HONOLULU — Makaha’s Matty Costa, 15, claimed the coveted junior division title of the sixth leg of the 10-event Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series presented by the Hawai‘i Surfing Association. The event was held over the weekend at Sandy Beach
HONOLULU — Makaha’s Matty Costa, 15, claimed the coveted junior division title of the sixth leg of the 10-event Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series presented by the Hawai‘i Surfing Association. The event was held over the weekend at Sandy Beach before heavy rain and lightning shut down day 2 of competition this morning.
Organizers plan to resume with the remaining divisions at Sandy’s later this month.
Prime ocean conditions and wave face heights of 4- to 5- feet set the stage for Saturday’s divisions of Juniors, Men’s and Boys. While wave power was a little lacking, Costa viewed the conditions as perfect practice for several key events he will tackle in the coming months.
“Waves were super weak but it was good training for contests because not all contests are going to be held in super good waves,” said Costa. “And it’s fun if you get the right one.”
Costa got the right one toward the end of the 15-minute final — a long left that earned him 9.0 points out of a possible 10.
He rode all the way from Full Point, across Sashimi Rock (the exposed coral head during low tides) into Half Points. Costa surfed the wave loose and fast, blasting huge turns along the way with no regard for the shallow reef.
“I just waited and at the end of the heat I started drifting deep so I could watch everybody else and score a deep, walling one all the way in,” said Costa. “It was one of the best waves I saw all day. I just got lucky to score it with no one by me.”
Costa backed up his 9.0 with another left that earned him a 7.0 to take the final from Kylen Yamakawa, Ha‘a Aikau and Eli Olson.
The conditions for the final were ideal with the low tide providing long lefts. But the declining tide also made the end section at Half Point treacherous with several competitors catching their surfboard fins on the reef.
This result was a great start for Costa’s 2009 contest campaign. With the prestigious ISA World Games and HSA State Championships happening in a few short months, the Hard Rock Cafe Series is a critical stepping stone for Costa and his rivals.
