Meet The

Staff & Judges

FSSC Staff

Florida State Surfing Championship

Brandon Gaines Taylor

President / Contest Director

ISA Certification

Number of Years Surfing: 28 Years; Started in 1994 at 4 Years Old

From: Orlando, FL; Sebastian, FL since 2005

Passion Outside of Surfing: My Kids, Traveling

Local Surf Spot: Sebastian Inlet, Wabasso, Ft. Pierce Inlet

Favorite Surf Spot: Wabasso Short Period & Windy

Local Surf Shop: Deep 6, Spunky’s, Kingdon Surf & Skate

Board Currently Riding: Omar Trenche Designs, Hand Made, Wave Bandit5′ 8″ Retro Fish

Favorite Board: Quiet Flight 5′ 7″ Marlin, OT Surf Designs Longboard

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Look up to: Joe Rogan, My Dad, My Employer Brian Davis, Ben Gravy, Phil Jackson, Bethany Hamilton. Favorite Surfers: Mason Ho, Kelly, Jamie O’Brien, Griffin Cola

Wax: Bubble Gum

Inspired By: My Children, All Youth Surfers, Ben Gravy

Advice: Life is a learning process. You never really lose… you just learn and try to improve.

Kids, you can do whatever you want wherever you want as long as you pursue and work hard for what you believe.

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: Equality and change of scenery. Help produce, motivate and challenge youth athletes from and around Florida. Help progress and reveale their true potential even if surfing is not that. The surfing industry requires an army of employees all over the world. You can experience world cultures while making a hearty living and also surfing world class surf breaks.

 

Florida State Surfing Championship

Scott Spinale

Secretary / Assistant Director

Number of Years Surfing: 22 Years, Started on 2000 at Ormand by the Sea, FL

From: Ormond by the Sea, FL

Passion Outside of Surfing: Skateboarding, Working Out, Hanging Out With My Sons

Local Surf Spot: Sebastian, FL

Dream Surf Spot: A Rith Point Break in Puerto Rico

Favorite Surf Spot: A Secret Point in Puerto Rico

Local Surf Shop: Kingdom Surf & Skate

Board Currently Riding: Mick Miller Custom

Favorite Board: Mick Miller Customs

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Felipe Toledo

Wax: Palmers

Inspired By: Surf Dads

Hobbies: Surfing, Skateboarding, Working Out / Yoga

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: An Air Division / Expression Session

 

Trent Glaub

Trent Glaub

Head MC

Read Bio
Number of Years Surfing: 34 Years; Started in 1988 at Daytona Beach

From: Originally Plymouth, IN; Live in North Palm Beach, FL

Passion Outside of Surfing: Fishing, Free Diving, Boating, Family

Local Surf Spot: Juno Pier

Dream Surf Spot: Uncrowded Spot in the Carribean

Favorite Surf Spot: The Mix, Puerto Rico

Local Surf Shop: Locals Surf Shop, Juno Beach

Board Currently Riding: Fire Wire Dominator 2

Favorite Board: Dominator 2

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Kalani Robb & Griffin Colipinto

Wax: FU Wax

Hobbies: Fishing, Spearfishing, Running, Reggea Dancehall Music

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: Friendship & Good Vibes

 

Jordan Schwartz

Jordan Schwartz

Commentator

Read Bio

Number of Years Surfing: 38 Years; Started in 1985 at 13 years old at Pine Trees in Ft. Pierce

From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Passion Outside of Surfing: Fishing, Family

Local Surf Spot: St. Lucia

Dream Surf Spot: Pavones, CR

Favorite Surf Spot: Pavones, CR

Local Surf Shop: Ohana Surf Shop

Board Currently Riding: Clean Ocean Longboard and Cronin Shorty

Favorite Board: Cronin Lance

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Anyone over 5’11” and Kelly or CJ

Wax: Any piece in my car

Hobbies: Slaying Fish, Slinging Foam, Apricating, Shooting

What Seems Cool: Blessed by the relationships that developed through the surf community

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: A little fun, compete hard but at the end of the day its all about people doing what they love

 

Judges

Cole Taschman

Cole Taschman

Head Judge

ISA Certification

Read Bio

Number of Years Surfing: 21 years. I started surfing in 2002 in Stuart, FL.

