Something clicked for Cole Houshmand this season. Another one of the San Clemente and 2 Percent crew that decided that this was his year. Could it be the fact that every day while he’s home he surfs with a dozen or more current or former CT surfers and free surfers? From guys like Archy and Wardo to Kolohe, the Cola Bros, and plenty of others. The place is a pro surfer factory.

Locking in his spot on the 2024 tour before heading to Saquarema, Brazil for the final Challenger Series event, Cole has the luxury to sit back and surf without any of the pressure. He told me he wants to be there to support his friends in their quest — which was his main reason for going.

I caught up with Cole before his heat in Saquarema to learn more about what he expects for next season and who he thinks will join him on the WSL CT next season. —Brandon Guilmette

Cole is a lock for the CT in 2024. Photo: WSL

INHERENT BUMMER: Who is your dark horse pick currently outside the bubble?

COLE HOUSHMAND: There are a lot of guys that could pull it off but if I had to pick one dark horse pick I would have to go with Jett [Schilling] for sure. I’ve been with him all year and he seems like he’s in a really good mindset here. Going into Portugal he was inside the cut and right on the bubble which I think made him feel a lot of pressure to perform and qualify there in Portugal. Then he lost and I think he had a lot of time to digest it and he came into this event with more of a pressure-free mindset. He’s not worrying about making a few heats, but he’s focusing here to win the comp. He’s let the pressure of qualifying go and seems like he’s in a good, relaxed mindset to do his best surfing if that makes sense.

Jett Schilling. Positive mental attitude. Photo: WSL

I also have a hard time going past Nolan Rapoza because he’s not dropping any results, so everything he does here is going to count towards his points.

The Women’s is really tough. With where the points are now, it’s kinda like once you get below Number 10 they don’t even have a shot at qualifying.

I’d say not so much of a dark horse, because she’s so good, but Bronte McCauley could do really good out here. She’s sitting just outside the cut and I think she’s just a few heats away. She’s got a lot of experience and she’s been ripping all year, so she would be my other dark horse pick.

Bronte MCcaulay looking to get inside the cut in Saquarema. Photo: WSL

Aside from yourself, who are you most excited to see on the tour next year?

This year there are going to be a lot of fresh faces and I’m really looking forward to seeing Crosby on tour. He’s pretty much gonna qualify, so I’m really looking forward to watching him on tour because I grew up surfing with him and we’re best friends. To watch your best friend compete with you at the highest level would be the sickest thing ever.

Crosby Colapinto [almost] a lock for 2024. Photo: WSL

Also Jacob Wilcox. He’s had so many opportunities on the CT with wildcards, to now see him get a full go at it will be super fun.

For me, I’m really excited to watch Sawyer [Lindblad] if she does it here. We grew up in the same town and I’ve watched her surfing pretty much since she started. Alyssa Spencer too. She’s been on the bubble the last two or three years. Her surfing will actually be better on tour with better waves. Those are the two rookies I’m most excited to watch.

Which rookie would adapt to the waves on the CT the quickest?

I’m really excited and I think with my stature and my power I feel like my surfing is made for bigger, heavier waves. Not being cocky or anything, but I feel like I can surf better in more quality waves. Obviously Crosby. When the waves get big and scary his surfing also gets better.

I think Alyssa will adapt really well and it will be good to see her in some real waves too.

Alyssa Spencer looking for one more result in Brazil. Photo: WSL

What event are you most looking forward to and which final would you love to see yourself in?

It’s a crazy question because I’m looking forward to every stop on tour, but if I had to pick one I would have to say Fiji for sure. I’d love to share a final with Griffin because he’s one of my best friends and has been a huge mentor pretty much my whole competitive career. To share a final with him would be insane and at a wave like Fiji I think it would be an insane battle.

Everyone is thrilled with the addition of Fiji in 2024. Photo: WSL

Making the final five in the first year would be insane for the first year. I’d be stoked to go against Medina, Filipe, anyone really.

Are you nervous to draw Medina, JJF, Filipe, etc…or do you want to draw those guys right out of the gates?

It’s a weird one. My younger self would be super star struck and kind of like, “Oh, these guys are the best in the world.” I’d say the newer version of me would be like, “No, I could look these guys eye to eye and go head to head with them.” If I’m going to be on the tour that’s the attitude you have to have. Be ready for anyone at any time. Now I would say I want to just go for it. I don’t care when I draw them. If I want to be top 5 at the end of the year you have to go against them. I’m super excited for that!

Tell me about how 2 Percent has helped ignite your crew out on the road. How has Kolohe helped you and your peers?

It’s crazy! The whole 2 Percent thing is kind of just the icing on the cake of what’s really going on below. A lot of it has to do with Brother at the start of the year he just rallied everyone together. He was like, “Hey, let’s bring American surfing back. We have something special in this community to start with.” Then he just took everyone under his wing and sent filmers around with us and had us all staying together. Once the Challengers came around he was as fired up to do it as any of us. He was sorting out filmers and booking houses for everyone and he was almost like the coach of this whole team.

“I give so much credit to him [Kolohe]. He’s made everyone rally behind each other. There used to be a couple of the boys at each heat and now we roll down to every heat with 10 or 12 of us.”

It gives you so much confidence. Kolohe was there the whole event just giving advice and being like team dad. It’s been a blessing to have him and a blessing in disguise that he didn’t qualify because then I wouldn’t have learned so much from traveling with him this year. It sucks for him, but I’m grateful for everything that’s happened from it.