend San Diego’s Point Loma Nazarene University and join the surf team. It makes sense that he would carve this path: Before he was in kindergarten, he was already riding waves.
“Surfing came into the picture when I was around 3 years old. My dad would put a life jacket on me, put me on the nose of his board and paddle out to Rockpile on smaller [wave] days. I was terrified. I would yell for my mom and my dad would tell me that ‘There is no crying in surfing,’ ” he says, laughing now as he recalls it. “… Ever since then, it’s become the constant staple in my life over the years and I love it.”
Saunders says he feels fortunate to have grown up here. “The camaraderie of Laguna is awesome,” he says. “Being such a small town, the community is very strong and has a lot of passion towards the ocean. We have great beaches and people. I love being in the Laguna ‘bubble.’ ”
Notably, he’s on the Laguna Surf & Sport team. “I am still sponsored by them and love being a part of the family,” Saunders says. And, while he rode for Quiksilver for seven years, he recently switched over to Roark. “[I’m] super happy to be a part of a brand with strong Laguna roots [and] excited for the future with them,” he says.
Saunders also enjoys traveling to surf, from Mexico to Bali, Costa Rica, Hawaii and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. “Fiji and Barra de la Cruz in Mexico are my two favorite spots,” he shares. “… [And] I had a lot of fun in Barbados—shockingly good surf for the Caribbean.”
Saunders says surfing always makes him feel better. “No matter what, it always brings up the mood,” he says. “Along with being in nature, [it’s] just never a bad time and you can have fun alone or with a group of friends.”
Go-to places in town
Laguna Surf & Sport—“I have logged a lot of hours in that store.” Also South Swell Donuts and he misses Banzai Bowl, which closed last fall. “My favorite steak is at Selanne [Steak Tavern] and we eat at Wine Gallery a lot. For takeout, we do Thai Bros. the most—great Thai food; they keep getting better and better. I love the snacks at The Salt Horse as well, [and] sushi at Seabutter.”
Favorite local surf spot
“Nothing quite beats home—we do get some great waves here. Even if it’s not great, being able to surf with all my buddies is at the top for me.”
Favorite global surf spot
Tavarua, Fiji
Bucket list surf destination
Australia and the Maldives
Surfing style
“I am working on my power game [and] throwing more spray. I could use a few more pounds, but I am happy with technique and plan to get stronger and faster.”
His board
Currently trying out different ones. “Hoping to get it all dialed in soon.”
Other hobbies
Golf, pickleball with the boys and
snowboarding in winter
Lilie Kulber
Arising junior at University of California, Los Angeles, Lilie Kulber deftly balances surf competitions with studying chemical engineering.
Not only is she on the UCLA surf team, but she also reigns as the 2023 National College Women’s Champion, a title she claimed at the National Scholastic Surfing Association event last June. But the accolades don’t stop there. She’s also ranked No. 21 in the World Surf League Women’s Qualifying Series. And she was on the USA National Olympic Junior Surf Team in 2022, helping the team place third. She also has sponsorships from T.Patterson Surfboards to Killer Dana Surf Shop and Salty Crew swimwear and clothing.
Her goals are clear: to win a Qualifying Series event, make it into the Challenger Series, eventually join the Championship Tour and compete in the Olympics some day.
She’s come far in the past decade. “I started surfing at Doheny State Beach during a summer surf camp in 2011, and it quickly became a passion I’ve pursued ever since,” she says. “… Surfing is where I find peace and freedom.”
On the academic side of things, Kulber, 19, is pursuing a career path to address climate change and explore social impact ventures, possibly even starting her own company. At UCLA, she works with a group called Clean Consulting. “Our mission is to empower and equip companies to pursue sustainable and environmentally and socially responsible business practices,” she explains. “As the director of client relations, my role involves engaging with companies eager to enhance their sustainability efforts.”
Kulber returns home to Laguna every summer and on school breaks. “I cherish Laguna Beach for its strong sense of community, vibrant arts scene and the breathtaking beauty of its trails and coastline,” she says.
This summer, she’s enrolled in courses at UCLA and working in a chemical engineering lab on campus that specializes in sustainable cement production. But she won’t let that schoolwork weigh her down. She recently took a two-week boat trip in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia and is planning a road trip across the coast of Portugal and Spain, as well as traveling to Barra de la Cruz in Mexico to ride a few waves.
