Just 10 years old and surfing for only six months, Po‘ipu’s Taylor Summerfield put his name on the surfing map at Oceanfest with a second-place finish in the 12-and-under bodyboard contest. With surf idols like Jeff and Mike Hubbard, Taj
Just 10 years old and surfing for only six months, Po‘ipu’s Taylor Summerfield put his name on the surfing map at Oceanfest with a second-place finish in the 12-and-under bodyboard contest.
With surf idols like Jeff and Mike Hubbard, Taj Burrow, Andy Irons, and Mike Stewart, Summerfield not only wants to conquer the surfing world, but the bodyboarding avenue too.
“I’d really like to be a professional surfer and bodyboarder,” Summerfield said. In his very first competition, the Andy Irons contest, Summerfield placed fifth and became hooked on the sport he loves. “It felt really good to be out there at the event (Andy Irons contest) and I had a lot of fun,” Summerfield said.
Besides surfing, the home schooled sixth-grader enjoys canoe paddling for the Kaiola Canoe Club, skateboarding, and just like any other youngster, Summerfield spends lots of time playing video games. With five or sometimes six days out on the water surfing, Summerfield doesn’t let anything get in the way of his dream. “Surfing helps me to stay in shape, plus I’m not scared of sharks, instead I’m more scared of landing in some coral,” Summerfield said.
August and Yvonne Summerfield, Taylor’s parents, who both do reiki have gotten their son involved in the art.
“Reiki helps me with surfing because it helps me if I get hurt,” Summerfield said.
The well spoken young man has the right tools to take him to the next level, and with a great supporting cast, Summerfield looks to leave his mark on the surfing world and you can see Taylor and a host of other talented local surfers at the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s first contest of the season from August 21-22 at P.K.’s, starting at 8:00 a.m.
