By Jondi Gumz
Two Soquel High juniors, Cheryl Brightfield and Jack Snyder, placed first in the Santa Cruz Scholastic Surf League individual championships Feb. 3 at The Hook.
Cheryl was stoked to finish first in the shortboard, as she’s new to it, and second in the longboard.
Jack was first in the longboard, taking first in that contest for the third straight year.
Competitors come from Aptos High, Santa Cruz High, Harbor High, Half Moon Bay, Marin Tamalpais and St. Ignatius.
Cheryl, 17, is a junior who’s been on the surf team for two years. She lives in Capitola, which puts her close to the ocean, and she devotes about 10 hours a week surfing.
Jack, 16, lives in Soquel, about 15 minutes from his favorite surf spot at Pleasure Point where he grew up longboarding with his dad, trainer and KPIG surf reporter Rocky Snyder. Jack spends about 15 hours a week surfing: “It is the best time.”
Each earned a wooden plaque for their accomplishment.
Capitola-Soquel Times interviewed Cheryl and Jack.
Cheryl Brightfield
Is this your best finish in the scholastic league?
What helped you place first?
I caught one wave and did a single turn that scored 8.9 (the top score is 10). Probably wave selection, how they would line up, and months of practice.
My best scores were 8.9 + 7.7 for a total of 16.6.
The second place was 8.1 + 6.47 for 14.57.
(Editor’s note: Unlike ice skating, where all skaters compete on the same ice, ocean conditions vary for each surfer.)
When did you start surfing?
Three years ago in Capitola. My sister introduced me.
What helped you get to where you are now?
Consistency for sure, knowing the ocean. Having friends to surf with makes it a lot more fun.
The surf team practices every Wednesday from 4:30 to 6 but most kids stay late or go before.
I’m new at shortboard. I honed in on it in the past month.
Your favorite shortboard?
I only have one, Sharp Eye #77 model.
Your longboard?
Bueno Life made by Bing in Encinitas.
What are your post-high school plans?
I’m looking into a 4-year college. I have a 4.0 gradepoint which is 4.5 weighted. I’d like to be near the ocean, so UC Santa Cruz, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, or UC Santa Barbara, which has a surfing team. So does SLO. UC Santa Barbara is so gorgeous, I walked through it with my mom. One of my friend’s older sisters competed to get on the UCSB surfing team and she made it.
I’m interested in marine biology and also real estate — I’ve been looking at Zillow since I was 10.
Jack Snyder
What helped you place first?
That one was definitely one of best waves that came through all day. It was lot bigger than any other wave. I hung 10 in the pocket of the wave. I just kind of blanked out. I don’t remember much.
When did you start surfing?
Probably about a year and a half when my dad took me out, then when I was 9. I might have grown up more on the ocean than the land.
What helped you get to where you are now?
Part of it is practice. I also have a surf coach, his name is C, who has helped me and my dad as well. I’m surfing every day.
Your longboard?
It’s by Source and it works really well for me. Nick Palandrani shapes all my surf boards.
What are your post-high school plans?
Probably go to Cabriilo for two years to get my fire science degree, then transfer to a 4-year in Southern California and get a business degree — UC Santa Barbara or CSU San Diego.
Why fire science?
Being in the ocean, I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I’ve surfed at Mavericks when it’s big enough and I saw how the rescue crews worked. It’s really exciting to see it first-hand. That’s what made think of fire science or water rescue.
Will you keep surfing in college?
Hopefully I would. I don’t know if I could live without it.
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TOP PHOTO: Jack Snyder and Cheryl Brightfield with their medals.