To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

WILMINGTON – UNC Wilmington's surf club caught a ride to a national championship.

Two weekends ago, the team won the National Scholastic Surfing Association East Coast Championships in Florida, earning them an invitation to the NSSA National Championships in June.

Three UNC Wilmington surfers placed first, second and fifth in the college men's division.

"I have won other stuff in the past, but I was really happy for my team when they finally announced that," said Mike Powell, the 1st place winner. "I was really excited."

And team members said the team effort is what makes this competition different.

"Each person on the team is competing individually, so they have to get the job done on their own, but there is that sort of underlying psychological effect of performing for your team," said Dylan McNamara, the surfing coach.

And after winning the team competition, now they have an ever bigger wave to catch. The National Championships will be held in Salt Creek, Calif.

Nearly 20 years have passed since UNCW surfed its way to the nationals.

"As far as Californians are concerned, we are all a bunch of idiots and the surf here is terrible. But we're in college and we've competed at the level before, so we would like to go out there and show them what's up," said Ian Tilghman, who placed second in the men's division at the NSSA East Coast Championships.

These so-called underdogs will face several of the country's powerhouse surfing schools, but they say they've got the skills needed to take home the label of best college surf team in the nation.

"I have been out there before, so I kind of know what to look for and what to do and it's definitely intimidating with all those schools out there, but I think we can do it," said Ben Powell, who placed fifth in the men's division.

Since the surf program at UNCW is a student-run club, they get some funding from the university. But local businesses in the area have helped out financially to get the team where they are today.