FROM THE SPORTS DESK:6 locals are board certified

Spring Break has come early for six young snowboarders from Costa Mesa. But it’s not really an extra week off for Sam Swanson, along with twin brothers Alex and Chandler Pearce, and the Tanbaras, Max, Dane and Leilani, all of whom will be competing at a national championship event at Tahoe, starting today.

With the intensity of the competition they could have probably used an extra week to prepare. The best snowboarders will be at this week’s United States of America Snowboard Assn. National Championship at the Northstar Resort.

Among the best will be these six characters who each have stories that are interesting, to say the least. We begin with Max Tanbara. He’s the top dog of the Tanbaras. The 12-year-old out of Ensign Intermediate might also be the toughest.

This past summer, he broke his collarbone and was out for three months. But not to worry, he’s used to rough stuff from constant battles with his younger brother Dane, 10, who attends Kaiser Elementary.

“We fight a lot,” Dane said. “[Last month] I threw my brother against the bar of the trampoline and it split open his face. He got about 10 stitches. He didn’t forgive me for a good three weeks. He got over it, but I think he’s still mad at me.”

It was understood that Max would return to the snow after breaking his collarbone during the summer. There was hardly any fear in him.

“I knew I was going to come back, but my worry was that I might be scared,” said Max, who is ranked 46th overall and No. 1 in Southern California for the 12-13 age division. “But I ended up doing twice as good. I think it was because pressure was put on me, but that helped me out, forced me to do what I needed to do.”

When Max and Dane aren’t roughhousing with each other, they team up and annoy their older sister Leilani, 16. A day doesn’t go by when they don’t all teach each other.

“Oh, we’re the typical brothers and sisters,” said Leilani, who attends Newport Harbor High. “But on the mountain, we are pretty close and we ride together all the time. We help each other out and there’s not any arguing.”

Last year, Leilani really needed the support.

She fractured her spine, while practicing. She was out for eight weeks. She’s a bit apprehensive now when competing, but that’s only when it comes to falling. So she does her best to stay away from spilling out.

Eight-year-old twins Alex and Chandler, who attend Christ Lutheran Elementary, are also familiar with injuries. Chandler collided with another snowboarder during one of his first runs four years ago when his father, Joel, was initiating him into the sport. He received eight stitches above his eyebrow.

Alex, who is older than Chandler by one minute, was dealt a concussion about two years ago. In a freak accident, he fell awkwardly when coming off the chairlift. But, like Chandler, he soon returned to the snow. That’s where their friendship with Sam Swanson gets stronger.

But it’s not like they don’t do other stuff together. Sam, who attends Sonora Elementary, lives a few doors down from the Pearces and the boys alternate as the host of sleepovers just about every weekend. They ride bikes together, go skateboarding, swim at the Pearces’ pool and sometimes watch movies.

They also help each other out on the snow, giving each other advice on how to take on a turn or a move. They’re not related by blood, but they’re like family on the snow. After all, Sam helped the Pearces get into snowboarding.

Sam’s loved it ever since he started when he was 4 years old. Fortunately, he has stayed away from major injuries. His mother is hoping to keep it that way.

She and her husband, Casey, brought Sam and Ben, 6, along on ski trips to get away from the city.

Sam’s mom is Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley.

But, Sam is making a name for himself in snowboarding. Last year, he placed sixth at the nationals against 31 other boarders.

“I feel under pressure now because I’m in a higher division,” Sam said.

The six from Costa Mesa have all competed in the nationals at least once and this year they’re planning to make their extra week away from school worthwhile.

STEVE VIRGEN is sports editor of the Daily Pilot. He can be reached at (714) 966-4616 or via e-mail at [email protected].