Riding the waves is a family affair; Christian, Taylor Clark make a name for themselves in surfing world

By: RICHARDSON MIRON - For the North County Times | Monday, October 23, 2006 11:38 PM PDT ∞

ENCINITAS ---- There's no shortage of memories of his boys in the water, but there's one Pat Clark will probably remember forever ---- the kind he'll tell friends, relatives and even reporters about.

"It was really cool being able to watch them both surf (in a contest) at the same time," Clark said of his two boys, Christian and Taylor, who were simultaneously competing in an amateur event in Carlsbad earlier this summer. "I had a spot where I was able to look down and watch them both. It was really neat. ... They even caught the same wave down the line from one another at one point."

While those types of moments are special for a proud father watching his two boys pursue their athletic goals, they might not be all that rare in the Clark household.

Both Christian, 17, and Taylor, 11, are two of the North County's busiest up-and-coming surfers.

According to the boys' mother, Brandy, the boys compete "just about" every weekend ---- and she wouldn't want it any other way.

"Surfing is a great sport and it really keeps our family together," Brandy said. "I love it."

Christian, a senior at La Costa Canyon High, is trying to make his mark as a longboarder, while his little brother is competing in amateur shortboarding events.

Pat, a surfer himself, first taught Christian to hang 10 on a longboard. Taylor followed in their footsteps, choosing the faster shortboard ---- and he's now one of the top groms in San Diego after being named to Surfshot magazine's top 20 surfers under 20.

"We've grown up surfing," Christian said. "My dad taught me when I was young and when my brother was 6 or 7, I brought him down to the beach and coached him how to surf. We surf together before school and after school almost everyday."

This was the kind of thing Pat envisioned when he first taught Christian. Surfing is not just a sport for the Clarks; it's a family tradition.

"I always wanted boys to surf with and spend time in the water with," Pat said. "... I never pushed it, or forced it on them and I think that's the formula. They just love it."

It's easy to love something when you're racking up trophies like the Clark brothers.

So far this year, Christian has finished in the top three at 12 amateur events. Most recently, on Oct. 15, he took first place at the National Scholastic Surfing Association's Explorer Ponto. The biggest victory of his brief career was at the 2005 NSSA Open Longboard National Championship.

Christian also took first place earlier this summer at the NSSA West Coast Championship Explorer.

"I'd like to make it a career," Christian said of his post-high school plans. "But I'm planning to go to college, too."

Before Christian heads to college, there's still some amateur competition remaining. The two-time Interscholastic Surfing Federation longboard state champ helped his Mavericks defeat San Dieguito Academy last weekend at the first high school event of the season.

While Christian has enjoyed tremendous success at the amateur level, he considers surfing this summer at the U.S. Open at Huntington Beach equally important. He surfed four heats against the world's best before being eliminated in the quarterfinals.

"That was great surfing with the pros at one of the biggest events," said Christian, who watched Dodger Kremel win the World Qualifying Series' six-star event. "Everybody comes out for an event like that. It was cool."

Much like his older brother, Taylor wants to one day taste the pro ranks. The sixth grader at Parkdale Lane Elementary is already sponsored by several big-name companies ---- No Fear and Arnette, among others ---- and says becoming a pro is his "dream."

One of Taylor's top achievements to date came in June, when he took first place in the 12-and-under division at the Ripcurl GromSearch at Mission Beach. That victory earned Taylor a berth into the prestigious Rip Curl GromSearch Championship at Dana Point's Salt Creek on Nov. 4 ---- a huge event for youngsters trying to make a name in the sport.

"I hope I can do well," said Taylor, who's already traveled on his sponsors' dime to Hawaii and Costa Rica for photo shoots.

While the two brothers choose to ride different boards, they share the same love for the sport ---- and even more importantly, they do it together.

"I love surfing with my brother," Taylor said. "It's fun watching him. He doesn't care how big it is; he just goes for it."

Said Christian: "Surfing keeps us close. We love it."

ACTION SPORTS

Christian prevails

Carlsbad High graduate Julia Christian won the women's shortboard competition of the International Surf Association's World Surf Games on Sunday at Huntington Beach Pier.

Competing at the same break where she won the U.S. Open in 2005, Christian defeated fellow Women's World Championship Tour surfer Jacqueline Silva by just .10 points in the final heat.

"I have competed against Jackie on the WCT before, and it is always very close and exciting because she is a great surfer," said Christian, who won a silver medal years ago in the ISA Junior World Championship. "This was such a special event for me because typically I compete for myself on tour, but here it's for my country."

Australia won the team title in the surfing equivalent of the Olympics, while Brazil took silver and the United States claimed the bronze.

South African Jordy Smith won the men's shortboard crown; his countryman, Matthew Moir, won the longboard title.

Weather slams Coldwater

Terrible surf, dreary conditions and high winds ruined the Coldwater Classic, an important men's and women's world qualifying series contest.

The men's contest was cancelled before the round of 64 due to poor weather. But because the Coldwater Classic was one of the last women's WQS contests, they trudged on. There was a change of venue from Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz to nearby Waddel Creek.

The surf went silent before the finals, but the competitors chose to stick it out and finish the contest. Australian Samantha Cornish won the women's contest, and in doing so qualified for the Women's World Championship tour.

ASC this weekend

The LG Action Sports Championships, the last major action sports contest of the season, will take place Friday-Sunday in Dallas. All the top athletes will be in attendance for the contest, which will feature BMX, skateboarding and freestyle motocross.

Pro contests

Today-Sunday: Onbongo Pro, Men's World Qualfiying Series, Brazil

Friday-Sunday: LG Action Sports Championships, Dallas

Friday-Nov. 10: Xcel Pro, Men's Qualifying Series, Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii