Mike Sciacca Charlie McMahon is in his...

Mike Sciacca

Charlie McMahon is in his fourth year with the Laguna Beach High

surf team and has been witness to not only the program’s successes,

but plenty of change, too.

In this, his senior year, McMahon is surfing, for the third time

in four years, under the direction of a new coach.

For a successful program that has churned out some outstanding

surfers down through the years, that’s a lot of change.

“I’ve been through a lot of coaches, but I know we got a good

one,” McMahon said of Scott Finn, who is in his first year as head

coach. “He brings a lot of great experience to our program and has

taught us some great competitive strategy as well as team spirit. I

think he’s really great for our program.”

Finn, 28, is a full-time physical education teacher at Thurston

Middle School.

The former professional surfer on the World Qualifying Series tour

comes to Laguna Beach after having served as an assistant coach at

Dana Hills High.

“I’ve talked to a few of the Dana Hills surfers, and they’re

envious that we have their coach,” McMahon said.

McMahon is one of Finn’s top surfers on a talented 12-member boys’

short-board team that was undefeated in the Sea-View League heading

into this week’s competition schedule.

The league consists of Laguna Beach, Newport Harbor, Mater Dei,

Los Alamitos, Santa Margarita and Calvary Chapel.

The Breakers -- a good name for a surf team -- were 5-1 overall.

Laguna Beach’s surfing program also consists of boys’ longboard, a

girls’ division and open bodyboard.

“We’re having a very successful year, and it’s been a lot of fun

so far,” Finn said. “These kids have grown up in Laguna Beach and

have surfed together, so they jell as a team.

“One important aspect is that they are really taking in my

coaching philosophy, and that is to create a game plan, take

ownership of that game plan, and carry it through in heat

competition. They are doing quite well with that.”

In addition to McMahon, Laguna Beach’s top surfers on the boys’

shortboard squad include juniors Brad Burdick and Ian Tucker and

senior Steve Manee.

Other standouts are seniors Brendan “Noogy” Stevens, Dustin

Pettite and Tom McMahon; the Zoller brothers, junior Isaac and

freshman Nate; and a pair of freshmen, Edgar O’Brand and Ryah Arthur.

“They’re a very talented group of surfers who are really

comfortable in the water,” Finn said. “One of my goals as a coach is

to take the talent they possess, and channel it into surfing

competitively.”

The team, which numbers 26 members total, practices two to three

mornings each week, with a water wake-up call of 6:30 a.m. before the

start of the school day.

One activity they do battle in is called a “challenge heat.”

Those heats are held after each contest. If a surfer fails to

finish among the top three in his competition heat, he must enter a

“challenge heat” with his teammates to reserve a spot in the starting

lineup for the Breakers’ next meet.

Laguna Beach is in competition anywhere from two to three times

weekly.

The Breakers’ next match is set for Tuesday against Mater Dei at

Thalia Street.

The Sea-View League finals are scheduled for Dec. 3. The top

surfers from each school will vie for the league’s individual title.

The state championship tournament will take place in Oceanside in

January, 2003. Laguna Beach will be one of the smaller enrollment

schools battling it out with schools from throughout the state.

“We’ll be one of the smaller schools competing, but my goal is to

reach at least the quarterfinal round,” Finn said. “We have the

talent to do it.”

Finn says that his first year at Laguna Beach is a stepping stone

for the program.

“My main objective is to create a prestigious surfing program in

Laguna Beach,” he said. “Not only in regards to surfing, but by

creating well-rounded students and individuals.

“I got into coaching to help enable these kids take a sport that

they love and enjoy, and help them take it to the next level, if

that’s what they desire,” he said.

“I’m fortunate to be in a place with such a great surfing

experience as here in Laguna, and that platform will give me the

opportunity to take what I’ve learned through my surfing career and

give back to these kids,” he said. “That’s the big picture.”