This article is by Andrew Kolondra, Jr., class of 2018.
While “surfer dude” stereotypes are often used to describe people on the Californian coast, the Sunshine State has surfers of its own. In fact, two of these avid surfers are juniors at AHS.
Nicholas Ulrich and Drake Shaw have been surfing together for more than two years, hanging ten at the beach almost every weekend. They’ve ridden the waves at Jupiter Inlet, Sebastian Inlet, Coco Beach, New Smyrna Beach and even Long Beach Island in New Jersey.
For Shaw, surfing is a family affair. “My father was a professional long boarder in the ‘90s and was ranked seventh in the world at one time. He surfed alongside some of the best surfers in the world,” Shaw said. “He started coaching me when I was young… I’ve been surfing my whole life.”
Ulrich has also been involved in water sports his whole life and has surfed for roughly four years. He plans to surf competitively in the future.
While Shaw has what he calls a “radical laidback style and grace on the waves,” Ulrich prefers to flaunt his “cranking backside cutbacks” and other surfing tricks. Either way, they both love to surf as often as possible and will likely continue to do so.
