LIHU‘E — When Tatiana Weston-Webb surfs in Lower Trestles, Calif., the wins usually come in pairs and Saturday was no different. The 16-year-old from Princeville claimed the Surfing American USA Championships 2012 Under 18 and Under 16 surfing titles, making
LIHU‘E — When Tatiana Weston-Webb surfs in Lower Trestles, Calif., the wins usually come in pairs and Saturday was no different.
The 16-year-old from Princeville claimed the Surfing American USA Championships 2012 Under 18 and Under 16 surfing titles, making the second year in a row Weston-Webb has claimed those two titles and the third consecutive year she’s won two age categories.
At the 2010 USA Championships, Weston-Webb won the Under 16 and Under 14 crowns.
“It was amazing. There is no other feeling to describe it,” Weston-Webb said. “I have a connection with Lowers. There is something special for me going on there.”
Weston-Webb said her win in the Under 16 category came relatively routine, but the Under 18 final came down to the dying moments. Competing against Dax McGill, Mahina Maeda and Frankie Harrer, Weston-Webb caught a 7.77 ride in the final 30 seconds to claim the win.
“It came down to the last minute,” she said. “I didn’t know the wave was good enough. I just gave it my all and the judges liked it.”
The win continued a prosperous 2012 season for the young Hawaiian. In late April, Weston-Webb helped team Hawai‘i secure the World Junior Championship and she followed that with a Round of 24 appearance at the Telstra Drug Aware Pro in Australia.
With her recent success, Weston-Webb said her next goal is to start touring more internationally as she continues to move up the ladder of surfing’s elite.
“I really feel amazing and I can’t wait to be given new challenges. It just feels like it’s time,” she said. “I’ve trained a bunch for it. I definitely have to step it up a notch, too.”
