NSSA Contest #7 hits Pine Trees

On February 11-12, surfers of the NSSA-Hawai’i Region packed their boards and headed to Pine Trees in Hanalei Bay. The surf was in the 4-8 foot face range.

Conditions were challenging as consistent sets fired into the Pine Trees shorebreak and wave selection was key. Evidence of this was John John Florence’s and Clay Marzo’s 10-point rides that left them short of victory. Both had to settle for less than average back up waves.

National Explorer Juniors champion Granger Larsen was the standout of the event, winning both the Open Mens and Open Juniors divisions over a star-studded talent-filled lineup.

In the Explorer divisions, 2005 National Champions, Dusty Payne, Casey Brown and John John Florence won divisions. Ezekial Lau won his division in Explorer Menehune and in the Open Mini Grom division. Lahikiola Minamishin took advantage of Koa Smith’s vacation to win. Another notable performance was David Brand’s victory in the Open Boys division.

In the Women’s divisions, standouts are starting to emerge.

Leila Hurst won her second Explorer Girls title in a row, and managed to final in the other two women’s events as well. Leila’s been one of the most consistent surfers in the women’s division this year, and is looking to keep that consistency through Nationals. In the Explorer Women’s division, last year’s national champ, Bethany Hamilton, posted another victory. In the Open Women’s division, Coco Ho posted another season win. Other notables in the women’s divisions are Erika Steiner and Savanna Sussman, two newcomers to the NSSA this season, who made two finals appearances apiece.

Full results of the event are in the scoreboard on page B2.

The last event of the NSSA-Hawai’i Region is scheduled for Hale’iwa on the island of O’ahu, from February 25-26.

. Bobbi Lee is the NSSA-Hawai’i Region contest director.