Hawaii State Surfing Championships
Presented by Surftech

HASA
Ala Moana Bowls, Oahu
4 – 6 June 2009

2009 Hawaii State Surfing Champions Crowned

Honolulu — The 2009 champions of the Hard Rock Cafe State Surfing Championships, presented by Surftech, were crowned today, wrapping up three days of intense competition at Ala Moana Bowls. Waves persisted in the two- to three-foot range for the final stage.

More than 200 competitors from around the state gathered at Ala Moana over the past three days. Event director Wendell Aoki spoke particularly highly of the outer-island contingent.

“We were really impressed to have so many outer island qualifiers attend,” said Aoki, “and they put in some very strong performances. Economically, this isn’t an easy time for families to be traveling and competing, so we genuinely appreciate the lengths they went to to make it. The result is a truly competitive team from Hawaii that will now move on to the national championships in California in August. We are very proud of our kids.”

The technical nature of Ala Moana Bowls – a rapid-fire left that has a distinct lineup and point-scoring sections – also spoke volumes about the ability of the outer island kids; the fact that they performed so highly at a venue that was foreign to so many of them.

Major division honors went to: Micah Moniz (Oahu, Junior Men’s champion); Ian Gentil (Maui, Boys champion); Nage Melamed (Kauai, Girls champion); Christian Enns (Hawaii, Open Men’s champion); and Imaikalani Devault (Oahu, Menehune champion).

Finalists in each of the major divisions will qualify for the national Surfing America Championships to be held at Huntington Beach, CA., August 25-30, 2009.

The Hawaii Surfing Association is the world’s longest running surfing association. The goal of the HSA’s Hard Rock Cafe Series is to offer a competitive platform for up-and-coming surfers that will prepare them for a future career in professional surfing, should they choose it. The new 2009/10 HSA season will start up in August.

COMPLETE RESULTS:

Junior Men:
1st-Micah Moniz (Oahu); 2nd-Ezekiel Lau (Oahu); 3rd-Kainoa Haas (Oahu); 4th-Ha’a Aikau (Oahu)

Boys:
1st-Ian Gentil (Maui); 2nd-Lahiki Minamishin (Oahu); 3rd-Kaikea Elias (Kauai); 4th-Landon McNamara (Oahu)

Open Men:
1st-Christian Enns (Hawaii); 2nd-Kylen Yamakawa (Oahu); 3rd-Tanner Hendrickson (Maui); 4th-Thomas Spear (Oahu);  5th-Richard Tom (Oahu); 6th-Scott Shimoda (Oahu)

Menehune:
1st-Imaikalani Devault (Oahu); 2nd-Lucas Angulo (Kauai); 3rd-Dax McGill (Oahu); 4th-Kalani David (Oahu)

Girls:
1st-Nage Melamed (Kauai); 2nd-Hana Harrison (Oahu); 3rd-Erica Steiner (Kauai); 4th-Mahina Maeda (Oahu)

Men:
|1st-Kapu Ping; 2nd-Davin Jaime; 3rd-Mitchell Alapai

Masters:
1st-Scott Shimoda; 2nd-Darren Mahoe; 3rd-Christian Enns; 4th-Eddie Huihui; 5th-Thomas Spear; 6th-Bryce Yamashita

Senior Men:
1st-Matt Kenny; 2nd-Robert Howard; 3rd-Richard Tom; 4th-Adam Escobar; 5th-Sheldon Poirier; 6th-Shannon Silva

Grandmasters:
1st-Kal Faraut; 2nd-Ed Yanagihara; 3rd-Tomo Saito; 4th-Beau Hodge

Legends:
1st-Eddie Pieper; 2nd-Craig Sugihara; 3rd-Koapaka Brown; 4th-Gilbert Perea; 5th-Roger Kinnaman

Women:
1st-Alelei Lyman; 2nd-Izumi Baldwin; 3rd-Lacy Cameron; 4th-Dana Tortuga; 5th-Nina Dodge; 6th-TJ Moller

Bodyboard Boys:
1st-Kaimana Wong; 2nd-Boo Boo Cazimero; 3rd-Brandon Kelly; 4th-Kielen Keanu Malama; 5th-Daniel Carter; 6th-Storm Magsanay

Bodyboard Junior Men:
1st-Matthew Holzman; 2nd-Drake Harriston; 3rd-Cody Lucas; 4th-Oliver Seitz

Bodyboard Men:
1st-James Clancy; 2nd-Matt Solomon; 3rd-Mark Gervacio; 4th-Marshall Orr

Dropknee:
1st-Mark Gervacio; 2nd-Daniel Carter; 3rd-Dalven Lee; 4th-James Clancy

Bodyboard Women:
1st-Carolyn Orr

Launch:
1st-Matthew Holzman; 2nd-Brandon Kelley; 3rd-Storm Magsanay; 4th-Axel Menezes; 5th-Boo Boo Cazimero

Longboard Menehune:
1st-Kaoli Kahokuloa; 2nd-Crispin Nakoa; 3rd-Klyde Neer; 4th-Ulu Apeahi; 5th-Jordan Brueggemann; 6th-Vincent Starn

Longboard Junior Men:
1st-Nelson Ahina; 2nd-Gavin Klein; 3rd-Akila Weber; 4th-Bryce Baker; 5th-Kiko Napeahi; 6th-Ikaika Vivas

Longboard Men:
1st-La’akea Davis; 2nd-Daniel Teijeiro; 3rd-Daniel Johnasen; 4th-Justin Mitsui; 5th-Cedric Caires; 6th-Tai Graham

Longboard Master:
1st-Che Pilago; 2nd-Puna Moller; 3rd-Shane Hamamoto

Longboard Senior Men:
1st-Daniel Stein; 2nd-Gavin Hasegawa; 3rd-Alika Willis; 4th-Tomo Saito

Longboard Grandmaster:
1st-Eddie Pieper; 2nd-Warren Hoohuli; 3rd-Layton Sun; 4th-Les Tabuchi; 5th-Tommy Reyes; 6th-Stephen Katayama

Longboard Girls:
1st-Kaili Rodman; 2nd-Erika Steiner; 3rd-Jericho Paliracio; 4th-Kiana Fores

Longboard Women:
1st-Stacia Ahina; 2nd-Ashley Ahina; 3rd-TJ Moller; 4th-Mimi Horiuchi

Longboard Open:
1st-Daniel Stein; 2nd-Nelson Ahina; 3rd-Puna Moller; 4th-Justin Matsui; 5th-Gavin Hasegawa; 6th-Daniel Teijeiro

Standup Paddle:
1st-Alika Willis; 2nd-Slater Trout; 3rd-Titus Kinimaka; 4th-Chris Marten; 5th-Miguel Graham; 6th-Black Abraham

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SriLankan Airlines Pro 2009 Maldives – SriLankan Airlines Pro underway at Pasta Point in the Maldives

The 2009 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) six star PRIME rated SriLankan Airlines Pro began at the famous Pasta Point in the Maldives today and the world’s finest surfers wasted no time acclimatising and ripping into the fun 1m (3ft) surf.

Hawaiian Casey Brown opened the event impressively scoring both the days highest heat win (15.66 out of a possible 20) along with the highest wave score of an 8.83 (out of a possible 10) on a ride which saw him complete a series of powered critical turns along with a perfectly executed air reverse.

“It’s always good to win through that round one heat, we’ve all travelled a long way to get here and you’d feel really down to lose out and be eliminated straight away so it’s a relief” said Brown.

“It’s such a fun event here, great free surfing waves in all directions and you just want to do well and enjoy the whole week.”

While today’s waves were not perfect there was plenty of scope for strong scores with the mechanical peeling point offering multiple sections for surfers to perform on.

Other heat winners to impress were former event champion Daniel Redman (South Africa), Portugal’s Ruben Gonzalez, Rudy Palboom (South Africa), Christophe Allary (Reunion) and Alejo Muniz (Brazil).

Australia’s Jack Perry summarized the feelings of most surfers here today after his strong heat win by saying, “ I always have a great time here, we’re competing in a really important event at the midpoint of the year but the atmosphere is just great, it’s like we’re all on holidays but a good result here means a lot to your ASP season so you have to remain focused.”

“The waves today were nothing like as good as it can get but still they were a lot of fun and you can really perform in these conditions – the outlook is solid and if it gets like last year then we’re surfing in amazingly perfect waves so fingers crossed!”

Strong afternoon winds saw event organizers finish the day early with just 8 heats completed and organizers will reconvene first thing tomorrow morning.

SriLankan Airlines Pro 2009 is made possible thanks to the following sponsors: SriLankan Airlines, John Keells Group, Chaaya Island – Dhonveli, Atoll Travel, Atoll Adventures, Ocean & Earth International, Dhiraagu, Maldives Tourism & Promotions Board, ASP Australasia.

ASP Australasia as the event managers will deliver a quality live Webcast along with Television News Feeds, complimentary Digital Images for newspapers and websites, Web highlight packages and a dedicated 30 minute international television program.

Follow this event live at http://www.srilankanairlinespro.com/

The top high school surfers in the country gathered this weekend in San Clemente to compete in the Red Bull Riders Cup National Championship, bringing with them ideal weather and near-perfect waves.

