By Raci Levine
Features Editor
Mira Costa senior surf team captain Sean Yuch models and surfs for Ruett Clothing.
Yuch learned how to surf during Junior Lifeguards in 2016 on a nine-foot foam paddle board. He began by surfing once or twice a week, but now it is part of his everyday lifestyle.
“[My] favorite part about surfing is the feeling when you’re completely in the moment and everything goes quiet,” Yuch said. “I don’t think about anything, and it’s a very pure experience. I kick out and I am just full of joy.”
In the beginning of November, Yuch became sponsored by Ruett Clothing, a company out of Oxnard and Ventura. Yuch receives merchandise from the brand, and in return he spreads the word about Ruett Clothing. Ruett’s motto is about staying true to oneself and representing the common man. Their most recent release includes hats, t-shirts and sweatshirts.
“One of my goals is to help raise awareness of the brand in the South Bay,” Yuch said. “[The clothing] sells itself. The clothes are very soft and nice. I am really excited to have this opportunity.”
Costa surf coach Jeremy Ryan owns the company. Ryan is always there to give Yuch free advice and helpful tips. In addition, Yuch will start modeling for Ruett clothing on Ruett’s website, ruettclothing.com and Instagram, @ruettclothing. Ryan also helps Yuch while he is competing in different competitions.
“I have competed mostly in [the] South Bay Board Rider Club contest seriously,” Yuch said. “I got fifth in that two years ago before the pandemic. I have done a lot of contest[s] through the school; we just competed in the Kick Off Classic two weekends ago where I got third place in long boarding.”
Yuch is the captain of Costa’s surf team, and his go-to board is a superbrand toy sixfoot short board. He has been a part of the surf team throughout his four years at Costa, and he is grateful for the experiences and mentors he has met on his Costa surfing journey, according to Yuch.
“The high school coach Tracy Geller, has been a father-figure, a coach and a teacher to me,” Yuch said. “Coach Jeremy Ryan, who began coaching me this summer, pushed me to improve.”
Yuch is inspired by American surfer John Florence and admires how humble and down-to-earth he is. Yuch tries to take Florence’s energy with him in all of his competitions. He hopes in the future to compete in professional events for the experience.
“Surfing is the hardest sport to learn and get good at; everything is dynamic and changing,” Yuch said. “No two waves are the same. My advice is don’t give up or be too hard on yourself because it is unlike any other experience out there.”
Yuch surfs all over the South Bay, but his favorite spot is the El Porto Jetty. When the waves are good, he is there in the south side when it’s breaking off the sandbar in the fall. Yuch’s favorite break that he has ever surfed is Black’s Beach surf spot in La Jolla.
“My dream surf spot is [in] Keramas, Bali,” Yuch said. “That spot looks so fun to put together a bunch of turns on and warm waters.”
In college, Yuch hopes to compete on the surf team. He is planning to major in marine biology at his dream school, University of California San Diego, where he will be surfing in more competitions.
“My favorite competition was in March, the El Porto Boardriders Contest sponsored by ET Surf, [a local water-sports shop, in which] I got second,” Yuch said. “It is memorable because the waves were really small and terrible and it was grinding the whole day.”
Yuch also began teaching surfing to newcomers about two summers ago. He began as an instructor for Camp Surf and now does private lessons. He has taught individuals ranging from six to 45 years old.
“It never gets old seeing them stand up for the first time,” Yuch said. “[For the kids] to experience that feeling of flying on water and just the sheer joy on their face when they fall off or get to the beach.”
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