Bodyboarders capitalize on chance
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Local bodyboarders are receiving a rare turbo boost this weekend.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
Over 130 of them are participating in the inaugural Turbo Sandy's Summer Slam, which started yesterday at Sandy Beach.
Dominic Matthews rides a wave during the first Turbo Sandy’s Summer Slam at Sandy Beach, the first major bodyboarding event there since 1996.
The contest is for bodyboarders only, and several of the biggest names in the sport are either entering as contestants or assisting the event in some capacity.
"There really hasn't been any bodyboarding events of significance on (O'ahu's) south shore in the last 10 years or so," said Norm Skorge, owner of Turbo Surf, a shop in Kapahulu that specializes in bodyboarding equipment. "In the late 1980s and early '90s, bodyboarding was happening. It took a little bit of a downturn in the last couple of years, so we're just trying to build it back up."
Actually, the last major bodyboarding contest held at Sandy Beach was the Quiksilver/Roxy Hawaiian Bodyboard Championships in July of 1996. A world championship event is held every January at the Banzai Pipeline, but most of the spots in that contest are awarded to international competitors.
"Locally, something like this was needed real bad," said North Shore professional Joey Vieira. "There's amateur contests for the kids and stuff, but for the guys aspiring to become pros, there really was nothing."
Perhaps because of that, many of the established professionals, including Vieira, declined entry into the contest and instead opted for other roles. Vieira is serving as head judge. The rest of his judging panel consists entirely of professional bodyboarders.
"If you're a competitor, you can't argue against that," said Skorge. "We knew having those guys judge the whole thing would make the event that much stronger."
Vieira added: "It wasn't like we felt like we had to be here to help out. We wanted to be here to help out. It's not just for this contest, it's for the good of the sport."
Skorge noted that the local amateur circuits hold bodyboard divisions, but are judged by "surfing guys."
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
"Nothing against those surf meets because they allow the bodyboarders in there," he explained. "But the bodyboarding sometimes is treated like a sidebar at those events."
Though the waves were just 1 foot high yesterday, Rex Moribe made the most of his ride at Sandy Beach
Some of the other professionals will display their skills during an "expression session" in between final heats today. Among the list of participants is Kainoa McGee, Paul Roach and Lanson Ronquilio.
"If it's put on by bodyboarders and supported by bodyboarders, it only makes sense that it becomes a much better event for bodyboarders," said McGee. "This sport can grow bigger than what it was before, easily. The kids coming up are doing back-flips and all kinds of aerials. The potential is unbelievable."
Roach flew to Hawai'i from his native California to be a part of the inaugural event. He said the contest scene is similar in his home state.
"There's not much going on in California, either," he said. "But it can only get better. It can't get much lower than what it was the last few years. The professionals need a better world tour, but it has to start with these types of grass-roots contests."
What's more, several local contestants proved their worth yesterday, even if the waves were rolling in at a dismal 1 foot.
One of the standouts was Chasity Baltazar, a senior-to-be at Wai'anae High. She won two heats yesterday — one against males in the 17-over amateur division, and another against top-ranked professional females in the open women's division.
"I'm used to going up against the guys," said Baltazar, 17. "I don't let it bother me. I just try to surf regular, like I'm at my home (beach). And I like going against the pro girls. I want to turn professional one day, so that's all the girls I have to go up against anyway."
Other top performers in yesterday's preliminary rounds included former world champions Daniela Freitas and Karla Costa in the open women's division, and professionals Chris Won and Brian Wise in the open men's division.
Finals in all four divisions (open men, open women, 17-over amateur, 16-under amateur) will be completed today. Over $5,000 will be awarded to the top finishers.
"One of the main things we wanted to find out in this first year was what kind of support we would get," Skorge said. "And seeing all these bodyboarders out here leads me to say that we're going to do this again, for sure."
