At age 7, Braeden Kopec of the Hammock/Flagler Beach stands 52 inches tall and weighs 55 pounds yet in the ocean his size and age do not stop him from riding waves of all sizes from Flagler Beach to Costa Rica and beyond. At the end of March, Braeden competed in the Eastern Surfing Association Southeast Regional Championship event in rough surf in Melbourne Beach, Florida and competed again in early April at the East Coast Surfing Championships for the National Scholastic Surfing Association. He was the youngest competitor to qualify and compete at both championship events. His competitors were two to four years older. At the March event Braeden advanced into the semi-finals and finished 9th overall in the southeast U.S.. The following weekend with under a minute to go in the last elimination round, which determined those that would fill the remaining openings in the final heat, a competitor secured a ride on a wave with a score that barely edged Braeden out of the final heat. He finished an impressive 7th overall for the east coast championship event. This was Braeden’s first year competing in his divisions for both surf series that took him to these championship events. The results were quite a feat for such a young competitor.
As a result of his performances at these two high profile events Braeden will head to California in June to compete in the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s National Championships. In August he will head to North Carolina for the Eastern Surfing Association East Coast Championships. Once again he will be the youngest competitor in the field at both events.
Braeden started surfing a few months before his third birthday and received his first board on his birthday. He has competed in over 100 contests all over Florida and has surfed numerous locations in Costa Rica in his many trips there as well as throughout Puerto Rico. In addition to the recent championship results, he finished 2nd overall for the 2013 season in a Grom (ie: a surfer under 16) Surf Series. In 2011 and 2012 he was named “Most Improved Surfer of the Year” out of over 100 competitive surfers in the surf series and in 2013 received the “Sportsmanship of the Year” award for his actions in and out of the water. He finished his 2013 Eastern Surfing Association local district seasons in various age divisions with two first places overall (season champ) for the season, a second overall and a third overall. In addition to surfing he is the Eastern Surfing Association Bodyboarding district champion and the southeast regional champion. Braeden was also the 2013-14 season district champion in two surfing divisions for the National Scholastic Surfing Association. At the end of 2013, and as the youngest surfer to make the final heat, he finished a very respectable 5th overall at the Volcom Qualifying Series in Florida as part of a worldwide series of events that later culminate in California.
His accomplishments, love of the water and overall “stoke” for surfing has earned him recognition from the surf industry. He is a team rider for Quiet Flight Surfboards, DSR: Dive/Surf/Ride apparel, Witch’s Rock Surf Camp Costa Rica, Surf Station Surf Shop and is supported by West Wetsuits.
While Braeden has hauled away his share of trophies and awards over the years he does go home empty handed at times. This situation sparked an idea and led to “Braeden’s Annual Super Grom Surf Contest”. This year will be the third year of the friendly informal event and was created by Braeden to reward everyone for their efforts out in the water surfing. While custom made awards are handed out to the finalists, Braeden also hand makes additional prizes for every competitor in the event. His sponsors also fully support the young surfer’s event with apparel and other product to giveaway to all entrants. Braeden’s desire is to see all surfers go home with something in hand and a smile on their face. This month in a recent online surfboard giveaway contest where young surfers wrote letters explaining why they should receive the board Braeden instead wrote his letter about a friend who he thought would benefit from the board more so than he. Braeden’s letter was selected as the winner and his friend will receive a new custom made board.
The honor roll student also respects the ocean and beaches where he spends most of his free time. Braeden was recognized by the Keepers of the Coast organization for his concern for the environment. For now, and like other kids his age, Braeden is looking forward to summer break. He’s looking to take advantage of the warmer summertime ocean temperatures and just being a kid hanging out on the beach….except this kid may be out in the water and not “on the beach”.
