Austin Ganz in the North County Times

North County Times, Sports Section Tuesday, November 21, 2006

By: HEATHER ZEMAN - Staff Writer

Austin Ganz is far from your typical 14-year-old. His busy schedule includes juggling amateur

surfing contests, competing for the Carlsbad High surf team and everything it takes to keep up a

4.0 grade-point average as a freshman in high school.

Austin's father, Brian Ganz, introduced him to surfing when the youngster was 4 years old.

"My dad picked up a surfboard, took me out and pushed me into a couple waves," Austin said.

The family then moved to the beach in 2001 and Austin started taking surfing seriously.

"Now I go everyday to the Carlsbad campgrounds," he said. "I just ride my bike across the street.

It's really good for practicing because the surf is always changing. I wouldn't probably be where I

was today if we didn't live where we are."

Austin surfs about two hours a day and, on the weekends, anywhere from two to three times a

day.

"The surf is always changing, along with the conditions," Austin said. "That's what I like about

surfing  so much. It's a challenge."

Austin started participating in amateur contests in middle school.

"When I was maybe 11, we had middle school contests and we went up against all the eighth

graders," Austin said of his first event. "I was scared and didn't know what to do."

With the help of his dad as a coach, his fear was put to rest this past year when he took second

overall at the Interscholastic Surfing Federation San Diego Section Middle School Championships

and went on to win the ISF State Championships for boys short board.

Word of Austin's talent has spread, and several sponsors have picked him up.

"I had seen him surf before and approached him as soon as I could," said Julian Ganguli, the

athlete manager with No Fear. "For his size and being a freshman, he has a lot of power in his surfing. At 17, he could jump into some pro contests if he wants to. I can see us sending him.

He's a smart guy. I think it's up to him wherever he wants to go."

Austin most recently joined Carlsbad's surf team.

"Our school is one of the best surf teams in the nation right now," Austin said. "I made the A

team."

Austin has been holding his own against the new competition.

"It's difficult because I'm competing against 18-year-olds sometimes, and they are so much

bigger than I am, but it's who gets the most waves. We are all pretty much at the same level."

Surfing for high school, the National Scholastic Surfing Association and contests put on by his

sponsors has been a challenge, but it hasn't been too much for Austin to handle. On Nov. 11, he

did double duty with a high school contest at Ocean Beach and the second round of the No Fear

Koastal Kaos Amateur Series at Crystal Pier.

"In high school, you have to get points for your team in the first round, so I did that and then

surfed for the rest of the day at Koastal Kaos," Austin said. "I just stayed in my wetsuit in the car."

Austin finished the weekend getting second in the boys 13-14 division at the Koastal Kaos event.

"It was one of the best heats of my life," he said. "All my friends from No Fear were in the finals.

My scores were a 7 and a 6.5, and I still got second. Dale Timm won it, but we are really good

friends."

A big part of Austin's success has come from having a good head on his shoulders, according to

his father.

"He takes the sport at almost a professional level," said Brian Ganz. "He's learning about

marketing and how to train for competition."

Brian said his close relationship with Austin is an asset when it comes to coaching his son,

although it does have its pitfalls.

"We do everything together," he said. "With coaching, it's tough as a father because you want to

get his attention and help motivate him. He doesn't always want to hear me critique him. It's

difficult."

Said Austin: "It can get a little overwhelming, but I definitely appreciate the coaching. My parents

for sure are my biggest supporters. They always take me to the contests and they push me a lot,

but they are always encouraging."

As for where Austin sees himself in the future, he's still unsure if he wants to become a pro surfer.

"I want to keep my grades up and I'm definitely going to college," he said. "I want to get into a

science like marine biology.

"In surfing, I'd like to make it professionally and try out for the tour. I'm not sure if I'm ready for

that yet. It's so hard because there are so many good people. I know I want to make a difference

somehow."