ONELIFE #33 – American English

JETT ROCKET PREFONTAINE,
SURFING, AGE 7
If you take a stroll along the Pacific coast in Carlsbad,
Southern California, chances are you’ll see some of
the world’s best surfers in action. Known for its prime
conditions and beautiful weather, the sleepy resort is
a hotspot for top-class wave riders. One of them is
Jett Rocket Prefontaine. A Carlsbad local, he knows
the waters around here better than most. On his board
he is fearless, adventurous and completely
at ease. He is also just seven years old.
Jett is a so-called child prodigy. Seemingly born
to surf, from a very early age he demonstrated a
remarkable talent for cruising the Californian waves.
With just a few years of training behind him, he now
performs better than most adults will ever manage
to do in a lifetime.
History is littered with tales of extraordinarily gifted
children like Jett, prodigies who shine through with
apparently inexplicable talent.
Experts are divided on whether being a prodigy
is in the genes (nature) or if it really comes down to
having parents who recognize their child’s unique
ability and support their training (nurture). The debate
Jett Rocket is a regular on the waves off the
Pacific beaches of Carlsbad. In just a couple of
years on his board, he has won over 30 trophies
and is the youngest team rider to be brought
on by his sponsor. According to his mother,
Dani Prefontaine, Jett was always drawn to the
water. “Jett was introduced to the water before
he was two. By the age of two, he wanted to go
out every day and at four he asked to join his
first competition.”
Both Jett’s parents have a track record as
competitive athletes, and his father Homer is
himself a surfer and a surf instructor. Still, this
cannot explain everything about the young
surfer’s love affair with the sea. “Jett was born
to ride and he was born with very strong legs.
But also being part of a surfing family, he was
introduced by watching his dad. Whether you
are gifted or not, surroundings are important.”
Dani says watching Jett, she sees what
matters the most: the natural drive and passion
that paves the way for his talent to unfold. “It
comes down to whether you have the passion,
desire and drive to work hard and train. Is it
something that you can’t be without, and are
you truly enjoying every part of it? That’s how
Jett feels. He says every day he is going to be a
pro, and he is having fun getting there.”
Clockwise from left:
Jett already shows
remarkable talent
as a surfer at the
tender age of seven
55