31| Adam Wickwire
Birthday: March 15, 1988
Hometown: Satellite Beach, Florida

While it seems like Adam Wickwire has been in the spotlight forever—and for good reason, because his talent is undeniable—it’s easy to forget that he’s only 18 years old. A few quiet years have left many wondering when he’s going to buckle down and make a push. “He’s still growing up,” says photographer Kevin Welsh, who’s watched Wickwire since he first stood on a surfboard. “There’s a lot of energy there, and a ton of talent, but think about what you were doing when you were 18? He’ll come around.” He spent a great deal of ’06 on the road as an integral part of Rip Curl’s Search program. That, coupled with his 6th place finish on the domestic junior tour, suggests he’s beginning to consider some long-range goals for his career. But with easily enough potential to be in the upper ranks of this list, he needs to start making the most of the opportunities ahead of him before they vanish.