Sispera’s father got him into surfing. He started in his 20’s.

New memories were made between these generations. When the Sispera family went on an 18 day trip to Costa Rica right after school left for break.

Costa Rica opened new opportunities for Sispera and his father to bond over wild thrills in the water.

“We were surfing in Nosara,” Sispera says. “I caught a huge wave, probably 3 or 4 feet over my head. He saw the whole thing and was just yelling and whistling at me.”

One of the stops was Avellanas, which was Sispera’s most memorable destination.

“I was surfing with a big group of people who were all really good,” Sispera says. “I was sitting further out than everyone. A big set came through and I was in a position to catch the wave.”

While ascending down the wake the group of experienced surfers cheered and hollered for the young surfer.

“I didn’t know what they were saying because it was in Spanish,” Sispera said. “But it was really cool.”

The junior uses surfing as an escape from reality. There is no doubt Sispera had a worry on his mind while catching killer waves during his time in Costa Rica.

“When you're in the water all of those problems and stress on land just seem negligible,” Sispera said. “Surfing really offers some perspective and shows how small our problems really are.”

Rough waves give Sispera the thrill during surfing.

“You can’t imagine how strong waves are until you fall into the pit of one and get held down for almost half a minute,” Sispera said. “A car can’t snap a board by running it over, but a five-foot wave’s lip can snap a board as easily as if it were a toothpick.”