The 2022 USA Surfing Championship presented by Playa Bowls featured pumping Lowers waves, and some of the best performances in the history of the event.
Photo: USA Surfing
Held at renowned San Onofre State Beach’s Lower Trestles, USA Surfing Championship is the final stop in a competition series featuring the nation’s best Under 18 surfers. More than 250 surfers ages 7 to 18 qualified to compete for a national title in four age divisions and spot on USA Surfing’s junior national teams.
The final two days of the event were broadcast on YouTube and Fuel TV with commentary and analysis from former competitors and professional announcers, attracting the event’s highest viewership numbers to date.
Photo: USA Surfing
USA Surfing COO and contest director Andrea Swayne has been leading the premiere competition for nearly two decades.
“USA Surfing Championship at Lowers always showcases the stellar talent being developed among our country’s rising stars,” Swayne said. “But equally impressive is seeing our young athletes’ camaraderie and sportsmanship. To see one’s competitors chair them up the beach to celebrate their win is a thing of true beauty. We are so proud of all our athletes, and it’s a true pleasure to provide opportunities for them to progress and shine.”
Coach Ryan Simmons had a prime view of the action from the announcer’s seat.
“Lower Trestles delivered in brilliant SoCal surf fashion with long sloping walls and some of the best performances we’ve seen maybe ever at USA Champs. Starting with the U12 girls who scored the heat of the event for waves all the way down to our premier finals Boys and Girls U18. What an amazing week for junior surfing.”
Photo: USA Surfing
2022 USA Surfing Championship Final Results
BOYS U12
1st Zion Walla, San Clemente, Calif.
2nd Merrik Mochkatel, Hawaii
3rd Luke Lopez, Indian Rocks, Fla.
4th Tanner Sandvig, San Clemente, Calif.
GIRLS U12
1st Teagan Meza, Torrance, Calif.
2nd Zoey Kaina, from Hawaii living in San Clemente, Calif.
3rd Ruby Stringfellow, Huntington Beach, Calif.
4th Peeta Kenworthy, San Clemente, Calif.
BOYS U14
1st Lucas Senkbeil-Cassity, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
2nd Quaid Fahrion, Costa Mesa, Calif.
3rd Zolten Poulsen, Hawaii
4th Kahlil Pineres-Schooley, Hawaii
GIRLS U14
1st Mia McLeish, San Clemente, Calif.
2nd Eden Walla, San Clemente, Calif.
3rd Chesney Guinotte, Hawaii
4th Zoie Zietz, Hawaii
GIRLS U16
1st Talia Swindal, Malibu, Calif.
2nd Bella Kenworthy, San Clemente, Calif.
3rd Vaihiti Inso, Hawaii
4th Avery McDonald, San Clemente, Calif.
BOYS U16
1st Lucas Senkbeil-Cassity, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
2nd Jackson Dorian, Hawaii
3rd Rylan Beavers, Hawaii
4th Cannon Carr, San Clemente, Calif.
GIRLS U18
1st Sawyer Lindblad, San Clemente, Calif.
2nd Talia Swindal, Malibu, Calif.
3rd Zoe Benedetto, Palm City, Fla.
4th Vaihiti Inso, Hawaii
BOYS U18
1st Kai Martin, Hawaii
2nd Lucas Owston, Oceanside, Calif.
3rd Oliver Zietz, Hawaii
4th Kai Kushner, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Surfers winning USA Surfing Championship titles through the history of the event have gone on to compete at the highest levels of the sport, including the World Surf League Championship Tour and the Olympic Games in the summer of 2021.
The main qualifying path to USA Surfing Championship at Lowers is the multi-stop Prime Series that takes place on the East and West Coasts.
The East Coast series started in Florida and ended in North Carolina.
The West Coast series stretched from Santa Cruz to T-Street San Clemente.
Following are the season-end winners, who racked up the highest finishes for the East and West coast season:
Boys U14 Season Champions
Lucas Senkbeil-Cassity (West Coast)
Teddy Wittemann (East Coast)
Girls U16 Season Champions
Bella Kenworthy (West Coast)
Kylie Pulcini (East Coast)
Boys U16 Season Champions
Lucas Senkbeil-Cassity (West Coast)
Kepa Mendia (East Coast)
Girls U18 Season Champions
Kylie Pulcini (East Coast)
Bella Kenworthy (West Coast)
Boys U18 Season Champions
Kyan Yang (West Coast)
Will Deane (East Coast)
The next season schedule will be released in mid-August.