Go-to places in town
“For fitness, I love hitting Vessel for spin classes and a cold plunge; I absolutely love their teachers and the vibe there. … Favorite coffee shop is Laguna Coffee [Co]. Besides having the cutest merch/store, they also have the best iced coffee. My go-to beach is probably Woods Cove. I love going for a sunset swim there. Favorite restaurant is Active Culture: Their Wholesome Bowl never misses.”
Favorite local surf spot
Agate in Laguna
Favorite global surf spot
Thunders in the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
Bucket list surf destination
Australia
Surfing style
“I’m definitely more of a back-footed surfer and would consider myself more of a power surfer.”
Her board
“I’ve recently switched to T.Patterson Surfboards, which has been a game changer. I have been loving … [Italo Ferreira’s] IF15 gold model for California waves.”
Other hobbies
Health and fitness, tennis, cooking, reading, creating content and playing the piano
Chance Gaul
Adrenaline-fueled videos show Chance Gaul shredding waves, getting air on a pit bike and flying down Laguna’s curvy roads on his skateboard, occasionally nailing a 360 spin or jumping over a bush.
The professional surfer and skateboarder creates content featuring various action sport brands, but, with homes in both Laguna Beach and Palm Springs, he also works as a real estate agent and manages the Palm Springs Surf Club, a wave pool for surfing started by a local.
“The Palm Springs Surf Club has been such an amazing project to be part of from the beginning, thanks to Laguna legend James Dunlop,” Gaul says, adding that he feels fortunate his passion has led to a career in the wave pool industry.
“I’ll be doing this for a long time. When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life,” he says.
Gaul, now 27, started surfing while he was still a toddler. “My dad, Aaron Gaul, is an avid waterman and had me surfing, skateboarding and skimming by the time I was 2 1/2 years old,” Chance Gaul recalls. “We would wake up early and I would stand on the skateboard in between his legs down to the beach.”
He quickly fell in love with both sports. “There’s no feeling in the world like riding fast down the line on a surfboard,” he says. “It’s the closest thing to walking on water.”
He’s sponsored by Volcom, Electric sunglasses, Grape Boards, Creatures of Leisure and, of course, the Laguna Surf & Sport team.
“Being part of the LS&S team is like being part of a tight family,” he says. “My uncles and dad were part of the Surf & Sport team. I grew up hanging out in the shop as early as I can remember. It’s been awesome to see multiple generations cycle through LS&S and, once you’re part of the team/family, you represent for life.”
While he doesn’t compete much, he loves taking part in Laguna’s contests, like Brooks Street Surfing Classic and the Spring Fever Surfabout. When it comes to riding boards with four wheels, he says, “I used to travel constantly for my skateboarding career, but as I get older, it’s much nicer to fall on water when surfing than [on] hard pavement.”
Gaul credits growing up in Laguna with helping to shape him into the person he is now. “My mom saw the impact the Laguna Beach community had on me in such a positive way, and did everything she could to keep me in this incredible environment.
“… Being a part of the tight Laguna community not only helped curate an amazing childhood, but helped lead to my success as an adult. There have been endless opportunities that have come from this amazing town and I will forever be grateful.”
He’s now part of the Meital Taub Luxury Group with Livel Real Estate and enjoys helping people find a home. Gaul is also a new dad: He and wife Sophia welcomed a son, Walker, earlier this year.
“Being a dad is the most incredible experience in the world,” he says. “… Walker is a constant motivator for me and I hope to showcase what a hardworking father and good husband should be.”
Go-to places in town
“Laguna Surf & Sport is a staple in town and a must-go for anyone visiting Laguna. My favorite coffee can be found at Laguna Coffee Co. and my favorite restaurant is Selenne Steak Tavern.”
Favorite surf spot
“My favorite place in the world to surf is definitely at home in Laguna. We have incredible scenery and coastal diversity, creating very unique and funky waves around every cove.”
Favorite surf/skate trip
Puerto Rico
Bucket list surf destination
Teahupoo, Tahiti
Surfing style
Fast and aggressive—I love being in the air.
His board
Grape Boards
Other hobbies
Golf, riding motorcycles and building stuff
for my wife
Mia Moore
At 18, Mia Moore is taking time to focus on surfing, traveling a lot and putting her skills to the test in competitions.
Moore is currently ranked No. 17 in the World Surf League Women’s Qualifying Series, with recent competitions in Florida and Barbados as well as locally in Huntington Beach and up the coast in Pismo Beach, California.
