TransWorld SURF’s Justin Cote Hits the Waves with NFL’s Best

The surfing gang gathers for a group shot.

TransWorld SURF scored some waves with star football players, including New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, who were in town for last week’s Pro Bowl in Hawaii. The NFL legends, also including San Diego Chargers offensive lineman Scott Mruczkowski, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith and retired quarterback Doug Flutie, squeezed in a surf session at White Plains Beach.

“I pounced on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an NFL fan and went surfing with a few of the greatest football players ever to grace the gridiron,” said TransWorld SURF Online Editor Justin Cote.

Tony Gonzalez is ready to hit the waves.

With a break in action from the Volcom Pipe Pro ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Tour event, Cote, along with Quiksilver riders like 11-time ASP world champion Kelly Slater, Mark Healey, Fred Patacchia, Reef McIntosh, Sunny Garcia, Gabe Kling and Todd Kline, were on hand to teach the NFL pros how to work the waves. After a training session on the beach with boards provided by Hans Hedemann Surf School, the guys were ready to hit the surf.

During a pre-surf interview Brees said, “This is wild. I’m feeling like this should be one of the top five coolest things I’ve ever done.”

When asked what his signature move will be, Gonzalez — who grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and was on the surf team in junior high — said, “Standing up will be my signature move — that’s how you know that I’m on.”

When the players grabbed their boards and jumped in, surfing conditions were in their favor. “The surf was perfect for the NFL guys — two-foot wind swell that broke way outside and gently rolled to the beach,” said Cote.

Post-surf interviews. From left: Kelly Slater, NFL correspondent,
Drew Brees, Tony Gonzalez and Doug Flutie.

All the pros showed potential, but there was one player whose surf skills had him performing above the rest. “Tony Gonzalez was the standout among the players,” said Cote.

While all the players seemed to have fun, when it came to friendly heckling between buds, Cote said, “Brees seemed to have the most fun. He even did a Superman dive into the camera as I was filming him on a wave. It was as if he were diving into the end zone for the winning touchdown.”

Even though they are pros at the game of football, Cote said, “At the end of the day, they’re just like us — they want to get into the water and have some fun.”

To check out the players’ pre-surf interviews and to catch them in action, click here.