By Andrea Swayne
Age: 11, Thurston Middle School
Jadon Smith, having grown up around the beach, has always been acquainted with surfing. But about four months ago, he decided to get really serious about learning the sport and enlisted the help of his surf instructor aunt to nail down the basics. Since focusing his efforts, he’s picked it up quickly. Jadon is already in the market for a new shortboard and has his sights set on trying out for the Thurston Middle School surf team. He says, that although he wants to become competitive on a shortboard he doubts that he’ll ever stop longboarding, as it’s “the relaxing side of surfing.” Jadon splits his time between Dana Point-where most of his surfing is done-and Laguna Beach. While in Laguna, he’s spent nearly four years studying the martial art Jeet Kune Do. A straight ‘A’ student in fifth grade last year, Jadon intends to continue focusing on his studies in middle school. “I always try to pay attention in class and tackle my homework right away after school,” he said. Jadon also enjoys playing the violin, skateboarding and stand-up paddling. But surfing is becoming his new passion. When asked what he likes most about it, he said that being in the water beats getting sweaty at the skate park and he loves the feeling of gliding fast across the water. “Also, falling on a wave doesn’t hurt as much as eating it on concrete,” he said.
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