IN TANDEM
year, members also have the chance to win a custom made trophy by Peter Balding Jr. “Providing a fun, stress-free day of surfing in good waves for our members is what I find most rewarding,” Sunnland shares. “I’m especially proud of the volun- teers and OCC staff who help organize and make each Surf Jam run smoothly.” Sunnland’s daughter is already looking forward to defending their title in this summer’s tandem competition, while his son is gearing up for the Backwash Jam, a free-for-all expression session. Added just last year, the new backwash com- petition lets members take on the play- ful waves that form off the Club’s wall at high tide. Beyond surfing across all age divisions, members can also compete in kayak, surfski, stand-up paddle, and canoe heats. For Sunnland, OCC is more than a club—it’s a second home. Competing with fellow members pushes him to be his best, but those contests are always rooted in a spirit of friendly competition and humility. “People at the Outrigger are pretty much family,” he says. “I’ve made lifelong friends just from surfing out front and growing up with the same people. You get good energy from everyone around.” As Sunnland takes on his new role on the Club’s board of directors, his goal is to create an OCC surf team and lay the groundwork for a new tradition—a shootout for members at Rice Bowls. In the meantime, he encourages the Club’s future generations to learn from the wealth of experience around them. “There’s so much ocean knowledge within the Club—tap into it whenever you can, and always respect your elders, especially in the water,” he adds. So if you love surfing, good waves, and watching some of the Club’s best rip, mark your calendars this summer and join us for Surf Jam! We’ll be on the beach root- ing for Sunnland and his daughter as they charge the waves together, showing off their newest tricks.
20 AMA | may/june 2026
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