The smartest money probably rides on Seth Moniz as your 2019 CT Rookie of the Year. Of course, we could throw out the old coach speak platitudes like “that’s why they play the game” just to remember that nothing’s a sure thing, but the first half of Moniz’ inaugural campaign has given fans reason to feel good about a promising future.
Three top 10 finishes in his first four events make for a solid enough argument but the Hawaiian’s hot streak actually takes us back to this time last year. Coming out of the US Open of Surfing Moniz had locked in back-to-back-to-back keeper results in Japan, South Africa, and finally California, catapulting himself into the QS lead in a single span of six weeks. In a flash, he’d gone from the middle of the QS grind to knocking on the door of his childhood dream of being a world tour surfer. He finished the race, qualified, and now the guy’s upsetting plenty of the seasoned CT athletes who draw his heats.
You don’t win World Titles or Rookie of the Year honors with edits, but boy oh boy, it’s tough to watch Moniz in Fruition without getting carried away over how bright his future is.
