Jake Marshall made the semifinals at the 2014 Shoe City Pro, losing to ultimate event winner Kanoa Igarashi. - WSL / Niltz
At 17 years old, Jake Marshall is one of North America's rising stars on the Junior Tour. "Jake's overall knowledge of the surfing game is way ahead of the curve for his age," says his coach, Chris Gallagher, a former CT star. "It's no accident either. He works hard at his craft everyday, whether it be surfing, studying tape, working out, yoga, boards etc., he puts in the hours. And now, as he grows and gains weight, his training and technique have intersected and he is really beginning to separate himself from the pack."
Meet the up-and-coming junior from San Diego, California. Video courtesy of Hurley Youth.
Marshall lives in Encinitas, and if he's not scouring the coast with his two little brothers he's usually with them skating in their backyard park. He's infused a healthy dose of skate flair into his stylish approach, but its clear his surfing and skating feed off each other. After dominating the NSSA ranks (and his schooling) Jake's climb up the ranks has been steady. He finished runner-up at the 2013 Sprite Soup Bowl Junior Pro just a few days after celebrating his 15th birthday, and finished third at the Qualifying Series Shoe City Pro the following year after a narrow defeat to this year's CT rookie Kanoa Igarashi.
He finished 13th on the North American junior rankings in 2015, and is already climbing with a 9th place finish at the Shoe City Pro, which is where we caught up with the young Californian to try to see what makes him tick.
Jake Marshall with his coach, Chris Gallagher. - WSL
What are you most proud of, outside of surfing?
I'm most proud of my schoolwork and keeping my grades up.
What was the last song playing in your headphones?
"I Wanna Benz" by YG
What would you want your last meal to be?
Fish Tacos
What quality do you most admire in others?
Honesty
According to many scouts, Marshall's attitude and surfing are mature beyond his years. - WSL / Damien Poullenot/ Aquashot
What's the most overrated virtue?
I think independence is the most overrated virtue.
What's the most overrated wave?
Lower Trestles
What would you be if you weren't a pro surfer?
I'd want to be a professional basketball player but I'm not tall enough.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
The ability to teleport so I wouldn't have to fly anymore and I could get to good waves instantly.
Watch List: The Steady Rise of Jake Marshall
WSL
At 17 years old, Jake Marshall is one of North America's rising stars on the Junior Tour. "Jake's overall knowledge of the surfing game is way ahead of the curve for his age," says his coach, Chris Gallagher, a former CT star. "It's no accident either. He works hard at his craft everyday, whether it be surfing, studying tape, working out, yoga, boards etc., he puts in the hours. And now, as he grows and gains weight, his training and technique have intersected and he is really beginning to separate himself from the pack."
Marshall lives in Encinitas, and if he's not scouring the coast with his two little brothers he's usually with them skating in their backyard park. He's infused a healthy dose of skate flair into his stylish approach, but its clear his surfing and skating feed off each other. After dominating the NSSA ranks (and his schooling) Jake's climb up the ranks has been steady. He finished runner-up at the 2013 Sprite Soup Bowl Junior Pro just a few days after celebrating his 15th birthday, and finished third at the Qualifying Series Shoe City Pro the following year after a narrow defeat to this year's CT rookie Kanoa Igarashi.
He finished 13th on the North American junior rankings in 2015, and is already climbing with a 9th place finish at the Shoe City Pro, which is where we caught up with the young Californian to try to see what makes him tick.
What are you most proud of, outside of surfing?
I'm most proud of my schoolwork and keeping my grades up.
What was the last song playing in your headphones?
"I Wanna Benz" by YG
What would you want your last meal to be?
Fish Tacos
What quality do you most admire in others?
Honesty
What's the most overrated virtue?
I think independence is the most overrated virtue.
What's the most overrated wave?
Lower Trestles
What would you be if you weren't a pro surfer?
I'd want to be a professional basketball player but I'm not tall enough.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
The ability to teleport so I wouldn't have to fly anymore and I could get to good waves instantly.
Jake Marshall
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