35| Kai Barger
Birthday: November 20, 1989
Hometown: Haiku, Hawaii

A 4.0 grade point average, calls the Hookipa reefs home, almost sounds like the biography of Ian Walsh, which might be by Kai Barger’s design. A muscular 18-year-old goofy-foot, this year Barger successfully began the long process of etching out a reputation at Pipeline by beating local favorites Dustin Barca, Jamie Sterling and Mikala Jones. Though it should come as no surprise, he’s been wearing colored jerseys since he was six, and sewing up NSSA National titles for years. Barger’s compact style and comfort in ridiculously oversized surf is well developed for a surfer his age. Somewhat overshadowed by other Maui-based powerhouses already making names for themselves, Barger’s utilization of both his smarts and his ability is key.

36| Cory Arrambide
Birthday: June 22, 1989
Hometown: Santa Barbara, California

Growing up in Ventura with its world-class pointbreaks just up the road, Cory Arrambide’s surfing has enjoyed prosperous development in recent years. An integral member of the surging U.S.A. surf team, Arrambide got his first taste of the big leagues this year when was given a wildcard into the Billabong Pro at Mundaka. In his Round Two heat he drew Kelly Slater, and while we all know how that story ends, the experience will surely stay with him. “He’s less than half my age. It’s kind of funny,” said Slater after their heat. “I was thinking about when I was 17 and surfed against Barton Lynch, who was the world champion that year. I came really close to beating him. It was pretty exciting.” In the tradition of Rincon aficionados such as Tom Curren and Bobby Martinez, Arrambide is the owner of a clean style that boasts little wasted movement. A bit on the quite side, he’s going to have step outside of himself if he’s to successfully make the transition to the next level.