Is 2% The New Brazilian Storm?

“Crosby wasn’t that good at surfing, he wasn’t like Griffin — Griff was this prodigy kid,” said Seth Moniz, during the filming of DNA.

Self-admittedly, Crosby Colapinto has spent his entire life looking up to his older brother — trying at once to imitate and learn from him. It’s a dynamic which he admits may have limited him in the past, fueling a bit of ‘little brother syndrome’ — as he calls it.

Now however, they’re on level ground.

2024 will see the two compete — hopefully in some head-to-head heats — for the chance to become the first Californian World Champion in three decades.

By qualifying at Saquarema, Crosby has, at 22 years old, accomplished one of his lifelong dreams. And, like all of his 2% comrades, he cites some well-directed introspection and a newfound sense of community as the reasons for this breakthrough.

As much as we’ve been accused of overhyping the 2% narrative, it’s truly impossible to ignore the success they’ve had in mirroring one of the most admirable aspects of the Brazilian Storm — camaraderie.

In a pastime as famously individualistic as surfing, it’s remarkable how undeniably uplifting a sense of family can be for surfers — both in terms of mindset and performance.

Don’t believe us? Just ask the four 2%ers who just qualified.

The question then becomes — will the American Storm continue it’s warpath on the Championship Tour?

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Stab: Hey Crosby! Congrats on the qualification — you been celebrating?

Crosby: Yeah! Last night all the Americans had a barbecue, had some drinks and just had a bit of fun. It wasn’t crazy big, but it was just everyone who qualified — our crew, Alyssa [Spencer], Jake Marshall, and Imai were all cruising. It was sick.

Does it feel how you thought it would?

It feels pretty good. Yeah, it kinda feels how I thought. Maybe I thought it would feel a little more prestigious? [laughs] It just feels like a lifelong goal achievement. I’m definitely soaking it in because it’s a sick feeling, but looking forward to getting on tour. That cut is going to be another pressure cooker, so gotta make that too. I feel pretty confident with the events in the first half of the year.

You had a pretty solid run of QS results, did you have a feeling you were going to carry that momentum through the Challenger Series this year? Or was this pretty unexpected for you?

Nah I was ready. I made it a goal of mine to make this the year of the hardest work I’ve ever had. Working on heat strategy and then working with Troy Eckert as a mental coach — finding that helped me so much. Just getting on top of my mind has been the most helpful. I’ve been working with Troy for almost a year now, he gives me advice and shows me that contests aren’t everything. I’ve started to figure out what works for me, and what type of person I want to become. 

I’ve just learned to enjoy life for how it is — I get to surf everyday and travel the world with my best friends.

Who has the most surprising congratulations come from since qualifying?

Kanoa did a story for me, and I didn’t expect that, because we’re not super close. Him and Griffin have a little rivalry going, so I was surprised. It was a really cool post, I was stoked on that. 

It’s impossible to talk to you without bringing up your brother. It seems like you guys have an incredible relationship and he just wrote a very kind Instagram post about you — but siblings can throw a big shadow. Do you think you’d be a better or worse surfer without your brother being there? 

Oh I wouldn’t even be a surfer if it weren’t for Griffin. When I was younger I was never really into surfing. My parents wouldn’t really push me as hard as they would push Griffin. But I had Griffin pushing me every day to surf with him. When I started doing contests I was just losing a bunch, and I hated losing. Once I kinda got that fire, when I was 13, that’s when it really clicked for me. Griff was always coaching me, helping me, pushing me to surf. Ever since I got that fire going, he’s been such a big role model for me. Having him qualify when he was young means that he’s already lived what I’m going through — being able to ask him questions and rebound stuff off him has been so helpful. He wants it for me as bad as I want it.

You’ve talked about always looking up to him and seeing him as the better surfer — do you ever think that dynamic limits you? 

Yeah, it’s almost like little brother syndrome. If I said I didn’t have that I would be lying. It’s definitely there, but I’ve surfed with Griffin my whole life and it’s just on surf trips in the past couple years where I’ve been able to keep up with him. I feel like I’m at that level, and he just got 3rd in the world. 

I think now I’m more mature — I’ve qualified, made heats, proved to myself that I can do it. I feel like my mind is ready. 

What I’m working on with Troy is a lot of internal stuff. It’s less about surfing, and more about who I am on the inside.

Before I started working with him I would always say I was ready to qualify, but deep down I could never feel it. I could never picture myself doing it. I didn’t truly have confidence in myself. Working with him we found the right way to think to bring out the confidence, and started doing the right things to make me feel good. I’ve gotten way better at trusting what life throws at me. 

What’s your guys’ head to head record? Do you keep track?

No we don’t, but we’ve only had one heat together in the WSL, at Sunset. I beat him, but it was a four-man heat. It was me, Jett Schilling, Griff, and some other guy — Jett and I made it. That’s the only heat we’ve had together, but it would be sick to get one this year. 

Which CT events do you feel the most confident at?

Shit, I kinda back myself at all of them, honestly. But, contests now, everyone is equally as good. It’s all about who’s on top of their mindset, who can put themselves on the best waves.

That’s what I’ve learned on the Challenger this year, whoever is the better competitor is making heats. It’s not always the best surfer. 

Who’s the best surfer that lives in San Clemente right now?

Griffin, for sure.

Surfing is famously individualistic — but it seems like the San Clemente crew has really flourished from lifting each other up and having each other’s backs. How important is camaraderie in surfing? 

I think it’s the most important thing. I mean, look at this year. It’s the first time we’ve come together and started cheering for all of our friends, and just being there for each other if we lose. Genuinely being happy for your friends when they do well, while all pushing each other, is just so important. 

We weren’t the first ones to do it, we saw the Aussies doing it, and obviously the Brazilians. When Brother got on the Challenger it brought everyone closer, and then it obviously worked. When Cole won Narrabeen and Ballito it just felt like a momentum train, and we all realized this is how to do it.

Do you think it’ll be harder to continue that on the CT?

I think it’ll be the same. We know it works, and we’re all such tight friends. We hang out every day at home, and then go on these surf trips and contests trips. We’re together every day. Every guy I stay with is basically like a brother. We just all want the best for each other and we’ll do that on the CT for sure.

Has there been any resentment because not all of you made it?

No. It’s all love. Jett [Schilling] didn’t make it, but he’s so stoked for us and he knows his time is coming. Everyone is working on their mindset, and he’s just trusting that process.

So, is 2% the new Brazilian storm?

[laughs] Fuck! It might be yeah. The American Storm.

How much of your success would you attribute to Kolohe Andino?

How he is as a role model has been one of the biggest takeaways in my life. Looking back now, seeing that he was taking me to go surf when I was 15 — and he was 24 on tour — that was incredible. It fired me up so much. And then, everything he’s done for the community, bringing everyone together is really cool. He would put contests on when we were young too, which was amazing. I think everyone’s success this year is from Brother, bringing us all together and showing us what support really means.

How do you guys initiate people into the 2% gang? Is it exclusive? 

[laughs] Nah it’s not really like that. If someone’s cool and they want to hang out and surf with us, and travel with us, they can just hop on our program. 

What’s your biggest goal going into 2024?

My biggest goal would be to make the Top 5 for sure, and then win Rookie of the Year too. That would be huge.