Team Uncle’s Favorite, a Kauai paddling team, pulled off a win at the 38th Annual Buffalo’s Big Surfing Classic at Makaha Beach, Oahu. The five-day tournament wrapped up Sunday with classic three- to five-foot surf conditions when Team Uncle’s Favorite
Team Uncle’s Favorite, a Kauai paddling team, pulled off a win at the 38th Annual Buffalo’s Big Surfing Classic at Makaha Beach, Oahu.
The five-day tournament wrapped up Sunday with classic three- to five-foot surf conditions when Team Uncle’s Favorite with Kauila “Scooter” Sagum steering and crew Benny Ferris, Joe Corbett and Noah Hamilton pulled off its victory.
Chris Kauwe, a strong supporter of canoe surfing, said Sagum has been trying three times at bringing the canoe surfing trophy home to Kauai.
Team Uncle’s Favorite took to the surf on Feb. 15, but the winners were not announced until Feb. 23, Kauwe said. Sagum, on learning the outcome, expressed his team’s gratitude to Buffalo and Aunty Momi for welcoming the Outer Islands to the contest.
Team Mei Puu, the heavily favored crew and defending champion, finished second and Team Leeward Kai placed third. Team Da Hui Hulakai rounded out the leaderboard in fourth place.
“The ‘Buff’ surfing contest is known as the Super Bowl of canoe surfing’ where the very best of the best from around the state of Hawaii, and beyond, gather to challenge each other and the massive surf of Makaha in the ancient Hawaiian sport of waa nalu, or canoe surfing,” said Kauwe in an email with the results. “The contest has long been dominated by many of the legends of canoe surfing, including teams steered by Brian Keaulana, Mei Puu, and Duane DeSoto.”
