- WSL / Kenneth Morris

From Day One, Kolohe Andino's destiny has been laid out before him. Son of a former national surfing champ, he was introduced to the lineup at Lower Trestles at an early age and started hoisting trophies over his blond head shortly thereafter. Born and bred into the hotbed of talent that is the San Clemente surf scene, over the next handful of years he rattled off over a dozen national junior titles.

A Billabong grom at the time, World Champs Andy Irons and Joel Parkinson often joked that they were going to retire once he got on Tour.

Andino surfed his first Championship Tour event in 2010 as wildcard in his backyard at the Hurley Pro Trestles. He was 16 years old.

The next year he gave the Billabong Pipe Masters a go. Then, in 2012, he hit the Tour full-time. His best result of his rookie season, a fifth at the Quiksilver Pro France, where he lost to one of his idols at the time, Dane Reynolds.

An international surf star by any standard, throughout all of this Andino has never lost sight of where he came from. Today, still living in San Clemente, he does a lot to support the local up-and-coming kids. Whether that's spending time in the water with them at T Street, having them over to his place for a barbecue, rolling up to L.A. for a Dodger game, or just being a positive role model for the kids to look up to, he loves his hometown and they love him.

Before the start of the 2021 Championship Tour's Australian leg Andino suffered an ankle injury that subsequently required surgery and months of rehab. A setback for sure, Andino used the time to not only build his body back better, but he's been making the most of the time with his friends and family. Him and his wife, Madison, are expecting their first child in the not-too-distant future.

"To think about someday having three generations of surfers out at Lowers together, what a dream that would be," Andino recently explained.

Post-injury, Andino's back in the water, back on his shortboard and tracking for a full recovery. With a lot to look forward to in the weeks and months ahead, it's going to be exciting to see where San Clemente's prodigal son goes from here.

Next on the WSL Championship Tour: The Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver. Get ready, the waiting period runs from Aug. 10 - 20, 2021.

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