Farnsworth, Lani shine at Big Island meet

Soleil Farnsworth and Tara Lani captured the men’s and women’s Open Championships at the 23rd Annual Quiksilver-Kama‘aina Nissan Big Island Pro-Am Surfing Trials.

A field of 73 Big Island contestants took off under rainy skies, glassy conditions and textbook double overhead surf, competing in four categories at the Honoli‘i Beach Park in Hilo, states a press release from Kappa Productions.

Following Farnsworth, Mikey O’Shaughnessy, Topo Kalimai, Neekowee Clearwater, Theo Landt and Brad Young filled in second through sixth places in the men’s Open finals.

Jennifer O’Hearn, Shruti Greenwood, Kim Bennett, Nina Dodge and Kalindi Jacobal filled in second through sixth places in the women’s Open finals following Lani.

Koa Enriguez topped the Longboard division followed by Jeff Silva, Rick Sowers, Chris Dennis, Jun Balanga and Puna Moller. Enriguez also was awarded Wave of the Day honors.

Airfare and entry to a prestigious North Shore, O‘ahu professional surfing contest was the prize awarded to the top four men’s Open and the top two finishers in Women’s, Bodyboard and Longboard divisions.

The Quiksilver-Kama‘aina Nissan Big Island Pro-Am Surfing Trials is the Big Island’s oldest surf contest and is seen as a training platform for young surf athletes wanting to advance to a professional surfing career.

“This year’s event was special in many ways,” said Stan Lawrence, contest director for the meet. “The caliber of surfing was at the highest level ever for a Pro-Am here on the Big island and the surf was epic all day. This one will be remembered for a long time.

“Awesome waves, awesome surfing, awesome ‘ohana, awesome Big Island! A ‘big mahalo’ out to all the volunteers and sponsors that made the Quiksilver-Kama‘aina Nissan Big Island Pro Am Surfing Trials happen.”