“I love competing,” she says. “It’s been really fun to compete because it helps me to push myself and my surfing. I haven’t been competing for super long and I’m working on getting better results. I have been learning a lot recently and I’m excited to continue improving.
“… My goal in surfing is to fulfill my dream of doing what I love for a living. I want to make it to the highest level of the sport. I want to inspire people. I love competing … so I’ll see where that takes me.”
Moore’s dad taught her to surf when she was younger. “When I moved to Laguna [six years ago], I really found my passion for it and started surfing every day.” She loves the feeling of being in the ocean and riding waves. “There’s nothing like it,” she says. “It’s hard to explain, but it clears my mind and helps me to let go and just have fun in the water.”
Moore surfs with the Laguna Board Riders Club, which goes up against teams from other cities in the region. “What I like about it is that it brings our community together,” she says. “We are all on the beach, supporting each other. It’s really fun.”
But she doesn’t only surf locally and has been to some impressive destinations lately. “I just got back from Mexico and … the East Coast and Barbados for some surf comps,” she says. “We got some really fun waves and it was awesome. We love exploring all over in California and I have been to Fiji and Hawaii with my family. I’m lucky to get to travel to these places and I’m looking forward to getting to see more of the world.”
And Moore has a flair for the creative, jazzing up her surfboard with vines and plumeria flowers using paint pens and making jewelry for her small business, Sandbar Creations. She’s also into sewing, often posting her latest projects on social media, from zipper bags to a surf backpack, cute tops and even a bucket hat. “I love taking old clothes, and clothing that I [find at] thrift [shops], and sewing them into something new,” she explains.
But her talents don’t stop there. Moore also sings and has played guitar off and on since she was 10. “Me and my brother play music together and that makes it really fun,” she says. “Everything is better with music. I like all genres. … I write my own songs, and have three unreleased tracks that eventually I will use in a surf film that I want to make.”
When not surfing or creating, she can often be found outdoors in Laguna. “I love hiking here with my mom,” she says. “I also love exploring all the coves and swimming around the rocks. It’s so beautiful.”
Go-to place in town
“I go to MoonGoat Coffee almost every day. It’s my favorite coffee in the world. The Churro Latte is unbeatable. I also sell my jewelry at Treasures [of Laguna] and Laguna Exchange. They’re both really cool stores. Laguna Surf & Sport is my go-to surf shop and I love surfing Thalia and hanging out at Crescent Bay.”
Favorite local surf spot
“My favorite places to surf change as the waves change. My brother and I surf all over. I love surfing in Laguna. I’m a goofy footer, so when Brooks Street gets good and the waves are fast and steep lefts, that’s my favorite. … Laguna is centered in the middle of San Clemente and Huntington Beach, so there’s a lot of spots to go close by for all the different swells.”
Bucket list surf destination
“My dream trip right now is to go to Indonesia. I want to take a boat and find some really fun waves on different islands. Or go back to Fiji.”
Her board
“I love riding Timmy Patterson—[T.Patterson]—surfboards. I really appreciate the support they give me [and] the boards work perfectly. My favorite is the i5 gold and the Pool Party Two.”
Other hobbies
“I’m a huge fan of UTL—[Underwater Torpedo League]—at Deep End Fitness [in San Clemente]. I’m one of the instructors there. I go every week. It’s a … class that’s centered around water confidence and water safety. … You learn to regulate your stress in and out of the water and push yourself.”
Tess Booth
A love of surfing has led to a unique job for Tess Booth, coaching at professional wave rider Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California.
“I absolutely love my job,” says Booth, 20. “I’ve been working at the wave pool for over a year now and plan to keep working there until the end of the year. I started as a surf guide, focusing mostly on helping guests in the water. Then I got promoted to a surf coach where I got to go more in-depth with guests about their personal progression and the nuances of the wave.”
Perhaps it’s not surprising that Booth excels at surfing (she placed second last year in the Brooks Street Surfing Classic women’s division) as her dad, Jeff Booth, is a former professional surfer.
“When I was 6, my dad would take me on his stand-up paddleboard and catch waves with me,” she recalls. “I’d hold onto the top of the board while he did all the work and I loved it. But I didn’t really get into surfing until I was 9 when I got a yellow, 7-foot Odysea [board]. I was a much better swimmer by this time and all of my friends were doing it so I started to go with the group until I was one of the last ones who still thought surfing was fun.
“… I love when you finally get a good wave and kick out with a goofy grin on your face knowing it took you all session just to get one keeper of a wave. Nothing beats that.”
