You never know what great talent will emerge from the water at one of these events.

The National Scholastic Surfing Association circuit is where young surfers are groomed for the next level, and there’s been many champions who have used the contests as a training ground for the big leagues. So if you want to make sure you don’t miss the hungry surfers battling for titles, mark your calendars for the key dates of events in Orange County.

2012 NSSA INTERSCHOLASTIC STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2012 NSSA College, High School and Middle School State Championships

March 9-11 Huntington Beach Pier

2012 NSSA JR. NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIPS

April 21 Huntington Beach Pier

2012 NSSA WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS
2012 NSSA West Coast Open, Explorer and Airshow Championships
May 17-20 Huntington Beach Pier

2012 NSSA NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
2012 NSSA National Interscholastic College, High School and Middle School Championships
June 14-17 Salt Creek, Dana Point

2012 NSSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
2012 NSSA National Explorer Championships – June 26-28 Huntington Beach Pier

2012 NSSA National Airshow Championships – June 26-July 3 Huntington Beach Pier

2012 NSSA National Open Championships/Mayor’s Cup – June 28-July 3 Huntington Beach Pier

CHECK OUT SOME PHOTOS FROM LAST YEAR’S WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Here’s more from the announcement:

The National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) reveals its extensive 2012 Championship Series dates with a schedule featuring nationally ranked athletes, schools and top caliber competition. The schedule includes seven championships – featuring competition in Team, Novice, Airshow, Explorer and Open categories - plus the crowning of Regional and National Champions.

The NSSA is pleased to announce that Nike will continue for the third consecutive year as the title sponsor of the 2012 Championship Series which includes its prestigious and world renowned National Championships which crowns scholastic champions in a variety of age divisions and formats. “We are extremely excited that Nike will be on board for the third consecutive year elevating their presence as the official NSSA Championship title sponsor,” said Janice Aragon, NSSA Executive Director. “This truly represents their continued commitment to the NSSA’s scholastic membership, academic ideals and our premier competition program.”

“Nike is excited to continue supporting NSSA featuring the best amateur surfers competing for a National Championship and the Mayor’s Cup in Huntington Beach,” said Greg Gorski, Nike West Marketing Manager. “Not only are they working hard to progress their sport but also hold high academic ranks amongst their peers to make them great, well rounded athletes.”

The City of Huntington Beach will host four championship events on the 2012 NSSA Championship schedule including the thirty-fifth National Championships and third annual Mayor’s Cup presented by Nike to be held June 26^th through July 3^rd on the southside of the pier. “Huntington Beach is a community that has embraced numerous amateur and professional surfing events on the national and international level,” Aragon said. “Everyone involved always puts forward a great deal of effort and enthusiasm into the NSSA Championship events. We feel very fortunate that Huntington Beach, Surf City USA will host these premier events for another year.”

Along with the National Championships and Mayor’s Cup, the southside of Huntington Beach Pier will be the site of the Interscholastic State Championships March 9-11, the NSSA Junior Novice Championships April 21 and the West Coast Regional Championships May 17-20.

In addition to the championships in Huntington Beach, the NSSA is excited to announce other key venues for its championship locations. The 2012 East Coast Regional Championships will be held in one of the most consistent breaks on the east coast, New Smyrna Beach. The 2012 Hawaii Regional Championships will be held in the contestable reef peaks of Kewalos located on Oahu’s south shore. The NSSA will carry on the tradition of presenting the 2012 National Interscholastic Championships at the legendary point break-style lefts of Salt Creek which is nestled in a beautiful cove at the northern end of Laguna Niguel.

More info: nssa.org

Follow reporter Laylan Connelly on Twitter @ ocbeaches, or at facebook.com/ocbeaches.

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