camp was one of many shuttered this year due to an unusual spike in shark encounters plaguing south Orange County). "I'd just go down there and run around on my boogie board, play games," he recalled. "That's why it became so fun for me, because I was never really forced into anything, I just liked it so much on my own. It was good."

Super stoked at the Triple Crown awards ceremony.WSL / Tony Heff

Any story about his breakout year, however, would be incomplete without mentioning the impact of two individuals in particular -- World No. 7 Kolohe Andino, another San Clemente star, and coach Jake Paterson.

After a short, yet successful, time inside Glenn "Micro" Hall's camp two seasons ago, it was a competitive crisis that compelled Colapinto tojump all-in with Paterson. A former CT standout, Paterson's had great results with the Quiksilver young guns team, including Kanoa Igarashi, Zeke Lau and Leonardo Fioravanti.

"I had like five events in a row where I lost first round, so I messaged Snake saying, 'I need your help right now, I'll do whatever it takes, anything,'" Colapinto explained. "From there I went to Brazil with him and before the contest he was helping me and I listened to everything he said, did everything he said. I didn't care because I knew my strategy wasn't working."

Paterson and Colapinto have created a hugely successful partnership. They'll look to keep the momentum going in 2018 on the Championship Tour. WSL / Tony Heff

Prior to working with the Australian, Colapinto's heat tactics were