In 2021 we were stoked when we announced the first Playa Bowls Surf Team. Now, we’re geared up for a third season of sand, sun, and stellar surf.
The 2023 Playa Bowls Surf Team returns with some familiar names and a few rad new ones. Time to dive in and meet the new team.
Jessica Kwiecinski
Playa Bowl Surf Team since 2021
- Current age: 28
- Hometown: Bradley beach, NJ
- Surfing since: 13
- Best break: right up the street in Bradley Beach
- Most stoked surfing companion: My twin sister Casey
- Never hits a surfing destination without: Sunglasses and sunscreen!
- Dream surf trip: Probably New Zealand
- Fun fact: I have a twin
- Favorite Playa Bowls location: Belmar, NJ
- Go-to bowl: Pura Vida Bowl with almond butter!
Cruz Dinofa
Playa Bowl Surf Team since 2021
- Current age: 13
- Hometown: Ocean City, NJ
- Surfing since: 3
- Best break: Backdoor barrels on the North Shore, Hawaii
- Most stoked surfing companion: Surf sessions are always fun with Rob Kelly.
- Never hits a surfing destination without: a surf buddy
- Dream surf trip: Indonesia is on the bucket list
- Fun fact: I have two bulldogs, an English and a Frenchie.
- Favorite Playa Bowls location: On the boardwalk at Playa Bowls Ocean City, NJ during the summer.
- Go-to bowl: Coco Craze plus Nutella
Kepa Mendia
Returned Playa Bowl Surf Team 2022
- Current age: 16
- Hometown: Palm Beach, FL
- Surfing since: 3
- Best break: Backdoor Hawaii
- Most stoked surfing companion: Ethen Ewing
- Never hits a surfing destination without: headphones
- Dream surf trip: Indo with my good friends
- Fun fact: I love to go fishing on my boat
- Favorite Playa Bowls location: Delray Beach, FL
- Go-to bowl: 8th Avenue
Rob Kelly
Playa Bowl Surf Team since 2021
- Current age: 32
- Hometown: Ocean City, NJ
- Surfing since: 9
- Best break: Desert Point, Lombok
- Most stoked surfing companion: Cruz Dinofa
- Never hits a surfing destination without: A good SMTH shapes surfboard
- Dream surf trip: Somewhere cold and far away where nobody has surfed yet.
- Fun fact: I’m a shoobie originally from Pennsylvania
- Favorite Playa Bowls location: Ocean City Boardwalk, NJ
- Go-to bowl: Trailblazer Bowl
Mia Gallagher
Returned Playa Bowl Surf Team 2022
- Current age: 17
- Hometown: Ocean City, NJ
- Surfing since: 10
- Best break: Soup Bowls, Barbados
- Most stoked surfing companion: My sister
- Never hits a surfing destination without: Bikinis!
- Dream surf trip: Mentawais, Indonesia
- Fun fact: I’m terrified of flying
- Favorite Playa Bowls location: Ocean City Boardwalk
- Go to bowl: Nutella Bowl with peanut butter
Paul Francisco
New to the Playa Bowl Surf Team 2023
- Current age: 24
- Hometown: From Loch Arbour, NJ. I live in Long Branch, NJ now.
- Surfing since: 10
- Best break: Nothing is better than when the surf is firing at home.
- Most stoked surfing companion: My buddy Cole Conti. We always find fun waves– even when we least expect it.
- Never hits a surfing destination without: I always bring my big reusable water bottle. Staying hydrated on a surf bender is key, especially in the hot sun.
- Dream surf trip: I bet a lot of people probably say this, but Indonesia would definitely be my dream surf trip.
- Fun fact: I operate the wave pool at Skudin Surf American Dream, the only indoor surf park in the world! Wave pools have always interested me and I’m looking forward to what their future holds.
- Favorite Playa Bowls location: I probably go to the Long Branch, NJ and Oakhurst, NJ locations the most. But the original location in Belmar, NJ is classic too. When I went to college at Rutgers I went to the New Brunswick, NJ location almost every day.
- Go to bowl: Avalanche Coconut Bowl with the blue spirulina! I could eat them every day for sure.
Brynn Gallagher
Returned Playa Bowl Surf Team 2022
- Current age: 15
- Hometown: Ocean City, NJ
- Surfing since: 6
- Best break: Lower trestles, CA!
- Most stoked surfing companion: My sister and dad!
- Never hits a surfing destination without: Bikinis!
- Dream surf trip: Mentawais, Indonesia
- Fun fact: I also love playing lacrosse when I’m not out in the water!
- Favorite Playa Bowls location: Ocean City, NJ
- Go to bowl: Nutella Bowl
SOFIA GAMBOA
New to the Playa Bowl Surf Team 2023
- Current age: 13
- Hometown: Coral Springs, FL
- Surfing since: 4
- Best break: Local break at home.
- Most stoked surfing companion: My dad.
- Fun fact: I’m a 2021 NSSA National Champion
- Favorite Playa Bowls location: Coral Springs, FL
- Go to bowl: Stupid Cupid without coconut flakes
Sam Hammer
Playa Bowl Surf Team since 2021
- Best break: Beach breaks of NJ
- Fun fact: Owner of Hammer Surf School
- Favorite Playa Bowls location: Lavalette, NJ
- Go to bowl: Pura Vida with honey drizzle
Ben Gravy
Playa Bowl Surf Team since 2021
- Current age: 15
- Hometown: Ventnor, NJ
- Surfing since: for 26 years
- Best break: El Slammo, NJ
- Fun fact: Have my own YouTube channel
- Favorite Playa Bowls location: Ventnor, NJ
- Go to bowl: Tropical Acai Bowl
If you’re as stoked as we are, be sure to keep a lookout for #PlayaBowlsSurfTeam and stay up to date with where the waves take us @PlayaBowls. Better yet, dig your toes into some important lessons we all could learn from surfing.