Kolohe Andino has sparked the American surfing revolution. Kicking off this movement with the 2% crew, it’s given the younger American surfers a new fire and a massive support system while on the road. It’s obviously done something to the surfers in San Clemente as it seems like at least 3 and as many as 6 could qualify this year through the Challenger Series. I’ve never met someone that cares about surfing to the level that Kolohe cares about it. He’s studied each person across all of the various WSL tours and can give you insights into a specific wave they had in a random heat somewhere in a QS 3,000. You can read it for yourself in his answers below.

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

KOLOHE ANDINO: A dark horse that’s outside of the cut right now would be Sammy Pupo. Maybe he’s not a true dark horse because I think he’s a no-brainer.

If you’re going proper dark horse I would go Nolan Rapoza. He’s one of my favorite guys on the Challenger Series because he’s going wide open 6th gear at all times. He does really big shit and is exciting to watch.

INHERENT BUMMER - NOLAN RAPOZA — NOLRAP READY TO HIT 6TH GEAR

Marc Lacomare would actually be a really good ultra dark horse pick, he could win this event.

I would say Bronte would be good. A lot of the girls need to win the event to have a shot to make it. It’s so hard on the girl’s side. Bronte has been to Saquarema a bunch and is a veteran. She really goes for it on bigger sections and the judges eat that up.

Top 5 men and 3 women are you most excited to see on the CT next year?

Cole Houshmand obviously. He’s one of my best friends and he’s had a lot of success on the Challengers. He will do a lot of damage if he’s in the right state of mind.

Crosby Colapinto is going to make it and he will have the red carpet laid out for him from his brother in the way of where to eat, where to stay, catching with Tommy Whits, etc…plus he’s really good when the waves are big and gnarly.

Kade’s gonna make it and I’m pretty excited to watch him because he’s one of my good friends. He will do good at some spots on the tour with his power.

Jacob Wilcox will be exciting to watch. He’s beaten a lot of guys through his wildcards before. He beat me before so that was fun, hahaha. I’m just stoked he’s got the five events before the cut to try and rip in.

Then finally I would go Imai. He’s already had the five events before the cut and I really like the way he surfs. He’s got great style.

I’ll go with Sawyer [Lindblad]. She’s the hometown hero and one of my best friend’s sister. So I’m excited to watch her.

Alyssa Spencer because she’s American and she’s a rad chick that shreds.

Bronte again is rad. I would be psyched to watch her on tour again. I love her family and she rips.

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

A true rookie for the men’s I feel like will adapt really well is Crosby because he’s so good in Hawaii. He surfs really good there and hopefully he can compete really well there too. Starting those first two events in Hawaii could set you up to have confidence, make the cut, maybe your seed gets a little better. Plus, like I said, he will have it dialed because of his brother.

On the women’s there may only be two rookies if I got my 5 right. I think that Sawyer will do well. She’s really feisty and she’s all in, so whatever challenge is in front of her, she will adapt and she’ll go for it.

SAWYER GETTING FEISTY IN SAQUAREMA PHOTO WSL

Who would be the best addition to the CT?

It’s between Crosby or Cole. Cole has so much power in his surfing and I think the judges are going to love it. The first five events they start with are so tricky though. Maybe some of the hardest waves in the world. With how comfortable Crosby is in Hawaii and the two events starting there, then going to Portugal, where he’s been in that event before, he’s kind of tailor-made for the tour. He will probably be the best addition.

The best addition on the ladies side again would be Sawyer. The other girls that are qualifying have been on tour before. I’m just excited to watch Sawyer because she’s a hometown hero and I don’t think we’ve ever had a girl from San Clemente on the world tour. Vahine would be amazing on the tour but she’s pretty far down there right now. I think she’s like 6,000 points behind 5th place and 9,000 behind 2nd and 3rd. She’s really comfortable in the tube and the first event is a tube riding event. Erin Brooks would be pretty rad on the tour too. She’s so good and has a lot of hype. I’d be excited to watch all of those girls on the tour.