They’re in the water before school, before the sun actually, even on the coldest days. They surf when it’s onshore. They’re constantly walking back up the beach for another drift. They surf a contest almost every week in August and September – sometimes two. And when the surf goes flat, they skate or hit the gym.
Here in Jetty’s corner of the world, we hadn’t seen any groms really thriving in some time. It was almost like surfing missed a generation. So, we are thrilled to see a pack of groms getting after it, completely immersed in the surf life. And leading the charge is Noah DeSimone of Manahawkin. DeSimone and partner Peter George recently won the Jetty Clam Jam, our 19th Annual community surf event.
DeSimone is 15 years old. And it would be easy to simply paint a picture of him as the radical teen ripper – finding the barrel, slamming at a Bouncing Souls show, airing over hips at the skatepark, and catching wave after wave at the local break.
But there’s so much more to DeSimone, like the honors courses he’s taking at Southern Regional High, or the many lunch periods he spent hanging with kids in the special education programs, or working as a busboy, lifeguard, and surf instructor in the summer, or dedication to the surf specific workouts in addition to all of the hours in the water. He has been volunteering with Waves of Strength and Waves of Impact, both helping children with special needs to access the waves. He’s a down-to-earth kid who lifts up the people around him.
In 2024, DeSimone was the youngest surfer to compete in the Garden State Grudge Match. He has qualified for the ESA Eastern Championships the last two years with a long list of first place finishes in the ESA South Jersey District and the Alliance for a Living Ocean Longboard Classic, he also finished 4th in the Mens Shortboard at the ECSC and second place at the the ESA Regionals. As a sophomore, he was the top surfer for his high school team. This season, DeSimone was also part of a short documentary on New Jersey surfing by the Asbury Park Press.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity my parents provide for me every single day, making an effort to get me in the water, to travel, and do the things I love most. And I am very thankful for Jetty always hooking me up with gear, trips, and the connections with new people from all different parts of the East Coast,” said DeSimone.
He is acutely aware of the influence that longtime Jetty Ambassador Randy Townsend has had on him. Townsend made a solo 24-hour round trip to the Outer Banks in September to coach DeSimone in the late rounds of the Easterns. Expect to see Townsend continue to foster DeSimone, as a surfer and through the Harvey Cedars Beach Patrol.
Jetty is extremely excited to be on the journey with DiSimone.
“Randy puts so much effort in providing me with the best information and advice when I need it most. He’s been through all of this – whether it has to do with surfing or just life. Randy gives me a greater perspective,” he added.
