Dorian from Hawaii has become head coach for USA Surfing at the Olympics

NORTH SHORE, HI – DECEMBER 09: Shane Dorian of Hawaii placed ninth at the Billabong Pipeline Masters at Banzai Pipeline on December 9, 2011 in North Shore, Hawaii. (Photo by Kelly Cestari/World Surf League via Getty Images)

With two American surfers from Hawaii, world champions Carissa Moore and John John Florence, already on the roster, a third island surfing legend was added to Team USA earlier this week.

Kailua-Kona’s Shane Dorian was selected as head coach of the U.S. surfing team for next month’s Olympic Games in Paris.

“It’s surreal, to be honest,” Dorian said. “I told my family and my kids and everything. It’s like I grew up watching the Olympics. It was such a big part of my household. Whenever it happened, whether it was the Summer Olympics or the Winter Olympics, it was such a big deal. So to have the opportunity and opportunity to be a part of it and work with these athletes and go to the Olympics, it’s just, I mean, I have to pinch myself, right?

The surfing portion of the games will be held at Tahiti’s iconic Teahupo’o, a wave no stranger to Dorian, reigning gold medalist and five-time world champion Carissa Moore, and two-time world champion John John Florence. According to the 51-year-old big wave surfing legend, a multiple winner of the Wave of the Year award, the chance to chase Olympic gold with some of the Aloha State’s all-time greats brings a welcome rush of emotions.

‘Isn’t there that pride? Like I was born and raised in Hawaii. And just like surfing has been such a big part of my life. And it’s just a point of pride to have two Hawaiian world champions on our team in Carissa Moore and John John Florence. You know, they’re so proud to represent Hawaii in the Olympics. It’s going to be really cool to have them on the team. A gold medal has such a meaning, and it is something completely different. It’s like a childhood dream to win a gold medal at the Olympics.”

Dorian, Moore, Florence and Team USA begin their Olympic journey on July 27 in French Polynesia. Other Hawaiian surfers in the field are Tatiana Weston-Webb of Kauai for Brazil and Brisa Hennessy of Oahu for Costa Rica. Stay with KHON-2 Sports, on-air and online, for continued coverage.