HONOLULU — Verizon Wireless Hawai‘i has made a major commitment to support 12 young amateur surfers as they represent Hawai‘i beginning with the International Surfing Association World Junior Surfing Championships in Salinas, Ecuador this March. Even though Hawai‘i is well-known
HONOLULU — Verizon Wireless Hawai‘i has made a major commitment to support 12 young amateur surfers as they represent Hawai‘i beginning with the International Surfing Association World Junior Surfing Championships in Salinas, Ecuador this March. Even though Hawai‘i is well-known as the “birthplace of surfing,” its top young surfers have watched as competitors around the world enjoyed better training, equipment and travel opportunities through sponsorships.
“The ISA World Championships is one of the most prestigious junior events one can compete in,” said Rainos Hayes, who has been fielding teams for Hawai‘i for more than 12 years for this specific competition. “In years past, the burden of travel and all related costs for the event fell on the Hawai‘i Surfing Association, competitors, and their parents. Verizon Wireless has committed to a three-year sponsorship agreement that can develop a world class program of training and competition for the team and its members.”
Hayes now has the flexibility to develop competitive sessions leading up to the event with team trainer and professional surfer, Kahea Hart as well as new recruit and top women’s professional, Megan Abubo.
Advertising campaigns will not just promote the team and its members, but the team will be involved in beach cleanups and public service activities that benefit our island communities statewide.
“The Verizon Wireless support allows us to travel and train in advance and we will have the benefit of videographers and photographers at all sessions and competition, which is a priceless feature never before realized by the Hawaiians,” Hayes said.
A Web site will soon launch as hawaiisurfteam.org, and it will allow everyone to follow the team, and news about the sport itself in our islands. A marketing partnership with Mike Latronic and Billabong TV, Free Surf Magazine, as well as Gary Kewley’s Surf News Network will further the teams exposure, the sport, our ocean, our islands and Hawai‘i.
“We feel very fortunate to have this partnership with Verizon Wireless which allows us to do just that.”
The competition takes place March 27 through April 5 and will be visible worldwide on the Internet through isasurf.org from Ecuador. More than 50 countries are members of the ISA, and take part in a variety of ocean sport competition throughout the year.
Close to 30 nations compete in the Junior World Championships. The nations that field strong teams annually and receive support from both private and public sectors include Australia, Brazil, Tahiti, South Africa, France, and Japan.
The Mainland USA has its own team, while Hawai‘i is recognized in this case as a separate island nation.
Hard Rock Cafe has signed on as the official media headquarters for the team and will be hosting the official send-off party for the surfers and the community, which is set for March 21 at their festive Waikiki location on Kalakaua Avenue. Hard Rock also has plans to dedicate an area in its new Waikiki location that will display the team’s activities and the sport of surfing in general.
Some of the members selected to represent Hawai‘i as official competitors and ambassadors of Aloha include ASP U.S. Open Champion Malia Manuel, 2008 NSSA Two-time champion Leila Hurst, HSF Hawai‘i State Champion and Surfing America U.S. Champion for girls under 16, Nage Melamed, as well as veteran competitor of these games and local standout who excels in all conditions, Alessa Cuizon.
In the Boys Under 16 team, members chosen so far include current U.S. Champion Under 16 and Under 18, Keanu Asing, heavy hitter Ezekiel Lau, Kaua‘i’s King of the Groms Kaimana Jaquias, and ISA current third-place finalist, Matty Costa from O‘ahu’s Westside.
In the Boys Under 18 division, the team consists of Maui big-wave up and comer Albee Layer, Kaua‘i boys Kyle Galtes and Dylan Goodale, as well as National Open Mens third-place winner Tanner Hendrickson.
The team will be traveling for over two weeks with chaperones and, trainers.
For further information regarding the team and opportunities for both private and public sector to support the team and their goals contact Rainos Hayes at ainos@hawaii.rr.com
