DeSoto saves best for last in longboard

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Duane DeSoto proved on his longboard yesterday that it's not how you start, but how you finish that matters most.

DeSoto won the Local Motion Classic at Queen's Surf, Waikiki, with a stylish ride on his last wave of the contest. The event was the sixth, and final, stop on the Hawaiian Longboard Federation's Steinlager Series.

"There were no waves all day," said DeSoto, who is 24 and resides in Hau'ula. "I was just lucky I got that last one. It was totally unexpected."

DeSoto's mere presence at the contest was somewhat of a surprise. Although considered one of Hawai'i's best longboard surfers, DeSoto did not enter any of the previous HLF events this summer.

"I'm one-for-one, that's pretty good," he said. "It's a great way to end the summer, that's for sure."

It was certainly a contrast to the start of his summer, when he was denied entry into the HLF opener in May because he turned in his paper work too late. He elected not to enter the second event, then was competing in Europe while the other HLF events took place.

"It was unfortunate what happened at that first contest," he said. "But it's in the past, and I wanted to be here for this one. I'm glad it all worked out."

Former world champion Bonga Perkins nearly spoiled DeSoto's storybook finish with an impressive performance of his own.

In the four-man final, Perkins established an early lead by riding the first two waves of the 30-minute heat. His opening ride received a score of 8.0, and with waves breaking inconsistently at 1 to 2 feet, his lead appeared safe.

"I had the ball, I just couldn't finish," Perkins said. "I knew I had two good scores, so I was just waiting for that third one. I guess I ended up waiting too long."

In the closing minutes, DeSoto paddled into a 2-foot wave and then walked to the front tip of his board for a "hang 10" nose-ride. The judges rewarded him with a score of 8.6, the highest of the final. That single score was better than his semifinal total of 8.5, which was still good enough to advance.

"That semifinal was the worst — no waves at all," DeSoto said. "But that's how it was all day, you just had to survive your heats and hope for at least one good wave."

DeSoto's top three waves in the final scored 22.6 to Perkins' 20.8.

Lance Ho'okano received an interference penalty, but still finished third. Kekoa Uemura placed fourth. After receiving the penalty midway through the final (he and Perkins rode the same wave, but Perkins was ruled to have the better position), Ho'okano paddled to the beach and elected not to compete for the final 10 minutes.

Kamu Auwae placed fifth, but won the overall HLF ratings title with 2,690 points. Kanoa Dahlin was second with 2,505, and Kanai Sharsh third with 2,498.

All competitors had to ride boards at least nine feet long. Finals in the amateur divisions will be held today at Queen's.