Maui Nix Team Rider, Luke Marks is off to the Ripcurl Nationals in California!
Question: What are your thoughts about competing for a Rip Curl Grom Search national title?
Answer: I’m stoked I made it! Looking forward to surfing Ocean Beach. I heard it can get really good there. I’m going to try as hard as I can and try and win it. Hopefully see Kelly {Current 10 time World Champion, Kelly Slater} win #11. Go East Coast!!!
Elite, committed athletes are not a vast group on the east coast of the United States and while not rare, to be counted as among them, takes a lot of dedication, skill and sacrifice. Standing high among these, is Florida sensational surfer, Luke Marks. We at Nix are proud to have the title of shop sponsor with this fine young accomplished athlete.
At 13, he has already amassed the attention of top sponsors with his skill. And, on November 1st, he is off to San Francisco, California to take part in the Ripcurl National Gromsearch Championship Finals. A win there, will see him taken in the spring, to the Ripcurl Bells World Gromsearch Finals. This is an enormous accomplishment but with Lukes track record, it is not surprising.
Besides notching the win for his division on the east coast leg of the Gromsearch, he is
- -NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Association) 2010 East Coast Champion {Explorer Menehune Division}
- -Currently first in 4 divisions in the current NSSA conference schedule and currently leading his division(s) in the Atlantic Surfing Federation Florida season. (both organizations are the only ones on the east coast under the wing of the National Governing Body, Surfing America)
Under the sponsorship of Maui Nix, FOX, Etnies, Freak Traction, Dragon Eyeware, Orion Surfboards, Xcel Wetsuits, FCS, Head Hunter Sun Screen, Luke has a heady list of backers and people who believe in him.
Before anyone thinks this is another surfer who might be totally focused on his athletics, add this to his credentials:
Florida gifted program 2009-2010
Academic excellence award 2010
Straight A’s 2008-2009-2010
Perfect FCAT scores 2008-2009-2010
Nominated: Bright Young Minds of
America. Washington DC.
Grade point average 2009 -2010. 101.4
“I have had the honor of working with many of the top groms and young athletes in the competition surfing world on the east coast in the last 20 years”, said Maui Nix Surf Manager, Brian Broom, “ and I can only recall a very few who come close to him at his age group. Eric Taylor, Evan Geisleman, to name a couple who come to mind. This grom has the best attitude, spirit, enthusiasm and focus and we will be watching the event live most definitely. Luke is at 13, a cornerstone of our surfing team program and is an example athlete. The Elite class is comprised of our kids who are totally committed and positive in lifestyle and have the highest marks in the tri-fold criteria of style, attitude and performance. Luke scores perfect in all three”
Luke is going places and right now, its the cold waters of San Francisco.
We think he will be right at home.