From: Stuart, FL

Passion Outside of Surfing: Fishing, diving, helping people experience our beautiful state

Local Surf Spot: It’s very local, I’d rather not say, and exactly where I was raised! Best place on earth.

Favorite Surf Spot: Somewhere in Stuart.

Local Surf Shop: Ohana Surf Shop

Board Currently Riding: Flyer Channel Island

Favorite Board: Flyer

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Kelly…. Duh!

Wax: Super Sticky Sticky Bumps

Inspired By: Kelly, my father, and a few others

Hobbies: Fishing, surfing, travel, and loving life!

Anything to Add?: Nothing much, just want to be fair to contestants. Make sure things go smoothly, and have a great comp.

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: Having the best and fairest judging possible. As you know I’ve done comps my whole life. The worst is favorable judging due to connections. That’s the goal of this, which is to have a fair (non-bs) environment for competition. We have all had that happen being a competitor, and I’m happy to make sure that does not happen here. I’ll do my best, yew!

 

Sydney Osborne

Sydney Osborne

Priority Judge

ISA Certification

Read Bio

Number of Years Surfing: Been surfing since I was 14 I’m 26. I started surfing in Volusia County with my dad, uncle and cousins

From: Florida born and raised

Passion Outside of Surfing: My dog, and other outdoor activities like hiking and wake surfing

Local Surf Spot: Been surfing satellite a lot right now

Favorite Surf Spot: Satalite beach, fort pierce inlet or NSB

Board Currently Riding: I just got a SB3BOARDS

Favorite Board: Rocket Wise

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Bethanie Hamilton or Moana

Wax: Sticky Bumbs

Inspired By: Being apart of COSTA surf thereapy seeing foster kids and military vets learn to surf has been increasingly inspring

Hobbies: Surfing, Wake Surfing, Hiking, Working Out

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: I want to increase the female surfing community!

 

Rodney Roller

Rodney Roller

Judge

ISA Certification

Read Bio

Number of Years Surfing: 30 Years; Started in 1980 in Seal Beach, CA

From: California

Passion Outside of Surfing: Teaching

Local Surf Spot: Now Fort Pierce

Dream Surf Spot: New Wave pool in Fort Pierce

Favorite Surf Spot: San O California

Local Surf Shop: Spunky’s

Board Currently Riding: 9’ Torq

Favorite Board: FireWire

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Jamie O Brien

Wax: No Wax

Inspired By: Peter Mel

Hobbies: Working on my House

What Seems Cool: Author of New Book “Withstanding Ebb and Flow”

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: Adaptive/Para Surfing

 

Florida State Surfing Championship

Joseph Ryan

Judge

ISA Certification

Read Bio

Started Surfing: 40 Years, Started in 1983 Singer Island, FL

From: Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Passion Outside of Surfing: Helping others and Hanging with Family and friends

Local Surf Spot: Any spot from Palm beach to Jupiter

Dream Surf Spot: Reef Road

Favorite Surf Spot: Ft Pierce Inlet

Local Surf Shop: Ohana Surf Shop

Board Currently Riding: Cronin Shapes

Favorite Board: Lost RNF 96

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Matthew McConaughey

Wax: Currently have front and back Tractop but I like Sticky Bumps

Inspired By: Any Tribe that live off the land and raise families

Hobbies: Fishing, Roller skating, Skateboarding, Snorkeling

What Seems Cool/Funny: I skegged myself when I first started surfing and got stitches and my parents switched me to a bodyboard but I use to stand up and surf it and sneak a surfboard to surf on and a few months later they got me another surfboard🤙🏽

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: I would like to see everyone of all ages be competitive but also be respectful to each other and have fun and learn from each competition and come back and try harder in what they learned from the last contest.

