Surfing Starr
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Zach Starr remembers his father taking him to a sandbar and pushing him out to some little white waters on a small soft board when he was around three years old. “From then on, I was hooked,” says Zach.
Now a freshman at Cox High School, Zach has won multiple longboard competitions, including winning the Eastern Surfing Association’s (ESA) East Coast Championship in October on Oahu’s North Shore. He travels to Hawaii annually every February for coaching as part of the ESA’s All-Star team. “My first time in Hawaii was the most memorable for me because the waves are nothing like the waves on the east coast,” says Zach. “From their sheer power and size, it really opens up what the possibilities are on a wave.” Zach’s ESA coach Jason Motes says, “Zach’s a really cool kid. He’s very polite and well-mannered, but once he’s in the water, he lights UP! He is extremely easy to coach because he is a good listener and really wants to get better.”
Zach notes that surfing for fun (“free surfing”) and competitive surfing are very different. “Free surfing is still my favorite. Having a pure connection to the ocean is something that probably only a surfer would understand. Getting in some overhead surf and a clean barrel; you’ll be stoked for weeks if you get one.”
Surfing for competition requires an intense level of commitment, physically and financially. Zach has a daily routine workout that is mandatory for him to stay in shape and stay strong. “In surfing, your body is your most important piece of equipment,” he says. “Surfing can be brutal on the body, so in order to perform to the best of my ability, I have to put in the time. Surfing is also expensive with competitions and travel. There is no getting around that.” Zach’s parents are extremely proud of his commitment to the sport. His dad Todd says, “We feel fortunate to have been able to travel to Hawaii this year and to watch him compete. With so many things being cancelled because of Covid, it gave our family something to look forward to. His love of the sport propels him and we’re proud of his accomplishments.”
As Zach continues to pursue his passion, he says, “At this point, my main goal is to have the most amount of fun possible while improving at the same time. I have met so many new friends from this sport and want to meet more. Surfing is meant to be a fun thing to do and it lets you connect with nature. I love it.”
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