After showing their stuff throughout the HSF Kaua‘i season, the island’s best amateur surfers took their talents to O‘ahu for the 2013 Hawai‘i Surfing Association state championships during the final week of April. Reaching states was a great accomplishment after
After showing their stuff throughout the HSF Kaua‘i season, the island’s best amateur surfers took their talents to O‘ahu for the 2013 Hawai‘i Surfing Association state championships during the final week of April.
Reaching states was a great accomplishment after the four-contest Kaua‘i season, but some of the Garden Isle’s top competitors took it one step further and made some deep runs in their respective divisions, prompting invitations to nationals.
Kiana Fores continued to rep the North Shore with style and took first place once again in the Girls 16-17 age division. Kiana is no stranger to the podium at Ala Moana Bowls and her gold medal this time around was one of seven championships that Kaua‘i riders took home in 2013.
Elijah Fox outmaneuvered the rest of the field in the Boys 12-13 division on his way to a first-place finish. The result made him the only Kaua‘i grom in any boys division to place in the top four.
In the Girls 11 & Under category, Keala Tomoda-Bannert grabbed first place as she paddled out in the final heat alongside HSF Kaua‘i competitor Gabriella Bryan, who finished in third place.
It was a family affair of sorts for the Kinimaka clan. Mainei took second place in the Girls 14-15 category, surfing her way to a great finish in a powerful final heat with Dax McGill, Mahina Maeda and Cayla Moore.
Dax and Mahina have already represented Hawai‘i in International Surfing Association junior events and Cayla’s older sister, Carissa, was the 2011 ASP Women’s World Champion. That final contained plenty of star power, to say the least.
Maluhia Kinimaka then came in third place in the Girls 16-17 division won by Kiana Fores.
Maluhia was invited to the Surfing America Championship last year in both the Under 18 and Under 16 divisions and has earned another trip this time around.
Natalia Smith showed her impressive versatility by placing in four different categories, including a gold in the Girls Longboard Under 17 division and a silver in the Girls Stand-Up Paddle Under 17 division.
She also competed against the men in the Open Stand-Up Paddle and the Open Longboard events, claiming fifth and sixth place, respectively.
The Open Longboard division was won by Richard Patey, who took home three gold medals on the week. He was also victorious in the Senior Men’s Longboard event and the Senior Men’s Shortboard.
Kelley Hunt claimed second place in the Master Shortboard division and Roger Kinnaman finished third in the Golden Legends Shortboard.
This week, the Surfing America invitations were officially announced with the following Kaua‘i surfers invited for their listed divisions: Lucas Angulo (Boys Under 16), Elijah Fox (Boys Under 14), Kiana Fores (Girls Under 18), Maluhia Kinimaka (Girls Under 18), Natalia Smith (Girls Under 18; Girls Longboard Under 18; Girls SUP Under 18; Women’s SUP Open), Mainei Kinimaka (Girls Under 16), Keala Tomoda-Bannert (Girls Under 12), Kelley Hunt (Masters 30-39), Richard Patey (Seniors 40-49; Senior Longboard 40+), Sunny Patey (Girls Longboard Under 18).
Congrats to all the Hawai‘i representatives!
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