She typically returns to Laguna after working a weeklong shift at the Surf Ranch. “Laguna is home,” she says. “It’s where I grew up, learned how to surf and formed my identity. I love coming home after a week in Lemoore and passing by Brooks Street. I am very comforted by this—to be in my own backyard. I love that Laguna is a place for me to recharge with my family and cats, to see old friends, and to get a wave or two at the spots that watched me grow into the surfer I am today.”
But she also loves exploring abroad, including a recent solo trip to Costa Rica. “This was an amazing trip,” she says. “Solo travel has always been something that scared me. But after this trip, I gained a lot of confidence in myself. I had a lot of time to reflect, relax, make my own schedule and meet new people.
“I found that when I travel alone, I experience the world more directly and fully. I met people I would have never met, took risks I probably wouldn’t have taken, and spoke a lot more Spanish than I would have spoken if I were traveling with someone else. I’ll forever be grateful for this trip.”
When it comes to competitions, she represents Laguna at the West Coast Board Riders events in SoCal. “I love these contests and it’s always fun to run into old friends that I competed with back in middle school and high school,” she says.
But a Laguna contest holds a special place in her heart. “The Brooks Street [Surfing Classic] is such a special event in Laguna,” she says. “The whole surf community comes together and gets to cheer each other on during one of the biggest south swells of the summer. There’s carnage, heckling, love—all the good stuff you want in a community surf contest.”
Go-to place in town
Adolfo’s [Mexican Food], Wigz, Bear Coast Coffee, Laguna Coffee Co. and Thai Bros.
Favorite local surf spot
“I love Brooks Street. That wave is very dear to my heart. It was one of the first waves for me that really challenged me to become a better surfer in more powerful conditions.”
Favorite global surf spot
“I’ve … surfed a lot of amazing waves throughout my travels and hope to keep surfing new places. I feel like I’m still searching.”
Bucket list surf destination
“I really want to go to Peru to surf some long lefts. Even though I’m a regular footer, I grew up on a left and feel really comfortable surfing on my backhand.”
Surfing style
“I’m more of a rail surfer. I’m tall and lengthy so normally my turns end up long and drawn out.”
Her board
A 5’10” Byrne—but “I’m also excited to be working with Fantine Capron. She is going to be shaping me a custom fish this summer for me to rep. I’m super excited about this one because I’ve never owned a fish. Until then, however, I’ll be riding my handy dandy Byrne boards shaped by Michael Baron, who has been our family’s shaper for years.”
Other hobbies
“I’ve been playing [piano] since I was 7. I first started in an after-school club for keyboarding. … I was trained classically, but now I sort of just play what I’m feeling.”
Blair Conklin
Both a surfer and skimboarder, Blair Conklin has turned these sports into a career, thanks to his sponsors and the ability to connect with people around the globe through social media.
“I am fortunate enough to have very supportive sponsors, which include Catch Surf, Exile Skimboards, I-Sea Sunglasses and Reef. Other than that, I am a full-time beach bum,” he says.
Without social media, he adds, “I would not be able to do what I love for a living.” For reference, his YouTube channel, SkidKids, has more than 3 million subscribers.
“Ten years ago, it was close to impossible to make money as a professional skimboarder and my parents shook their heads in dismay at the idea,” he recalls. “Nowadays, sharing videos across different platforms has really opened people’s eyes to the sport and has helped me get recognition in both [the] surf and skim worlds.”
Conklin, 28, grew up in south Laguna so some of his earliest memories are from Totuava and Thousand Step beaches. “These beaches are some of the best places to skimboard in Laguna, so I was exposed to the sport at a very young age,” he says. His dad and uncles, who all surfed and had tried skimboarding at some point, helped teach him.
“Surfing came a little later. … At Laguna Beach High School, I had the option to either do the standard P.E. class or join the surf team and learn how to surf. It wasn’t a super tough decision.”
Needless to say, he’s progressed in both sports over the years. In fact, he has won The Vic—skimboarding’s world championships, held in Laguna and sponsored by local company Victoria Skimboards—three times, in 2017, 2018 and 2023.
“I think winning that contest is most skimboarders’ dream achievement,” he says. “… People from all over the world travel … to compete in the event and challenge their skills in the unforgiving shorebreak waves of Aliso Beach. I am honored to have my name on a plaque alongside so many other past, present and future legends in the sport.”
