A name we can all get very accustomed to seeing, Vaihiti Inso took to Lower Trestles with power. speed and solid surfing to capture a 1st place slot in the U14 division. Photo Mike Latronic

With great looking boards under his feet, a variety of moves, machine like precision and a tireless work ethic Oahu’s Shion Crawford landed runner up in the Boys U16 final and claimed top spot in the highly coveted U18 division. A well-deserved win and we can be sure to see more from this young man in the future! Photo: Mike Latronic

Betty Lou Sakura is the embodiment of the new school progression in female youth surfing. Strong, explosive and unafraid Betty was by and far doing some of the most dynamic surfing in the women's divisions. Photo: Sean Evans

Jackson Bunch is no stranger to the winners circle. Taking home a 1st place trophy in 2018 World Jr, Bunch looked in classic form to do a repeat but got stopped early in the semis in this years event. Photo: Mike Latronic

Lower Trestles in all it's glory. Photo Kurt Steinmetz

Hawaii’s Ewe Wong fell short of a finals berth, but placed herself on everybody’s radar with snaps like this. Photo: Mike Latronic

Boys U12 Photo: Kurt Steinmetz

Caitlin Simmers Photo: Kurt Steinmetz

This year surf legend Peter “PT” Townend awarded Girls and Boys U18 champions Sawyer Lindblad and Shion Crawford the Terry McCann memorial trophy and a Murf electric bike. Along with PT and Dick Baker, McCann is responsible for creating Surfing America, the Olympic National Governing Body and organization that would become USA Surfing. Photo: Kurt Steinmetz

Girls U12 Photo: Kurt Steinmetz

Sawyer Lindblad Photo: Kurt Steinmetz

Shion Crawford

Hawaii’s Vaihiti Mahana Inso took the Toyota USA Surfing Championship Girls U14 crown after putting on a forehand clinic standing out in the heat of talent. She’s four-time world champion and Olympic surfer Carissa Moore’s protégé and it showed. She surfed a nearly perfect final heat with a 9.77 and 8.77

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2021 US Surfing Championships

Searing Performances from the Nations Best Juniors at Pumping Lower Trestles

By Mike Latronic

Several hundred of the nation’s top young surfers battled for national titles during the 2021 TOYOTA USA Surfing Championships at one of California’s premiere surfing locations-Lower Trestles in San Clemente. This event is indeed one of the most highly anticipated events in junior surfing in America, attracting surf industry leaders, media and talent scouts and not to mention, the creme of the crop competitors from all over the country. The under 18 surfers competing, qualified for the event through regional competitions held across Mainland USA and Hawai’i. As surfing makes its Olympic debut, the athletes’ performances were a high energy preview of surfers who could and likely would represent the United States in future Olympic Games and on the WSL Championship Tour.

This years competition was held June 21-25 and as luck would have it southerly swells lined up back to back to provide super fun surf in the 3-5 range the entire event. The action was a stark example of top tier performance and after witnessing this week long tournament anyone watching can clearly see the future of American surfing is brighter than ever.

Girls U18
1st Sawyer Lindblad, San Clemente, Calif.
2nd Caitlin Simmers, Oceanside, Calif.
3rd Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad, Calif.
4th Nora Liotta, Maui, Hawaii

Boys U18
1st Shion Crawford, Oahu, Hawaii
2nd Ryan Huckabee, Flagler Beach, Fla.
3rd Brodi Sale, Kailua Kona, Hawaii
4th Levi Young, Maui, Hawaii

Girls U16
1st Caitlin Simmers, Oceanside, Calif.
2nd Sawyer Lindblad, San Clemente, Calif
3rd Betty Lou Sakura Johnson, Oahu, Hawaii
4th Zoe Benedetto, Palm City, Fla.

Boys U16
1st Lucas Owston, Oceanside Calif.
2nd Shion Crawford, Oahu, Hawaii
3rd Cole McCaffray, Cardiff, Calif.
4th Rylan Beavers, Kilauea, Hawaii

Girls U14
1st Vaihiti Mahana Inso, Oahu, Hawaii
2nd Kylie Pulcini, Melbourne Beach, Fla.
3rd Avery McDonald, San Clemente, Calif.
4th Mia McLeish, San Clemente, Calif.

Boys U14
1st Lucas Senkbeil Cassity, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
2nd Rex Hennings, San Clemente, Calif.
3rd Chase Burnes, Paia, Hawaii
4th Charlie Stevens, San Clemente, Calif.

Girls U12
1st Chesney Guinotte, Hawaii
2nd Alana Lopez, Ponce Inlet, Fla.
3rd Kaia Howard, Encinitas, Calif.
4th Kadyn Persidok, Encinitas, Calif.

Boys U12
1st Kai Nelson, Maui, Hawaii
2nd Finn McCarty, San Clemente, Calif.
3rd Merrick Mochkatel, Hawaii
4th Brody Price, Soquel, Calif.