By Mike Latronic – In nearly four decades of documenting surfing in Hawai’i, I’ve seen generations of talent bloom. Some became champions and others moved on to other pursuits. There have been many athletes with world-class skill, balance, reflexes and strength, but when it comes to surfing waves of serious consequence, raw athleticism and muscle tone aren’t everything. Timing, technique, ocean knowledge and raw courage play a key role.
I first heard murmurs about a certain teenage surfer from Kauai who was charging heavy waves last summer at large sized Chopes, like a seasoned gladiator. Up until about two years ago, I had never heard of Jacob Turner but after what I heard about his Tahiti performances mixed in with what I personally saw go down at pipeline this past season I have become, not just a witness with testimony, but moreover, a believer.
Born in Florida, Jacob’s journey to the Hawaiian islands began with his parents—both surfers—searching for a better life and better waves. The family settled on the North Shore of Kauai where his real story begins.
School was walking distance and so were the fun beach breaks at Pine Trees along with an assortment of reef breaks. While Turner claims he was never too enthusiastic to chase trophies, it became clear early on that Jacob was cut from a different cloth—more driven by adrenaline and deep barrels than heat wins or high scores.
Last winter was the real proving ground. He stepped into the gladiator pit—the North Shore of Oahu—and didn’t just survive; he excelled. His fearless positioning at Pipe turned heads, and not just for his age bracket but basically in the big leagues as well. I would not put him in a heat with Barron Mamiya, Kelly Slater or Jamie O’Brien quite yet, but this kid has got the teen division on lockdown!
Jacob may downplay competition, but make no mistake—he’s already one of the most respected young chargers coming up. And he’s humble about it. He entered the ISA Junior Team trials for Hawaii, one of the most competitive youth qualifiers in the world, and earned his spot on the Hawaii squad. I called him out on this. Like you don’t rise to the top of the team trials with zero competitive ambitions, but he told me competing with the team is different, “It’s not just for me,” he told me. “It’s for Hawaii.”
So where did it all begin?
“I’m 17 now and living on the North Shore of Kauai, but I was born in Melbourne, Florida. My parents moved to Colorado when I was really little—like, toddler-age—then eventually back to Hawaii. I don’t remember much before Kauai. That’s where I really grew up.”
And your parents surfed?
“My dad definitely surfed. My mom didn’t surf much, but she’s always loved the ocean. They moved back to Florida for a bit, had me and my sister, then made the call to come back to Hawaii. I’m super lucky they did.”
So you’re growing up on Kauai, walking across the street after school to surf… sounds like a dream.
“Yeah, pretty much. I had a tight crew of friends and we surfed every day after school.”
Was there a moment you knew surfing was more than just something to do after school?
“I don’t know the exact moment. I’ve seen videos of myself surfing the pier when I was tiny. But I think when I started chasing barrels more seriously—maybe around age 11—that’s when things clicked. Barrels became more interesting than contests.”
How did the move to Oahu happen?
“We’d go stay with friends. Legend (Chandler) and his family had a house there, so we’d just spend time on the North Shore. That’s where it got real.”
What’s the energy shift like—from Kauai to the North Shore arena?
“Kauai is mellow, more about surfing for the love of it. But Oahu… it’s different. You’ve got pros everywhere, filmers on the beach, and every session feels like something’s on the line. It took some getting used to.”
You found your lane in the heavy stuff though—Pipe, Off The Wall, Teahupoʻo. Why go so hard so young?
“I think it’s the adrenaline. There’s this pull toward bigger, heavier barrels. And honestly, the crowd at Pipe is so gnarly, I started sitting deeper, where there’s less competition. It’s riskier, but that’s where the magic is.”
Who pushes you in the water?
“I’ve got a great crew. Guys like Legend and Manalu Chandler, Luke Tema, Steve Roberson… all of them push hard. We all feed off each other, especially at Pipe and other spots.”
Okay, let’s talk about competition. You say you’re not into it—but you just made the ISA Junior Hawaii Team. That’s huge.
“Yeah, it kind of just happened. I wasn’t even going to do the tryouts at first. But my friends convinced me. And once I got there, it became less about me and more about representing Hawaii. That felt different.”
Do you think you can win? World title, that is.
“I don’t know. I’m not super confident about contests yet. I’ve always just surfed for the feeling, not the scores. But making the team showed me that I belong—and maybe that mindset will shift.”
Besides surfing, what are some of your other hobbies or pursuits?
“Fishing’s huge for me. It’s like surfing, just a different kind of stoke. I love diving, cooking fish, and the whole process. I probably spend as much time in the ocean fishing as I do surfing.”
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