This contest was huge with 9 middle schools and over 250 kids competing. The Army Navy contest for me anyway was pure adrenaline. Our Diegueno Middle School enters the contest undefeated in the Region.
And it was competitive. Here is Lucas waxing up for his first heat with his team mates and coach giving instructions and nerves.
The waves were small with a slight offshore wind. Lucas rode his 9'2" Guy Takayama noserider. Here he comes in after making it through his first heat advancing to the quarters.
Here is a shot of the waves.
No, I could not take pictures of surfing. I shot one out of focus noseride. As usual I become crazy and possessed with the heats.
As a new parent, I was convinced I wasn't a stage mom. Watching soccer and football stuff when my kids were in the various leagues I was non-plussed. I did not understand why these other parents were shouting and screaming. I just wanted to go home. But put my kid in a wetsuit and jersey it is over. My hands become damp, my face red, my heart pumps and I am not able to control myself. I live and die with every heat and have a hard time watching or not watching. I am superstitious and make various bets and deals with God during the heats.
This is all I got. David Gray I am not.
"Parenting is Triple Black Diamond" A saying that rings true. There is nothing easy about parenting your own kid. You want them to be happy, successful and well balanced. There is no easy road to accomplishing this.
Anyway, deep in the heart of the Army Navy beach drama persisted. Lucas advanced 4 times. Yes 4 heats each more challanging than the last. There are kids who can really surf better than I can imagine surfing and they are in 7th and 8th grade.
But Lucas surfed well and follwed his coaches direction and got good waves and rode the nose, cross footed and rode the waves to the beach. He did well and in the Repro-Charge final just missing a 6th place medal by .8 points. He came in 7th and was disappointed but his points will keep him in the top 6 in San Diego and he helped keep our team undefeated!
We used to have 'surf practice' when I was in school. We called it Cutting Class. 
The parents go out surfing with kids on the middle school team. There are some really good surfer parents too. Here is one of the parents going left and Lucas on the right. Yes I am glad I got them away from the standard sports. Here is a practice where you can surf and get points for taking your kid to 'practice'.
The colors changed on almost every wave as the sun went down. I should probably send these to David to figure out how to get them a bit better
Here is the last wave out all by himself right before dark.
Even though this was team practice there was some soul tonight.
