“I LOVE MY JOB.”
ROAD TRIPPING WITH JANICE ARAGON IN THE NSSA’S 25TH YEAR

By Mike Fish

Somewhere around Pensacola, FL, rain falls from the sky in sheets. So much that it’s hard to see out the front windshield and maneuver the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s Ford F-250 diesel truck—let alone the huge, gawky trailer it’s pulling. “It just doesn’t rain like this out west,” mutters NSSA Executive Director Janice Aragon to NSSA Southwest Conference Director Gayline Clifford, the loyal co-worker who accompanies her on all the round-trip motorings from Huntington Beach, CA, to Sebastian Inlet, FL. But it’s only 2086 miles to California from here, and Janice has seen this road before; she’ll see it many times again. It’s all just part of her job—and at that, she smiles.

Born in 1978, the NSSA celebrates its 25th birthday this summer. And for the last 11 years, Janice and the NSSA crew have helped take East Coast competitive surfing to an elevated level by making an annual pilgrimage to our coast ever since, and giving the organization’s national office a personal presence at the NSSA Eastern Championships. What started as a one-day event in 1992 (held in New Smyrna Beach, FL) has evolved into a four-day extravaganza at Sebastian Inlet with 400 East Coast competitors scrapping for coveted titles. As Executive Director, Janice expresses the type of genuine devotion for surfing that parents would seek out in a kindergarten teacher for their child. That explains, in part, the NSSA’s overwhelming popularity as a competitive avenue on every U.S. coastline. Add to that its tightly run contests, the highly recognizable names of former champs like Tom Curren, CJ Hobgood, and Andy Irons, and a diverse atmosphere unlike any other—and it’s hard to deny that the NSSA is arguably the nation’s most dynamic amateur surfing organization. ESM spoke with Janice about her life with the NSSA, East Coast surfing, and what a long, but worthwhile ride it’s been.

ESM: Twenty-five years of running heats, hauling scaffolding, and putting on awards banquets. What’s your secret to not ending up in the loony bin?
JA: You’re asking me that after I just drove 6000 miles... [laughs] I love my job. I really like working with kids and I love the sport. At times, it can be very challenging. But it’s been a wonderful experience for me. Like I said, I love my job.

ESM: You are a west coast-based organization. Why did you decide to establish East Coast conferences?
JA: There were already two East Coast conferences established when I took over—the Northeast and the Southeast. And even though the NSSA is based in Huntington Beach, CA, it’s still a national organization.

ESM: Refresh us: what is your personal history with the NSSA?
JA: I was a competitor and won the Nationals in 1986. Shortly after, I had my son, so I couldn’t travel as much, but still wanted to stay involved. Soon after, I was asked by then Executive Director Joe Adams to start judging competitions. He taught me everything about judging. In the 1987-1988 season, I became the head NSSA judge. One thing led to another and, all of a sudden, I was named Executive Director in 1989.

ESM: What sets the NSSA, ESA, and USSF apart in your eyes—as both avenues for competition and reputable surfing organizations?
JA: The reality is there are various surfing organizations that run contests on the East, West, and Hawaiian coasts. Surfers just choose the organizations and events they want to participate in, based on what their goals are. If a surfer’s goal is to get to the Nationals, then he or she has to compete in the NSSA. It’s as simple as that. One thing that separates us from the rest is the scholastic element. And I think the parents really appreciate that we stress academics.

ESM: What exactly are the scholastic requirements for the program and how do you keep tabs on students’ grades? Do they have to hand in report cards?
JA: No one is allowed to participate in the NSSA without a 2.0 grade point average, if they are under the age of 18. We check report cards every year at the Nationals and they won’t get in unless they present their card with their entry form.

ESM: Ever have someone try to forge one?
JA: Yes. But there hasn’t been one of those circumstances in the last few years. Everyone usually realizes the importance of that standard. And I think all the kids and parents know we’ll catch them—and they’ll be barred from the Nationals and suspended from the NSSA as a result. We have strict guidelines regarding that.

ESM: What aspect of the job do you find the most challenging?
JA: Besides driving the 6000 miles to and from Florida? Well, one challenging part is getting the spots we want to hold contests at—you know, the best locations for the kids. The beach permit process is getting tougher and tougher. But I’d say the most challenging thing for me is the weather and the surf. I have absolutely no control over any of it. I’m always stressing about the surf.

ESM: What’s the most rewarding?
JA: Seeing our kids become successful when they leave us. There are so many of them who do that. Watching the past two years with back-to-back ASP World Champions that were former NSSA Champions—first CJ Hobgood and then Andy Irons—was amazing. Watching those guys rise to the top of pro surfing is so cool for us. Also, seeing the huge smiles on their faces when they win a title... it’s unreal.

ESM: How has the level of competition changed during the last decade?
JA: The bar is raised. More and more kids are competing and each year they just get better and better. I was very impressed with the performances of East Coast kids this year. Their level has risen.

