Kaua‘i surfers won key titles Saturday and Sunday competing in the China Uemura Wahine Surfing Classic. The event was held in 2-3 foot surf at Waikiki’s Kuhio Beach in Honolulu. Among the top Kaua‘i finishers was pee wee division surfer
Kaua‘i surfers won key titles Saturday and Sunday competing in the China Uemura Wahine Surfing Classic.
The event was held in 2-3 foot surf at Waikiki’s Kuhio Beach in Honolulu.
Among the top Kaua‘i finishers was pee wee division surfer Leila Hurst of Kilauea who won the longboard, shortboard and bodyboard divisions of the 10-under division.
Bethany Hamilton of Princeville showed she is back in top-form with her most prominent surfing contest win since being attacked by a shark at Ha‘ena on Halloween. Hamilton won the junior shortboard contest for girls 11-16. Earlier this year she won her division at the annual Pine Trees Longboard Classic at Hanalei Bay. Hamilton also took fourth in the junior girls longboard division, behind her friend Alana Blanchard of Hanalei, who placed third.
Nagé Melamed of Hanalei received a new long board in honor of her high grades at Hanalei School during the past school year. She also placed third in the 10-under longboard division.
A sizable contingent of Kaua‘i women and girls were among the 250-plus competitors in what’s called the largest all-female surfing contest held in the United States.
The contest is a benefit for the Sex Abuse Treatment Center at Kapi‘olani Medical Center.
This is the eight annual running of the event by Uemura, who is a veteran South Shore of O‘ahu surfer. Contest organizers presented a $1,000 check to Hamilton’s recovery fund, and the Princeville girl turned around and donated it to the Kapi‘olani fund.
Hamilton and other Kaua‘i surfers – male and female – are heading to the Mainland this week for national-level amateur surfing competitions at Trestles and Oceanside in Southern California.
