Surfing Laguna: Growing up surfing

The first time I met 16-year-old Andrew Congleton, a Laguna Beach High School sophomore and surf team member, was down at Anita Street on a hot summer day. Andrew and his posse of 4-year-old surf hellions were body womping in some powerful shore break searching for a bit of tube time. I remember striking up a conversation with young Andrew (who was devoid of his two front teeth at the time) about surfing, life and the finer points of barrel riding.

Even at the tender age of 4, Andrew had a very mature and relaxed demeanor around the ocean as well as when socializing with his surfing elders. No real surprise I suppose, as Andrew comes from rather amazing surfing stock. His mother, Kari, has been involved in the surf industry for many years as vice president of large surf brands as well as being a lifelong Laguna Beach bum. His stepdad Jeff Kramer is a former top professional longboarder and California State Park ranger who along with Andrew’s father, JP, have coached Andrew through many hours of surf practice.

Andrew’s surfing is solid, and he continues to make strides in his competitive endeavors, however what I have seen develop over these last 10-plus years is a wonderful desire in Andrew to guide others in learning to surf and enjoy the ocean. He has always gravitated toward the kids who need a bit of help with not just their surfing but also sometimes the challenges that come from being a young person in 2009.

Recently Andrew passed another important milestone in life: He received his driver’s license. I was honored to be one of Andrew’s first stops on the victory lap of being a legally licensed driver. As Andrew was excitedly describing to me in rich detail all the far flung West Coast locales he was planning to visit, I felt a pang of sadness realizing that the summers down at Anita Street were receding further into my rear view mirror, so to speak. What lies ahead for Andrew now is the whole world or at least as far as his mom’s mini-van will take him.

I could not be more stoked to see another wonderful Laguna son transition into a young man. Thanks to his parents and the Laguna community as a whole.

CHRIS WILLIAMS is a surfing coach and Laguna Beach resident, and father of four surf-crazy sons. He can be reached at chris@soulsurfingschool.com or (949) 497-5918.