ASP Pro Longboard Waikiki & HIC Pro Jr Women
Waikiki’s Premier Ocean Sports Festival
11th Annual Duke’s OceanFest
LOCATION: Duke’s Kahanamoku’s Statue, Waikïkï Beach
WAIKIKI BEACH – The 11th Annual Duke’s OceanFest
Morning: The HIC Pro Jr. Women kicked off the day today in honor of Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern day surfing. Surf was small but the girls took on the challenge with patience and grace.
” It was a good day”, said 16 year old winner Mahina Maeda. ” It was hard but you just had to be patient and wait for the right wave. This is a good win for me and Duke is like part of my family so it is great to be here.”
In second place was Maluhia Kinemaka from Kauai who made the final with sister Mainei, both daughters of the world famous surfer Titus Kinemaka. In fourth place was Moana Jones from Sunset Beach, Oahu, one of the youngest competitors.
In the Kane (Men) Longboard division paddle battles were part of the excitement. Every ridable wave was utilized and in the end it was the Waikiki local Kai Sallas who took the big check.
“My family is from Waikiki, my father was a beach boy for 35 years and so I felt like I had to do my best to defend my beach and win this one”, said Sallas. In the beach boy tradition Sallas also teaches surf lessons on the beaches where his father and the Duke called their own. “Waikiki is such a great place you know, always perfect weather and a great place to learn to surf… you can do all kinds of water sports here or just suntan on the beach.”
In the Wahine (Woman) division Crystal Dzigas was the Queen of Queens surf break, winning her second ASP qualifying event. Dzigas is also a local surfer who has the spot wired. ” I am just comfortable and surf how I surf and just pay attention to myself out there. I used to surf against people but that has changed.” said Dzigas after the win. Dzigas won $1,000.00 dollars ad Sallas $2,000.00.
Duke’s OceanFest is dedicated to celebrating Hawai‘i’s ocean sports heritage while perpetuating the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku, who is regarded as Hawai‘i’s greatest athlete, winning six Olympic medals, including three gold medals in swimming, from 1912-1932. Revered worldwide, Duke is recognized as the “Father of International Surfing” and later in life was honored with the distinction of being named as Hawai‘i’s official “Ambassador of Aloha.”
Category: All ASP News, ASP Hawaii News
