Violence with Grace - TJ Gumiela
From what I notice some groms are “explosive” on a board but they usually aren’t the same kids I would deem “consistent.” And especially around here in NY I think you seldom see any one surfer have a solid grasp on the two traits enough to utilize them both at one time in harmonious fashion. TJ Gumiela seems to have harnessed a balance b/t each realm making him not only fun to watch, but also a quiet threat in regional surf events. In a place where getting paid to surf is a rarity, TJ has worked his bum off to beat and stay ahead of the curve and is now on salary with Zoo York. Not to mention all along the way he’s done so with a humble head (a direct reflection of good parenting I suppose).
If you don’t know him yet, look out for TJ as you’re officially on notice. Under the mentoring of the Skudin Clan (so it seems), TJ is one of the young guns putting a torch to the future ass of NY surfing. And “Who am I?,” you might ask. I’m nobody but a guy at the beach with his eyes open. And not that he’s asking me but if he was my advice to TJ might go a little something like this:
“Youth is KING! … Learn it, know it, and own it before you’re old and washed like the rest of us [or in my case, just plain old]. Make sure you enjoy the ride and have fun growing. Don’t submit to any pressure as you’ve already made New Yorkers proud. Keep up the good work and progression as long as you can so when you raise you’re own little family of surfstars you’ll have something to brag about.” Well, he already has a few things to brag about but I’m sure you won’t hear him talking about himself. Whatever, you know what I mean. Just check the kid out, he’s a solid surfer and he’s really nice.
Pompermayer/TheShot.com.br
Check Wetsand for more shots of TJ training with fellow New Yorker, WIll Skudin, and Hawaiian big wave pioneer, Garrett McNamara:
http://www.wetsand.com/photos/pd/20090126/first_look-9027.html
