Pack your surfboards, wax, wetsuits and personal belongings because it’s time to make the trek to Oceanside to see the best young teenage surfers in California. Malibu High’s surf team is headed to the state championships with an eye on the big prize.
On a balmy day at Zuma Beach last Sunday, Malibu defeated Santa Barbara, 77-56, to win the Scholastic Surf Series (SSS) “Santa Barbara to Los Angeles” division one. The Sharks improved their overall record to a perfect 4-0 and handed the Dons their first defeat of the season.
“It was stressful,” said a relieved Michael Moss, the team’s head coach. “It was a close one. Hardest event all year but we did it.”
Malibu now turns its focus to the High School State Championships on April 6 and 7 at Oceanside Harbor. For the first time in many years, the Sharks are strong contenders to place at the State Championships.
“If all my kids show up, then we will have a really good chance,” Moss said. “With that said, the kids will have to catch the waves to beat these other teams. If they don’t get the sets in the heats with the other schools, we will get beat. If there was ever a year to do it, this is the year. I’m really excited.”
The fourth and final regular season event was held at Zuma Beach’s Tower 10 for the first time in the SSS.
“It’s great to bring it to Zuma Beach because Zuma basically has everything you want in a wave,” said Matt Malone, Director of the SB to LA Region. “It’s got power, it’s got push, it has opportunity for scoring and it’s a challenging wave. It’s a fun wave to surf and it challenges the kids.”
Malibu took advantage of the “home surf” and knocked off a talented Santa Barbara squad.
In team competition, Frankie Seely won the women’s shortboard and took second in the women’s longboard. Danica Downing finished second and fourth, respectively, while Billie Malkin won the women’s longboard and claimed third in women’s shortboard.
Together the three ladies outscored Santa Barbara, 29-13, to break open a close contest.
“My girls are our anchors. The team wouldn’t be as good as they have been without Frankie, Danica and Billie,” said Moss. “The boys have always been really close but the girls have come through for us.”
Downing felt that the familiarity and friendly confines of Zuma Beach, where the Sharks practice, paid off in the long run.
“We surf here every day so it’s like our home beach,” she said. “It just felt comfortable and I think that’s why we did really well. We are used to these waves and we know how they break.”
The great effort by the three ladies offset a battle among the men. After the first three heats in men’s shortboard, Malibu held a narrow 32-31 lead. Thelen Mckinna-Worrell and Henry Jenkinson each won a heat, with Amour Armony finishing second in heat two.
“The waves were kind of small but I got a couple fun ones,” Mckinna-Worrell said. “I made the most out of it. I felt the home vibes so it’s always nice.”
Seely, Downing and Malkin extended the lead to 61-44 when Armony, Henry Buckley and Barron Hilton took to the ocean for the men’s longboard competition. Similar to men’s shortboard, the Sharks won by a point, 11-10.
Tom Klane wrapped up the scoring for Malibu with a second-place finish in coed bodyboard.
In the individual competition of the day against 11 other schools, the Sharks performed well. Results included Seely (first in women’s longboard and shortboard), Klane (first in coed bodyboard), Mckinna-Worrell (second in men’s shortboard) and Armony (second in men’s longboard).
“Frankie is my double anchor,” Moss said. “She is so driven. She motivates herself and raises her surfing to a whole other level.”
For the next two weeks, Malibu will begin final training for the State Championships. Moss is already preparing for the surf team’s ultimate challenge.
“I will work on managing their energy throughout the day, time management, heat strategy and mental preparation,” Moss said. “In competitive surfing it’s about keeping your cool for 15 minutes. Keep your energy up but keep your cool the whole time.”
“For state championships, I feel like we have a good 85 percent chance of winning,” Armony added. “We’ve been doing well in the past events. If we stick together hopefully we can win this year.”