San Clemente Surfers Escape Hotel Fire During Australian Competition
A group of surfers from San Clemente, California, narrowly avoided danger when a fire broke out at the hotel where they were staying on Australia’s Gold Coast. The incident occurred while the team was in town for the World Club Surfing Championship at Snapper Rocks, which concluded on .
Kolohe Andino, a prominent member of the San Clemente Boardriders, shared the news on social media, stating, “Shit got real. We are grateful and blessed to be back on our feet again. Thanks for everyone who has reached out.” Images posted alongside the message depict a building engulfed in flames, with fire visible on multiple balconies.
While the exact location of the fire within the hotel remains unclear, reports indicate that fire crews successfully extinguished the blaze by local time on . Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
One resident who spoke to 9NEWS described the scene as “terrifying,” recounting how she was awakened by shouts of “fire!” and the overwhelming presence of smoke.
Andino, born on , has a long and decorated career in surfing. He began surfing at a young age, following in the footsteps of his father, Dino Andino. By age 15, in 2009, he became the youngest winner of a National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) title and holds the record for the most NSSA championships won by a male competitor, with nine overall. Breakthrough moments included victories at the Vans Pier Classic and the ASP 6-Star Quiksilver Brazil Open of Surfing in 2011. He also qualified to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics in surfing.
The San Clemente Boardriders competed at the World Club Surfing Championship, which brought together 40 of the world’s best boardriders clubs from Australia, New Zealand, USA, Hawaii, UK, France, Japan, Indonesia, and Portugal. The event featured a four-surfer format across Open Men’s, Open Women’s, Junior (U20), and Master (40+) divisions.
Despite the harrowing experience with the fire, the San Clemente team performed well at the championship, securing second place overall. The team consisted of Kirra Pinkerton, Kolohe Andino, Patrick Gudsell, Rex Hennings, and others. They were narrowly defeated by the Torquay Boardriders Club in the finals.
“What a privilege to be able to represent our city San Clemente in the inaugural @worldclubchampionships at pumping Snapper Rocks,” the San Clemente Boardriders posted on Instagram. “So proud of our team for rising up and competing at the level they did in this event. Our club took 🥈 in the world out of an incredibly stacked field and well done to @torquayboardridersclub for putting on an amazing show in the finals and winning the event.”
Andino recently unveiled a new, mystery surf brand, adding another layer to his already diverse involvement in the sport. He also released a surf film titled “Reckless Isolation” on YouTube, showcasing his skills and passion for surfing.
The cause of the hotel fire is currently under investigation by local authorities.
