David Letinsky surf mentor to many

Words like “legend” and “waterman” get tossed around in the surfing media like broken surfboards in giant waves. There is no shortage of heroes and stars among the surfing masses. What seems to be in short supply, however, are mentors and coaches like Carpinteria’s David Letinsky.

Born in the winter of 1951, David was raised in the San Fernando Valley, rode his first waves in Santa Monica, and got his first job at Val Surf while he was still in high school. There he gained valuable surf industry experience and built a large contact list that enabled him to network and launch a 50-year career in the trade.

David made a few stops in Malibu, Agoura, and Santa Barbara before he settled into Carpinteria’s corner of coastal paradise in 1990. “I wanted to raise family in this area, so we moved to Carpinteria to be closer to work and to Rincon,” he says.

His move to Carpinteria came a few years after he started a position with Sex Wax in 1987. Fred “Zog” Herzog, owner of Zog Industries, parent company to Sex Wax, has high praise for David’s team building abilities. “David has handled all our surf team selection and maintenance for us. As the company has grown, he has been able to hook us up with some world class talent.”

As David became better known in the wave riding community, his mentoring skills were noted and put to good use as an elite athlete surfing coach. He counts Brad Gerlach, Isao ‘Toma’ Tomatsuri, Curtis Johnson, and Rainos Hayes as his coaching influences.

“Surf coaching and mentoring more or less began with

O’Neill wetsuit and Sex Wax team management,” says David. Along their path to professional surfing, David worked closely with Conner and Parker Coffin, Griffin and Crosby Colapinto, Eithan Osborne, Jett Schilling and Jabe Swierkocki, among others.

Even when he is on the road surfing the pro circuit or producing media content, Conner Coffin always makes time to connect with “Uncle Dave,” as he calls him. “He saw something in me that I didn’t even know I had,” Conner says. “He has become a family member to me because he has been there through thick and thin and is one of the kindest, most thoughtful, and loving people I know.”

David has also been known to give a gentle push to some of Carpinteria’s home-grown talent en route to their saltwater goals. These include his sons Jack and Dustin, as well as Bryan Schmidt, Kokoro Tomatsuri, Blake Howard, Ryan Perry, Rachel Harris, Matt Densmore, Matt Johnson, and Ian O’Neill.

When asked about David’s unique method of inspiring young surfers to be their best, words like “father-figure” and “positive motivation” are repeated from his mentees.

“I am 46 now and I was first introduced to him when I was 11,” says Ian O’Neill. He credits David with instilling professionalism in him at an early age. When young Ian sought out a Sex Wax sponsorship, David instructed him to write a letter of introduction, visited Ian’s school, took him surfing, analyzed his skills, and coached him on what it would take to represent the brand. “He has continued to be a great influence and very generous with his time, knowledge, and extensive contacts for all who seek his expertise,” says Ian.

Rachel Harris was just 13 years old when David recognized her talents. “He used to positively encourage me to go for opportunities that I thought were outside of my skill set—like big waves at Jelly Bowl and Rincon. He emphasized that surfing is fun and expressed gratitude to be at the beach.”

Ryan Perry has gone around the globe as a pro-level videographer, but he remembers clearly the days of being just another grom in town. “Dave was always carting us kids around in his truck, taking us skateboarding or surfing, and always making us feel safe and most importantly forever stoked. He still does that today; his wisdom is never-ending, just like his stoke.”

When asked about his philosophy for the straight track to becoming a well-rounded surfer, David offers this: “It is important to develop a keen understanding and strong relationship with our mother ocean. To be a good surfer requires a balance between getting as much surf time with sound personal and academic development. An important tip would be to surf with the wave and let it dictate your ride, relative to your experience and skill level. Above all, keep it fun!”