Riding waves

Mark A. Peinado

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- It’s morning, and the sun is streaming through the

window of Rocky McKinnon’s second-story condominium. He steps out onto

his porch and a smile comes to his face.

Peering across the street, McKinnon, 22, can see the beach. And what he

sees would bring a grin to any surfer’s face: The waves are up, giving

McKinnon the inspiration to wax his long board and take to the tide.

Slowly but surely, McKinnon’s life has evolved to riding the waves with

champion surfers in Hawaii.

In 1998, the Downey native entered six of eight events in Surf City’s

amateur series, winning four of them and taking the series championship.

It qualified him for the 1999 U.S. Amateur championships in Oceanside.

McKinnon made it to the semifinals.

“I thought I placed second, but five out of six judges had me fourth,”

McKinnon said. “It was my first real big contest. I’ve requalified for

that in Hawaii in July, and I plan on winning it.”

McKinnon isn’t only a wave rider, he also is an entrepreneur. For the

past five years, McKinnon has studied the different aspects of shaping

and polishing surfboards.

“I started surfing, and you get dings or cracks in your surfboard,”

McKinnon said. “I was good with fixing and building things, so I started

to learn how to shape and build.”

He worked with local surfboard shop owner Richard Hines to learn the

trade. Under Hines, McKinnon was also able to surf in the mornings and

work in the afternoons.

“I knew right then and there shaping surfboards was going to play a role

in my life,” McKinnon said.

After a year with Hines, McKinnon, at 19, got a job at Spanners Co. and

learned polishing.

“I was the youngest guy,” McKinnon said. “It was big time, gaining

experience with a bunch of men. All of them really took me under their

wing.”

Through his three years of experience at Spanners Co., McKinnon started

his own company, McKinnon’s Shapes and Designs. He also has taken a job

as a polisher at Waterman’s Guild in Santa Ana.

“I’m getting friends who are big-name pros to ride my boards,” McKinnon

said. “I love to shape and love to surf. It’s my life now.”

His mom, Terry McKinnon, although supportive was still not sold on his

new career choice.

“When I went to school, surfers were the beach bums,” she said. “I never

understood the potential. He’s educated and enlightened me. He’s done so

much in a short period of time. I’m so proud of him.”

McKinnon’s life has been filled with twists and turns -- some he has

welcomed, others have had him wondering what direction his life should

take.

When McKinnon was 3, his father, Ralph Jr. McKinnon, was diagnosed with

colon cancer. The McKinnons owned a liquor store, but with his father

unable to tend to his duties, they sold it.

“My husband became Mr. Mom,” Terry McKinnon said. “It was sort of a

blessing because they got very close, and Rocky got to know his dad.”

McKinnon said he didn’t really know about his father’s condition.

“He was going in and out of the hospital,” McKinnon said. “Finally he

went in and passed away. He taught and showed me a lot of things that I

still carry with me today. Integrity, honesty and how to have a good

time.”

During the time of his father’s illness, McKinnon gained more admiration

for his mother.

“I have a lot of respect for her,” McKinnon said. “I notice a lot about

myself -- a great deal of compassion and sensitivity -- something you

don’t see unless you’re around a woman who shows you these aspects.”

And in 1993, a decision that his mom made helped McKinnon find his life’s

path. After refinancing her house, she bought a condo in Huntington

Beach.

And the opportunity to surf gripped McKinnon.

“All of a sudden this ocean energy just engulfed me,” McKinnon said.

“Surfing is for me, and I’m stoked about that. [Buying the condo] was one

of the most influential things to happen to me.”

He started out body surfing but soon took to a board.

Although McKinnon loved surfing, school wasn’t something he felt

passionate about.

“I knew I had what it takes if I applied myself, but I felt I needed a

change and a new start,” McKinnon said.

McKinnon’s plans are to take long boarding to the next level and gain

name recognition. He plans to compete in the sport’s biggest contest, the

U.S. Open in July here in Surf City. In August, McKinnon will compete in

Costa Rica, and come March he wants to go to a contest in Australia.

“I thank my friends, family, sponsors and my mom who have helped and

taken me under their wing,” McKinnon said. “It’s those people who have

really helped me out to this point in my life.”