Kolohe ANDINO

Surfing is in the blood of California native Kolohe Andino.

The second-generation professional surfer is the son of Dino Andino a former national champion, and World Surfing League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) competitor. At just two-years-old Dino started to take his son Kolohe, meaning “little rascal” in Hawaiian, out on a board to experience life on the waves.

Andino’s formative surfing years were defined by success. Urged on by his father-coach he won his first ever contest in 2002, aged eight, and then three years later won his first ever national title. In total, the American has collected nine National Scholastic Surfing Association titles as an amateur, more than any other male competitor in the history of the sport. In 2009, Andino was tipped to take the junior NSSA title, but instead made history when he became Men’s Open champion at just 15-year-old.

His breakout year came in 2011 when he emerged victorious at the Vans Pro Junior and five other events in the Men’s Qualifying Series. It meant that, at just 18, Andino became a full-time competitor in the CT – surfing’s most elite competition.