USA Surf Team’s Taylor-made

The PacSun USA Surf Team was announced July 27 at the team’s inaugural benefit dinner and silent auction in Huntington Beach.

Sarah Taylor of Huntington Beach was named to the team in the Under 18 Girls division.

The new team was selected based on their participation in the Surfing America USA Championships held July 11 through 18 in Oceanside, as well as their performances at the team trials last week in Huntington Beach. Fifty-nine of the nation’s top up-and-coming surfers competed at the team trials.

USA Coach Peter “PT” Townend evaluated the athletes and ultimately decided the team, which includes the nation’s top junior surfers.

“This is the fourth USA Surf Team since Surfing America obtained National Governing Body status,” Townend said in a statement. “Our first two years were impressive, but after last year’s performance, I thought it was time to ‘re-tool.’

The new surf team will represent the United States at the Quiksilver International Surfing Assn World Junior Surfing Championships in Portugal in May 2007.

Last year, the USA won the bronze medal at the championships, which were held in Huntington Beach.

In other surfing news:

Oilers go Seoul surfing

The Huntington Beach High surf team left Sunday for Seoul, South Korea, Oilers Coach Andy Verdone said.

During the trip, Verdone said, the Oilers contingent will trace the family history of Aaron Pai, the owner of Huntington Surf and Sport. They will trace the Pai Family ancestry from Korea to Hawaii to California.

The Oilers flew from Seoul to the Island of Jeju on the tip of South Korea in search of “lonely waves and the beautiful culture” of South Korea, Verdone said. On Aug. 8, they’ll fly to Hawaii where they will stay at the Moana Surfrider hotel and surf the South Shore.

Verdone said that Oilers who made the trip include team captain Logan Strook, Bryan Van Arsdale, Quinn McCrystal, Brock Bowden and Eddie Elles. AJ Collins, son of wave forecaster Sean Collins, also made the trip.