With a powerful swell pouring through Upper Trestles at San Onofre Beach all weekend long, the teams were given the chance to test their mettle and show their skills in the premiere high school surfing competition. The eight teams – all of whom had earned their National Championship spots by dominating local rivals in Regional Championships – came from Florida, New Jersey and all up and down the Southern California coast. The competition was fierce from the get-go, but in the end it came down to a grudge match between Mira Costa High and San Dieguito Academy that could only be settled in overtime. When all was said and done, Mira Costa High School took the win and with it the bragging rights as 2009 Red Bull Riders Cup National Champions.

“This was simply an amazing Championship, and exactly what the Red bull Riders Cup is all about,” said Brad Gerlach, National Surf League Founder. “In the Finals we had two well-matched teams and a format that really allows the kids to show off and highlight their skills. It had it all – drama, suspense, disappointment, exhilaration and a nail-biting finale. This is why we do it.”

The two days of competition saw some amazing surfing, but it was the Finals and their “down to the wire” finish that really had everyone talking. In the first period of the Finals Mira Costa won the coin toss and decided to surf first, taking to the water in clean conditions with 4-6 foot waves. Mira Costa got off to a solid start, led by a period high score of 7.5 by Dayton Silva. But San Dieguito responded in kind, with an overall strong team showing, taking the lead and leaving Mira Costa trailing at the end of the first period, 24.5 to 25 points.

In the second period, Mira Costa dominated with great rides that put up high scores across the board. Due to some missed opportunities, San Dieguito was unable to hold their lead, and ended up trailing by 2 points. As the third period began, Mira Costa made their intentions known from the get go, with Dane Zaun posting an amazing 8.5 ride. Unfortunately, the rest of the team was unable to score higher than a 6.5, leaving the door just slightly open for San Dieguito to make a comeback. The pressure was on, as San Dieguito was faced with the daunting task of needing 27 points to win – an average of 6.5 -7.0 rides for each surfer. With only 4 minutes left, it looked like it was over as San Dieguito hadn’t scored nearly enough points and needed a miracle to win. But the miracle came – in the form of a four wave set – and with every rider scoring strong points, the team from San Diego was able to earn a tie, taking them to overtime.

Overtime saw Mira Costa supply excellent performances from all surfers, but it was an 8.5 score from Dane Zaun that really delivered, pushing their total to 24 points – 98 overall. San Dieguito was once again faced with a hard task, needing 25 points. They got off to a rough start, with multiple surfers going down in early waves. With little time remaining, the set they needed once again came rolling in and the crowd waited anxiously to see if they could pull off another miracle. Unfortunately, this time it was not to be, as the miracle fell short, with the final score: Mira Costa -98, San Dieguito – 96.

For more info go to www.redbullsurfing.com/riderscup

“This was definitely the best surfing event I’ve ever participated in,” said Mira Costa High MVP Dane Zaun. “The waves were near perfect, and we worked really hard for this win, surfing two games today plus the overtime. This was a team effort, and I’m so proud we were all able to hold it together to snatch victory”

“This was our year,” says Mira Costa coach Joe Lederer. “I just had a gut feeling going into it. These are an amazing group of kids who really came together and gave an amazing performance out there. I may have coached the games, but they are definitely the ones that deserve all the credit.”

Red Bull Riders Cup is the nations’ premier high school surfing competition, and in 2009 brought together 34 high schools from eight regions to compete in a single elimination “March-Madness” style tournament. The Series utilizes the National Surf League’s “The Game” format, which was modeled after team sports such as basketball, football, and baseball. The Game format serves to bridge the gap between individual sports like surfing and more fan-friendly team sports. This revolutionary format includes: two teams competing against each other, only one team in the water at a time, three periods, timeouts, coaches, referees and substitutes.

High schools participating in the National Championship include:

Aptos High School, winner of the Santa Cruz Regional Championship
Malibu High School, winner of the Golden State Regional Championship
Satellite High School, winner of the Central Florida Regional Championship
Mira Costa High School, winner of the South Bay Regional Championship
New Smyrna High School, winner of the North Florida Regional Championship
Ocean City High School, winner of the New Jersey Regional Championship
Newport Harbor High School, winner of the Orange County Regional Championship
San Dieguito Academy, winner of the San Diego Regional Championship

National Championship Results Breakdown

Saturday, June 6, 2009 Qtr-Final # 1: Mira Costa High (South Bay) def. Aptos High School (SC)
Qtr-Final # 2: Newport Harbor High (OC) def. Satellite High (CF)
Qtr-Final # 3: Malibu High School (Ventura) def. Ocean City High School (NJ)
Qtr-Final # 4: San Dieguito Academy (SD) def. New Smyrna High School (NF)

Sunday, June 7, 2009
Semi-Final #1: Mira Costa High (South Bay) def. Newport Harbor High (OC)
Semi-Final #2: San Deguito Academy(SD) def. Malibu High School (Ventura)

Finals: Mira Costa High def. San Dieguito Academy in OT

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