 

Hunter Roland

Hunter Roland

Judge

Read Bio

Number of Years Surfing: 15 Years; Taught myself how to surf at Stuart Beach

From: Stuart, FL

Passion Outside of Surfing: Fishing, skating, traveling and trying new things

Local Surf Spot: Jensen Beach

Dream Surf Spot: Indo

Favorite Surf Spot: Rincon, CA

Local Surf Shop: Ohana Surf Shop

Board Currently Riding: Depends on the day!

Favorite Board: Cronin

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Kelly Slater the 🐐

Wax: Fu

Inspired By: Too many to list

Hobbies: Surfing, skating, fishing

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: I would like to give back to the surfing community by being a honest and accurate judge. I’ve surfed many contests over the years and would like to be a part of something that can help push/ inspire the younger generations.

 

Erik Ingeman

Erik Ingeman

Judge

Read Bio

Number of Years Surfing: 37 Years; Started in 1985 in Ft. Pierce, FL

From: Strong Island, NY

Passion Outside of Surfing: Eastof1, Swinging a Club 🏌️

Local Surf Spot: Stuart Rocks, FL

Dream Surf Spot: Lakey Peak, Indonesia

Favorite Surf Spot: La Salea

Local Surf Shop: All

Board Currently Riding: Lost RNF Retro

Favorite Board: Lost RNF Retro

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Kelly Slater

Wax: Sticky Bumps

Inspired By: The groms, will keep your perspectives in check

Hobbies: Making Shirts / Hats, Golf

What Seems Cool: Hate cold water, at home in freezing weather 🤷🏻‍♂️

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: Just some FUN, keep things light🤙🏼

 

Dave Dixon

Dave Dixon

Judge

Read Bio

Started Surfing: 35 Years, Started in 1989 Ana Maria Island, FL

From: Pittsburgh, PA

Passion Outside of Surfing: Triathlon, Traveling

Local Surf Spot: Anna Maria Island, FL

Dream Surf Spot: Ujong Bacor, South Sumatra

Favorite Surf Spot: Ujong Bacor, South Sumatra

Board Currently Riding: Roberts Diamond Fish

Favorite Board: Roberts Pool Toy

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: My Father / Taylor Knox

Wax: Zoggs

Inspired By: Bethany Hamilton

Hobbies: Weightlifting & Eating

What Seems Funny: People who say they don’t need fossil fuels

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: Non-political fair impartial place for surfers to excel. To be a possible mentor to anyone who may need one.

 

James Savage

James Savage

Judge

Read Bio

Number of Years Surfing: 48 Years; Started in 1974 in Satellite Beach, FL

From: Satellite Beach, FL

Passion Outside of Surfing: Fishing

Local Surf Spot: Lums and RC’s in Satellite Beach, FL

Dream Surf Spot: Dream local surf spot is RC’s. Dream worldwide surf spot is the Mentawai Islands

Favorite Surf Spot: Pavones, Costa Rica

Local Surf Shop: Catalyst

Board Currently Riding: Chris Birch and Stu Sharpe

Favorite Board: Jeff Klugle Shape

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: Kelly Slater

Wax: Mrs. Palmers

Inspired By: My Kids

Hobbies: Surf Travel

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: Fun, my passion for all things surfing, and consistent, fair, impartial, and quality judging.

 

Mike Rhoads

Mike Rhoads

Judge

ISA Certification

Read Bio

Number of Years Surfing: About 12 or 13 years, started at Vero Beach around 94 -2002 started again in 2020 until now…

From: Little town near Philadelphia, PA

Passion Outside of Surfing: Playing Guitar

Local Surf Spot: Sebastian Inlet, Fort Pierce Inlet

Dream Surf Spot: Hightower, Paradise

Favorite Surf Spot: Makaha, Oahu, HI

Local Surf Shop: Kingdom Surf & Skate 🤙

Board Currently Riding: Peli

Favorite Board: Channel Island Rocket Wide

Looks Up To / Favorite Surfer: God & Slater

Wax: Sticky Bumbs

Inspired By: Dave Grohl

Hobbies: Guitar, Surfing, Contests, my morning surf report 🤙

What Seems Cool/Funny: Brandos Sandos 🥪

Wants to Bring to FL Surfing: More prize money for divisions 💸💸💸