MANLY, AUSTRALIA — It may be in another hemisphere, but Kaua‘i’s girls are sure making Australia feel like home. The Kaua‘i girls have represented well in this week’s Australian Open of Surfing in Manly, Australia. Leading the way is Wailua’s
MANLY, AUSTRALIA — It may be in another hemisphere, but Kaua‘i’s girls are sure making Australia feel like home.
The Kaua‘i girls have represented well in this week’s Australian Open of Surfing in Manly, Australia.
Leading the way is Wailua’s Malia Manuel.
Manuel, who will debut on the ASP Women’s World Title series in two weeks on Australia’s Gold Coast, advanced to the semifinals this morning.
In the quarterfinals Manuel edged Joanne Defay of France. Both surfers finished with an 11.76, but Manuel’s top ride of 6.67 bettered Defay’s so the Kauaian advanced.
In the round of 12, Manuel finished second in her heat with an 8.67 score, edging out Kaua‘i’s Nage Melamed for the coveted qualifying position.
“It was tricky out there today,” Manuel told reporters Tuesday. “I’m just happy to get a couple and make it through. This is my first event of the year and it’s nice to get in that rhythm again. This is my first time in Manly and I’m happy to be here.”
Manuel finished second in the round of 48, and her 14.06 was good for a win in her round of 24 heat.
Manuel’s success came at the expense of Melamed who gave a good showing following her semifinal finish at the World Juniors earlier this year.
Melamed used second-place finishes in the round of 48 and 24 to advance. Her 11.44 score in the round of 24 was her best score of the Open.
Kaua‘i’s Alana Blanchard and Bethany Hamilton also competed in the Open, but the two Hanalei surfers didn’t fare as well as their younger counterparts.
Hamilton, who was unseeded and had to begin in the round of 60, struggled to find a solid wave in her opening heat. Her 7.93 score was good for third place in her heat, but fell far short of the 11.94 posted by second-place finisher Nikki Van Dijk of Australia.
Blanchard didn’t struggle to put up a score; she just had bad luck. Blanchard’s 11.90 — a score normally good for advancing — was upstaged by Australia’s Brittani Nicholl (12.17) and Laura Enever who had a monster 17.70 in the round of 48.
In the junior division, defending World Junior champion and Kaua‘i native Leila Hurst continued her early season success. Hurst easily advanced to the semifinals, but an 18.15 by Van Dijk was just too much for the Kauaian to surmount. Hurst posted a 10.00 in the heat.
• Tyson Alger, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or by emailing talger@ thegardenisland.com. Follow him on twitter.com/tysonalger.
