Laguna’s very own Taylor Pitz. Photo: Chris Grant
If you’ve ever surfed any one of Laguna Beach’s reefs, coves or beach breaks and seen a tan, blonde, young lady flash a smile as she effortlessly outmaneuvered the crowd for yet another set wave that she went on to tear to pieces, you’ve likely witnessed the talents of Laguna’s very own Taylor Pitz. Once a sponsored and elite member of theUSA Surfing Team alongside notable World Tour competitors Courtney Conlogue and Lakey Peterson, Taylor decided after high school that she was more interested in collecting college degrees than she was in collecting more surfing trophies. Today, Taylor is a Political Science major with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). And, yes, she still surfs. As often as she can.
Mike Stice (MS): Did you grow up in a surfing family?
Taylor Pitz (TP): I grew up surfing with my dad. He used to take me surfing every day before school and drive me to contests on the weekends. It never mattered if it was cold, or flat, or raining, or windy–he was there for me 100%. And he did so much to help get me to where I am today. He is one of my biggest inspirations, and he is the world’s best dad. Looking back now, I’m so thankful to have all those memories with him.
MS: How did growing up in Laguna Beach influence the trajectory of your surfing life?
TP: Being a kid in Laguna, I was just always in the water. I think it really made me appreciate and understand the ocean from a young age. Surfing was part of my natural progression of growing up. As soon as I started surfing, it quickly became a huge part of my life. And I think Laguna has shaped me as a person, too. It’s such a vibrant, tight-knit community, and it’s an amazing place to be a part of.
MS: In your travels, have you ever been anywhere that reminded you of Laguna?
TP: I can honestly say I’ve never been anyplace that’s reminded me of Laguna. It’s a very unique place, and I’m not sure if there’s anywhere in the world quite like it.
MS: Surf travel is interesting, isn’t it? At times, surfers find themselves in tropical paradises like Tahiti. On other occasions, we may find ourselves in wave rich yet economically struggling locales like Nicaragua. How has experiencing these socioeconomic disparities firsthand affected you as a citizen of the world?
TP: Surf travel is an insane juxtaposition of beauty and heartbreak. I remember the first time I went to Bali when I was 16, and it felt like I landed in paradise. The scenery was stunning, but at the same time, I came across so many people who didn’t even have access to basic necessities like clean water. I think traveling so much at a young age helped me develop a global perspective. It made me appreciate things I had taken for granted, and it gave me a sense of responsibility to enact change during my lifetime.
MS: So, you were on the USA Surf Team. That’s an honor. How did you qualify for that and during what years were you a member of the team?
TP: Being a part of the USA Surf Team was a once in a lifetime experience. I qualified my freshman year of high school through USA Championships, and I competed with the team up into my freshman year of college.
MS: Who were some of your teammates on the USA Surf Team?
TP: I surfed with girls like Courtney Conlogue, Lakey Peterson, and Kaleigh Gilchrist. It’s pretty phenomenal that so many of the girls I surfed with now compete for world titles on the WCT, and I love cheering for them on the webcasts.
MS: Who coached you?
TP: During my time on the team I was privileged to work with coaches like Joey Buran, Sean Mattison, Ian Cairns, and many others.
MS: Has anything that you learned as a competitor translated to useful practices or applications elsewhere in life?
TP: I learned so much about surfing during my time competing and a couple life lessons too. I think working so hard at an individual sport, especially one in an ever-changing medium like the ocean, taught me a lot about self-discipline and perseverance.