Skimboarding has taken him to places he would have never imagined like Alaska, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Angola, Africa. “More importantly, the sport has given me the opportunity to connect with people all over the world,” he says. But he also appreciates spending time in his hometown. “I love the community of people who all share a passion for being outdoors and in the ocean,” he says.
Conklin also has used his travels to make a difference, recently becoming involved with the Surfrider Foundation’s Clean Border Water Now campaign. “This is an urgent public health crisis and environmental disaster that can be remediated,” he says. “The Tijuana River dumps an estimated 35 million gallons of sewage into the ocean daily. There is a water treatment facility upstream that can be upgraded to treat a lot more water.”
And Conklin his own SkidKids clothing line plus mini Doinker Decks for display—sold through blairconklin.com, which launched in 2022 in response his YouTube success.
“[It] started off as somewhat of a joke. … We were surprised at the popularity and are just running with it,” he says. A new design includes shredded parts of his old skimboards. As he says, “It is a win-win for everyone, including the environment.”
Go-to place in town
South Swell Donuts, Ahba, La Sirena Grill, zpizza, Aliso Beach, Thousand Steps Beach and Valido Trail
Favorite local skimboard spot
Aliso Beach
Favorite global surf spot
Near Sumba in Indonesia—“It is so much more relaxed there to surf than any of the local SoCal breaks.”
Favorite global skimboard spot
Sununga Beach in Ubatuba, Brazil
Bucket list surf destination
Ireland, Scotland or Iceland—“I seem to be attracted to the colder waters that have less crowds these days.”
Surfing/skimboarding style
“I think my wave riding style has been heavily influenced by the surfing films that I watched as a kid. I always wanted to emulate what surfers were doing on waves, but on my skimboard.”
His board
“Catch Surf has been supporting me since I was in high school and Exile Skimboards long before that. So basically my boards are either really really hard and sharp or really thick and soft.”
Other hobbies
Pickleball and ping-pong
Ryah Arthur
Holistic lifestyle coach and former professional surfer Ryah Arthur brings the surfing community together by heading up the Laguna Beach Surf Club, which creates camaraderie and competes against teams from other local cities.
“It is so much fun. The Laguna Beach Surf Club revolves around community, culture and conservation,” says Arthur, 36. “Our primary goal is to unite Laguna’s incredible surf community, with a focus on nurturing the youth, preserving the ocean and, of course, having a great time.
“… We are proud members of the West Coast Board Riders, participating in three friendly competitions each year against San Clemente, Dana Point and Newport Beach. Although initially formed for competitive purposes, these clubs have evolved into influential advocates for the well-being of their respective communities.”
The 2006 graduate of Laguna Beach High School still lives in town after some time abroad. His passion for surfing started young.
“My dad grew up surfing in LA and my mom grew up in a family that pioneered surfing in SoCal in the ’50s,” he shares. They moved to Laguna and got swept up in the beach volleyball and surf culture. “I caught my first wave when I was 5 and was hooked.,” he says.
“When I was around 10, it really started to become an obsession. I would go down to Thalia during the summer and stay down there all day, switching between skimboarding and surfing. The community of kids down there was truly something special; we were all obsessed with the ocean and would push each other in and out of the water. The undercurrent of competition really fanned the flame of growing as a waterman and surfer.”
For Arthur, riding waves is about connecting with the ocean. “I love the dynamism of the ocean and the ever-changing nature of waves,” he says. “I love the challenge, but also the depth of connection. … You have to be completely present.”
Arthur surfed professionally, traveling to compete for a few years after high school. “I worked at Laguna Surf & Sport and taught surf lessons when I was home, then I would travel to Brazil or Europe or Latin America or wherever the next event was to compete, sometimes for months on end. I was a part of a solid cohort of American pros that were working hard to realize their dreams of becoming world-renowned professionals,” he says.
“When the 2008 financial crisis happened, a lot of the money that was available to these up-and-coming pros got pulled back pretty rapidly. If you were not at the absolute top of the game, chances were that your sponsorships were getting pulled. There were lots … of guys that got dropped by their sponsors. … I was among that group.”
He worked hard to earn enough money to continue traveling, but as he approached the age of 22, he felt like he was “pursuing something that was just not going to happen,” he says. “I felt my heart calling me onto a completely unknown path.”
He switched gears and completed a discipleship program, like his sister had done, with a Christian mission organization called Youth With A Mission. “I went to Cambodia, where I spent three months teaching English and building a rain catchment tank for a local church,” he says.
