Sun, surf, and success: This Fil-Am teen is set to make waves in the US Jr National Surf Team

Photo from titus_santucci/Instagram

With sun, surf and waves, Titus Santucci is living his dream as the first Filipino-American in San Diego, California to qualify for the US Junior National Surf Team.

With the wealth of gorgeous beaches in the Philippines, it’s not surprising this 18-year-old of Filipino descent has his love for water. Born to surfer parents, his journey on the waves started at the young age of nine in Encinitas.

Santucci fondly recalls, “My dad would push me in the waves and so did my mom. It was cool to bring me in the surfing world and teach me everything I knew.

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Riding the waves and making it into history

After nine years of ripping up the waves and joining several competitions, Santucci received a call that would make him stoke for life—he earned his ticket to the prestigious US Junior National Surf team, outshining hundreds from various leagues.

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Santucci is no stranger to success; he recently snagged the Scholastic/Sportsmanship award at the Scholastic Surf Series High School State Surfing Championships, representing his alma mater’s squad last April.

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Then in May, he emerged champion at the 2023 West Coast Regional champions in the Explorer Mens (all ages) competition. In 2021, he also rode the swells high, securing 4th place in the Toyota USA Surfing Prime Series, under 16-year-olds boys category.

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Representing culture behind the swells

Making history of a remarkable kind, he proudly said, “I’m super stoked to be the first male American on the team. It’s super cool to represent my culture.”

“It’s cool to have the Filipino community and my family behind me,” he adds.

Santucci and the team are all gearing up for their next stop in the International Surfing Association’s Junior National Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with surfers from 50 countries competing.

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“We’re trying to raise money for travel, food and other expenses since we don’t get government help and so we can win the gold,” Santucci explains.