Sterling Spencer - Surf - Team

BIO
PHOTOS
VIDEOS

STERLING SPENCER

Sterling Spencer
Age: 23
Hometown: Gulf Breeze, Florida
Website: pinchmysalt.tv

At 23 years of age, Sterling Spencer is the latest heir to the Gulf Coast throne. Born into the first family of Gulf Coast surfing, and son of Yancy III, who has run the iconic family surf shop since before first crawled out of the Everglade swamps, Sterling brings a potent blend of assets to the table. Mention the last name Spencer in the family’s hometown of Gulf Breeze, Florida and you’re sure to get a few winks and nods – this family has cemented themselves as a surfing dynasty. First, it was Sterling’s dad, Yancy Spencer III, who was a major player in shining the surf spotlight on the Gulf. Then, Sterling’s older brother, Yancy IV, took to the reigns and made the family proud as he became a full-blown ripper in his own right…and then came Sterling.

When it comes to punting with style, Sterling Spencer is second to none. Honing his aerial repertoire in the short, punchy beach breaks of his home break at Pensacola Beach, Sterling’s a legitimate ace above the lip. In the air, it’s hard to find someone who can match his fluid combination of grace and progression. That said, put him in a right-hand point and he’ll drop some jaws with his rail surfing as well.

As a long-time Billabong team rider (he’s been surfing with us since he was 8) Sterling has grown from a tow-headed grom into the surfer he is today. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who will say anything negative about Sterling, as his good nature and likeable personality—coupled, of course, with his talent in the water—has made him a bit of a media darling. In 2008, Sterling was spread across the glossy pages of every virtually every American surf magazine. Whether chasing Hurricanes with his Gulf Coast crew, winning the opening round of the WQS or taking a trip to Nicaragua with Donavon, Sterling seemed to be covering more spreads in 2008 than a Vegas bookie.

Not just a “photo guy,” Sterling’s also become quite the competitor. With a top-five finish on the U.S. Pro Junior tour in ’06, four consecutive East Coast Championship Titles under his belt,, and a few air-show wins to boot he’s taken his fair share of competitive scalps. As fellow Gulf riders Shea and Cory Lopez have proved, if you come from the west coast of Florida and you’re hungry for success, you’d sure as hell better be a good traveler. Fortunately, this technical regular-footer is. He’s on the WQS grind these days, but given his talent, chances are he won’t stay there long.

Sponsors? Billabong, Verizon Wireless, Anarchy Sunglasses, Cobian, OAM, Innerlight surf shops.

Years Surfing? 17.

Favorite Spot? Cola Point.

What kind of car do you drive? A van.

Favorite Food? Curry.

Who or what inspires you? Good humans, humans that do good, goodness of humans, the human goodness.

What's your idea of perfect happiness? Jumping off a diving board into a pool of money like in Duck Tales.

Which living person do you most admire? My father.

What's your greatest extravagance? I'm too cheap.

What word or phrase do you most overuse? Hey...you know de rules.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? I birthed a baby once.

If you could, what or who would you come back as in your next life? A Billabong recycled boardshort.

What's your most treasured possession? I store them in heaven.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? A kangaroo’s pouch.

What is your favorite occupation? Shredding.

What do you most value in your life? My fam and my peeps.

Career highlights? Trust me, I shred, people know me.