5 Minutes with surfer Tristan Thompson

By Darby Moore | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Thinking back to how life was at 18 years old, many of us would say that we were simply trying to find our way. We would say that we were searching for colleges to attend after high school, or for full-time employment after earning a diploma.

Not many of us, if any, could say that we were getting paychecks at 18 for doing the sport we love. Much less for surfing behind a jet ski and speeding through the waters of Jacksonville Beach…at night.

However, this seemingly ridiculous lifestyle is Tristan Thompson’s reality. A Jacksonville Beach local, Thompson’s talents far outweigh one’s expectations of a teenage athlete.

Thompson has experienced a recent bout of success in the competitive surfing world, winning the Red Bull Night Riders contest held in Jacksonville Beach Nov. 21, as well as the Junior Pro Men’s Division of the Tommy Tant Memorial Classic held in Flagler Beach in November.

Part of the locally recognized “Thompson Tribe,” consisting of Thompson’s three older brothers Cody, Evan and Trey, these brothers have created quite a presence on the surf scene.

Thompson took the time to discuss his recent success in the world of competitive surfing, the influence his older brothers have on his surfing and much more.

https://vimeo.com/113357099