National Surf League | The Game

The flames of rivalries were stoked, lines were drawn in the sand (only to be erased by the high tide), and it came down to brother against brother (sort of) at the 2008 Red Bull Riders Cup National Championships. Held on the cobblestone point at Trestles known simply as “Church” (a fitting name for any western shoot-out), the swell poured through all weekend long, giving opportunity to the best high school surf squads from around the country to test both their mettle and manhood. But come finals time, crosstown rivals San Clemente High and Carlsbad High would be the only two standing. 

It started with eight. Eight teams, eight of the best and brightest from their given corner of the continental U.S. Florida, New Jersey, up and down the Western Seaboard, they came to Church on Sunday with one thing on their mind, and it wasn’t all that holy. They’d arrived to pummel their opponents into submission and hoist the Riders Cup. Forget the Sabbath, nobody would take a break until the last wave was ridden.

In the end, with broken boards and deflated at local adolescent egos strewn about, there would only be two teams left, two teams which maybe not-so-coincidentally have been in the middle of a border dispute over who actually lived closest to the break. Local knowledge–and a fair bit of talent–saw San Clemente High and Carlsbad High square off for the fortune and glory of it all.

By Sabbath’s end Carlsbad had upended San Clemente, 78 to 83 (even though it was deemed San Clemente lived closer). “We had a solid team, you couldn’t ask for better surfing conditions, the kids surf traditional contests all the time, but they really look forward to working as a team and competing at Red Bull Riders Cup,” says Carlsbad coach, David Barr.

Sharpshooter and Carlsbad High MVP, Gabe Garcia drove the team to victory with his consistency throughout the entire competition. “San Clemente High was a super good team; they did some great surfing and it was close until the very end, we’re pumped to be the national champions.”

The Red Bull Riders Cup is not your typical surf contest. Nope, this one’s actually interesting. Established in 2001 by surf luminary, Brad Gerlach, the National Surf Leauge’s “Game” format, is based around a team-format, with coaches, time-outs, refs, and even classy introductions. The mantra reads “dedicated to the pursuit of surfing excellence, building awareness for the sport of surfing while creating a fun competitive landscape for all types of surfers.

“I’m really impressed with the surfing community; we’ve had over fifty professional surfers come out to support, coach, and referee the games,” says Gerlach. “There is no other surf event that brings the professional surfing community out to help the kid’s progress.”

And if you didn’t see all the action live from the beach, VBS.tv, home of the online surf show Hi-Shredability, has been documenting the story of the NSL and Red Bull Riders Cup since the beginning. Don’t miss their documentary about the Red Bull Riders Cup, coming September 2008.

So, in the end Carlsbad High goes home the national champs, and with it comes and entire year’s worth of bragging rights, which ain’t half bad. But considering the talent level, repeating could prove to be a dicey proposition come next season.

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