ESM: What’s the most exciting East Coast memories in your tenure?
JA: Three come to my mind... First, Brian Toth’s domination in three divisions at this year’s NSSA Eastern Champs. That was incredible, record breaking, and pretty darn awesome to witness. Secondly, Eric Taylor. He has been such an NSSA icon—winning NSSA Eastern title after title. Third, back in 1997 when CJ and Damien were competing their last year in the NSSA. They were just ripping. We knew those kids were going places.

ESM: What changes with the NSSA do you anticipate in the future?
JA: Right now the NSSA has a really good system. And after working as Executive Director for 14 years, I have the job pretty wired. The Nationals is the highest-profile youth event in the world. I don’t really see too much changing right now.

ESM: Will Sebastian Inlet continue to be the spot for the NSSA Eastern Champs?
JA: Definitely. Because of the quality surf and popular reputation Sebastian Inlet has on the East Coast, it’s the perfect location for the NSSA Eastern Champs—just like Huntington Pier is for the Westerns and Lowers is for the Nationals. It seems like it’s the center of the surf world on the East Coast. We love the Inlet and it’s been really good to us for the past 10 years. There’s no way I’d want to move that location unless I had to. Plus, it’s really close to the ESM office. You gotta love that. I can always count on Mezzy and Doogie to be out there shooting pics.

ESM: Other than New Jersey and Florida, what about the lack of conferences in New England, Delmarva, and the Carolinas?
JA: Regrettably, we have kids who travel hundreds of miles to attend the Florida and Northeast conferences, so they can get to the Eastern Champs and then the Nationals. These kids are so dedicated and I know there are hundreds more who would participate if given the chance. So I recognize the definite need for expanded conferences. The problem for me is the workload. Finding someone to take the huge job of being an NSSA conference director isn’t easy. Before I open a new conference, I have to have the right person at the helm. But it’s on my table for consideration, and I think it’s going to happen within the next year or two.

ESM: What’s the current relationship between the NSSA and the ESA? Tensions don’t seem as heated as they were five years ago.
JA: I think we’re on neutral ground. The ESA has been around for a long time and I respect their longevity. Like I said, the kids choose the organizations they want to surf in, based on what their goals are. I just try and concentrate on the NSSA and putting on great events for kids.

ESM: What are the advantages of being an East Coast competitor as opposed to being a Hawaiian or Californian? What are Right Coasters’ strengths/ weaknesses?
JA: East Coasters are really dedicated to improving their skills competitively. And East Coast kids are able to develop their skills in all kinds of different situations, from really good waves to junk surf. I think some of them are more determined to do better because of the surfing conditions. The best example I can give is the Hobgoods. And we have kids coming up the ranks now who’re looking really good.

ESM: What accomplishments here on the East Coast are you most proud of since stepping in as Executive Director?
JA: Since I’ve stepped in, we’ve added two new conferences—the Southeast/ North and Gulf conferences. That’s really opened up opportunities for kids to surf the NSSA on the East Coast. And the Eastern Champs have grown from a one-day event at New Smyrna Beach to four days at Sebastian. That’s how much the NSSA has grown in the East. The reason for that is the four great guys I have there—Yancy Spencer (Gulf), Frank Cifarelli (Southeast), Leon Johnston (Southeast/ North), and Joe Keenan (Northeast). The NSSA East is huge because of those four guys.

ESM: What was the most trying thing you’ve ever had to deal with in your job? How did you overcome it?
JA: One of the toughest things for me to do was pull the NSSA National Team. The team was such a big part of the NSSA since the beginning in 1978, until I pulled the plug on it in 1996. That was the last team. At the time, I talked with all the directors and National Team Coach PT (Peter Townend) for advice. There was really no need for a national team anymore, because the kids were doing enough traveling on their own and had other conflicting interests. But it was still a really tough decision.

ESM: The competition genie grants you one wish, what would you do with it?
JA: Have perfect surf at Sebastian every year for the Eastern Champs. One of these days I’m going to pull up to the Inlet and see all those classic photos I’ve been seeing in the magazines all these years. But like I said before, we’ve been very, very fortunate—having contestable surf there every year.

ESM: Will we have to hear Leon Johnston sing for an hour or more at the Eastern Champs banquet until the end of time?
JA: You know, Leon’s a great guy. He really pours his heart into the NSSA, the way all the directors do. But I actually had to put a gag order on his singing this year. His wife Linda Johnston gave out the awards—much to the delight of the crowd [laughs].

ESM: And the most important question perhaps: how the hell do you take that six-day, 6000-mile round-trip drive from San Clemente to Sebastian for 11 years straight—and stay stoked?
JA: I only get to see the East Coast kids a couple times a year and I really look forward to it. And I think it’s so important for the office to have a national presence. The kids seem to really like it. And when the kids are stoked, we’re stoked.