America’s Got Talent

By: Jake Howard, ESPN

High school was an awkward time. I hoped I'd outgrown it, but then I went to the beach this weekend and realized that I'm more of an insecure, self-conscious kook than ever. With the Red Bull Riders Cup National Championships descending upon Trestles this weekend—my regular haunt—high school surf teams from around the country poured onto the sand, set up their little cliques, paddled out, and sadly, most every kid surfed better than me—with the exception of the one girl who pearled after every top turn, I reckon I'd barely beat her out.

Why the self-loathing you ask? Well, for one, it's that the level of a lot of high school-aged surfers never ceases to amaze me.  READ MORE…