“… It changed my life. I saw how other cultures functioned and the values that shaped their behaviors and social dynamics. … It helped give me some context on my own life and how I was …influenced by my country, religion and culture.”
Upon returning home, he became involved with Little Church by the Sea, co-leading the youth group’s international trips. He also studied cross-cultural communication in college and eventually found his way into private and group training, attending the Chek Institute for integrated movement science and holistic lifestyle coaching. “It takes years to truly learn, implement and master these principles, ideas and practices,” he says.
Go-to place in town
“Laguna Surf & Sport is the always-go-to heartbeat of the surf culture in town. Hobie [Surf Shop] is a staple as well. I love Rye Goods as they are organically grounded cafes with high-quality food.”
Favorite local surf spot
“I love surfing at Thalia; it’s my second home in a way. But I also love surfing at Brooks and Rockpile. When these waves get good, which is rare, there’s nothing better than paddling out and sharing waves with longtime friends.”
Favorite global surf spot
Portugal and Mexico
Bucket list surf destination
“I would love to do a boat trip with some of my best friends to the Mentawai Islands.”
Surfing style
“Basically, I surf like an
uncoordinated caveman.”
His board
“Grape—Paul Wade is the best
shaper in Laguna.”
Other hobbies
“Anything in the ocean. Lots of beach volleyball. Getting stronger and healthier myself. Researching and studying. Book club [and] building community.”
A Swell Event
Brooks Street Surfing Classic is a longstanding tradition that brings the community together.
Started in 1955 and only open to Laguna Beach residents, the beloved annual Brooks Street Surfing Classic will mark its 58th edition this year. The competition always takes place on a different weekend, based on optimal surf conditions. The window starts the first weekend of June and runs until the end of the south swell season, typically the end of October.
Once June hits, the waiting begins, with surfers anxiously checking for updates. Last year’s event didn’t happen until September. Organizers look for two full days of “clean and consistent surf,” including good weather conditions with no wind that would degrade the quality of the waves.
The city-sponsored event usually draws about 150 surfers and there are a variety of age divisions for competing in short- and longboard surfing as well as paddleboarding and bodyboarding.
Previously organized by city Recreation Supervisor Ron Lutz, local Brandy Faber took on an official role as contest director in 1993 to help gather prizes when it was decided that city officials weren’t allowed to do this anymore. Faber’s happy to help support this special event.
“Hobie Alter is credited with starting the contest,” Faber says. “… It’s a rite of passage for the younger local surfers, it brings the community together and is a great storytelling platform of and for Laguna’s history. We support and get support from local businesses and artists, who design the contest T-shirt and trophies while highlighting some of the uniqueness and character of Laguna.”
Faber explains that, in the 1950s, surfers weren’t cast in a positive light and coastal homeowners tried to take ownership of the sand in front of their properties to stop surfers from having beach access.
“Alter, who started shaping surfboards on the beach at his parents’ house on Oak Street, met with Red Guyer, who was the city’s Recreation Department supervisor, and laid out the idea for the Brooks Street Surfing Classic to cast local surfers in a positive light as athletes,” Faber says.
In addition to bragging rights, winners get custom-made trophies and tons of other prizes, from GoPro cameras to swim fins, T-shirts, sunglasses, hats and backpacks from local surf brands. Both the Men’s and Women’s Pro/Am winners also receive cash prizes.
Faber notes that “the contest ebbs and flows with the population and surfing habits of the community.” In the beginning, there was the Skid Board Division—aka skimboarding—and a Kneeboarding Division, but those shrank in popularity while others expanded.
“People are surfing in their later years more now, so we added the Legends Division a few years ago for 60-and-over competitors. New for the 58th annual Classic will be the Women’s Pro/Am Division with equal prize money as the Men’s Pro/Am Division,” he says, explaining that, in the past, women have competed against the guys in the Pro/Am, but have requested their own category, so the 16-and-up Women’s Division will now be the Women’s Pro/Am Division.
Faber says as the conditions are monitored through the season, alerts are sent out to emails on file and posted on the event’s Facebook page when there is a potential swell on the way, which can be unpredictable. People also hear updates by word of mouth and “good old telephone calls to Laguna Surf & Sport for information,” Faber says.
“We don’t make the final call till the morning of the event,” he says. “Most people who participate in the event are there bright and early and ready to go once the call is made. If the call is made to not run the event, then most people are stoked to get a surf in anyways.”
