Where in the world is Tony Silvagni?

With an answer that would have Carmen Sandiego firing her travel agent, it's clear that the UNC Wilmington student is dedicated to his lifestyle. After moving from Williamsport, Penn. in 1993, his family settled down in Kure Beach.

That's where a neighbor got him and his brother into surfing, and by age 9, Silvagni found himself in competitions. He took up both short and longboarding, but found that his knack for longboarding brought him more success in compeitions. He still occasionally breaks out the shortboard, for when the waves are especially big.

He credits his family, and more specifically his brother, on his surfing success. "My family is my major contributing factor to the success of my surfing career," Silvagni said. "They've been so supportive the entire time, and that's meant the world to me."

While traveling the world, Silvagni keeps in contact with his family, calling or Skyping them often. He even keeps contact with his mom every day. He's also quick to thank his sponsors, which include Bill Stewart and Stewart Surfboards, Hot Wax Surf Shop, Kulcha Shock Muzik and Cape Fear General Contractors.

As any surfer will tell you, going pro is no easy feat. The professional surfer lifestyle involves endless airport security lines and hotel rooms—all a price to pay for chasing the best waves across the earth. In over four years on the tour, Silvagni's travels have spanned the globe, ranging from Hawaii to the Maldives. Just this year, in what Silvagni called the busiest of his life, he found himself riding waves in N.C., Panama, Japan, Italy, Sri Lanka and now California. He still has to cross Puerto Rico off the list before year's end. Silvagni was able to travel all over the world because he took the fall semester off, but he will return to UNCW in the spring to complete his degree.

Not only has Silvagni been to these exotic spots, he's come home victorious. He took home the Gold at the 2011 International World Surfing Games while representing the United States. "That was a great win for me," Silvagni said, "because not only did I win, but I got to represent my country, and it felt great bring home the gold for the U.S."

He received first place for Professional Longboarder of North America from the Association of Surfing Professionals, as well as sixth place overall in the ASP World Longboard Tour. "I think I showed my best performance with my World Longboard Tour ranking, as well as surpassing my ultimate dream of winning a gold medal at the ISA World Surfing Games and ASP North American overall Champion for the entire 2011 year," Silvagni said of his best performance so far.

When he's not hopping hemispheres for competitions, Silvagni is back in Kure Beach running his thriving surf school, the Tony Silvagni Surf School. He has organized successful surf charity contests all over southeastern North Carolina to raise awareness for Lyme disease, helped raise $20,000 for a passed friend, Craig Marshall, and taught President Obama's secret service agents how to surf.

Where in the world is Tony Silvagni? Who knows, but wherever he is, he's doing big things.