Kealakehe High sophomore advances
Advertiser Staff
Leilani Gryde took the day off from school yesterday to pass her first test in a professional contest.
Aaron Chang • Tostee.com
Gryde, 15 and a sophomore at Kealakehe High on the Big Island, advanced through the first two rounds of the Turtle Bay Resort Women's Pro.
Maile Orian advanced through the first round, but then lost in the second round. She was one of 11 Hawai'i surfers eliminated yesterday.
The first and second rounds were completed in wave faces of 6 to 8 feet at Turtle Bay. Gryde was the only Hawai'i surfer to advance yesterday. Eleven others from Hawai'i were eliminated.
"She was really nervous because this is her first pro competition," said her coach, Rik Iaconetti. "But she's got a lot of experience surfing at Turtle Bay, so that helped."
Gryde was rewarded with a spot in the same third-round heat as four-time defending world champion Layne Beachley of Australia.
Beachley and the other top seeded competitors have byes into the third round. Hawai'i surfers seeded into the third round are Rochelle Ballard, Megan Abubo, Keala Kennelly and Melanie Bartels.
Australian Dara Penfold's two-wave score of 16.83 (out of 20) in the second round was the best of the day.
The contest is the second of three in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing for Women. The final day of the contest could run today, conditions permitting. For status, call 596-7873.
