CHRISTIAN STUTZMAN
Full Name:
Christian Stutzman
Age:
22
Hometown:
San Clemente, CA
Stance:
Regular
Where do you currently live?
Hermosa Beach, CA
What’s your favorite local spot to surf?
South side of the Hermosa Beach Pier is my go-to spot at the moment, however I just recently moved this year up here from San Diego, so my favorite local spot down there is without a doubt Cardiff Reef.
Favorite place to surf?
Cardiff is my absolute favorite spot in the world. When I lived down in San Diego I surfed it every day, it was very rare to see me anywhere else. The versatility and consistency of the waves there, coupled with an insanely awesome local crowd made that wave more fun to me than any wave I have ever surfed.
Favorite Trick?
Hanging heels, however recently I have been getting down “noseriding” fins first on the tail of the surfboard, and there is nothing more satisfying than the feeling of doing that trick perfectly.
What’s your favorite board?
My 9’7 The Beast model from Jose. The thing noserides like a dream while still being able to crank out turns when I want to.
What are some of your favorite bands/singers?
Nahko and Medicine for the People, Radical Face, and Mumford and Sons.
Where do you work?
I currently work as a California State Lifeguard at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach.
What are your favorite TV shows / movies?
Some of my favorite TV shows are Game of Thrones, Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Archer, and some of my favorite movies are Spirited Away, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and The Dark Knight Trilogy.
How did you get started surfing?
I basically had no choice. My parents started pushing me into waves at San Onofre when I was two years old, and I never looked back.
What are some of your other (non-surfing) hobbies?
Other than surfing, some of my favorite hobbies are playing guitar and hiking.
What was your first board?
The first board I remember having was a really beat-up trifin shortboard from the 80’s. I can’t remember the shaper of it, but I do remember it having a giant styled-out eyeball logo on the deck.
What was your first car?
My first car was a rusty 1985 Volvo 240 DL Station wagon.
Who is your favorite pro?
Right now, I would have to say that my favorite pro surfer is Alex Gray. Not only is he an incredible surfer, but more importantly he is so incredibly stoked out no matter what is going on, and he is able to spread that stoke to everyone around him as well.
If you could go surfing with one person...it would be ________?
Gerry Lopez
If you could go surfing anywhere it would be ____________?
Either Morocco or Japan, both have great waves and an incredible culture wholly unlike anything I have ever experienced.
What was your first surf trip?
The first proper surf trip I can remember taking was with my middle school surf team in 7th grade to Cardon in Mainland Mexico.
Do you have any upcoming trips planned?
Nothing as of now, maybe a trip or two down to Baja towards the end of the summer.
What is your favorite competition?
My favorite competition probably has to be the Swamis Surfing Association Return to the Reef contest at Cardiff Reef every year, because it is held at my favorite wave and has some of my favorite people in it.
What was your biggest win?
My biggest win was in 2017 at the Guy Takayama Pro Contest in Oceanside, where I placed third in both the Pro Open and the Pro Noseride divisions, beating out other contestants such as Phil Rajzman, who at the time was world champion, Taylor Jensen, Tommy Witt, and others. It was the most stacked contest I have ever been apart of, and to place third in both divisions was a dream come true for me.
What was your scariest moment in the water?
My scariest moment in the water was probably a wipeout I had on a double-overhead wave at Cardiff, where I had the longest hold-down of my life, and had to climb my leash back up to the surface because I couldn’t tell which way was up.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
My most embarrassing moment in surfing was when I picked up a brand new custom longboard from my previous shaper, took it out surfing, and had to come back three hours after I picked up the board because I had put a three inch long hole through the tail after a collision with another surfer.
Stay updated with Christian Stutzman at @cstutzcanhang