by Andrea Swayne
Ethan Schaffer
Age: 14, San Clemente High School
Ethan Schaffer spent last season surfing SSS contests as a member of the Bernice Ayer Middle School team. This summer he’s putting in the hours preparing for San Clemente High School team tryouts in the fall and the upcoming WSA Championship tour. Ethan started surfing three years ago after picking up the sport himself and learning the basics through trial and error and paddling out with friends. This summer’s sessions—nearly every day at Lowers, Rivi or T Street—have largely been devoted to improving his airs and landing them consistently. In school, Ethan is a straight ‘A’ student whose favorite subject is math. “School is important to me so I can have a good job and better opportunities in life,” he said. Ethan wants to go to college but says he can’t help but chase a professional surfing career as well. “Of course, I’d like to be a pro surfer but after that I hope to be in a career where I can help people,” he said. Ethan also enjoys basketball and after seven years of Pop Warner football, he’s considering trying out for the high school team as a sophomore. When asked where his greatest support comes from, he answered, “Mom,” without hesitation. “My mom is pretty awesome and cool. She supports me by taking me to the beach and shooting photos of me. She’s a great photographer. I’m proud of her for starting her own business. She works very hard at it and her hard work inspires me to always do my best.”
Discussion about this post