Nanakuli's Auwae second
Advertiser Staff
Kekoa Auwae of Nanakuli placed second in the grand final of the longboard division of the Quiksilver World Surfing Games yesterday at Durban, South Africa.
Bernie Baker • Special to The Advertiser
In waves of 2 to 3 feet, Auwae scored a total of 22.4 (out of 30) for his top three waves.
Gavin Sutherland completed several 360-degree aerial maneuvers to win the Town & Country/Surfer Magazine Air Invitational.
Marcelo Freitas of Brazil dominated the final, winning with a three-wave total of 26.7. Jason Ribbink of South Africa was third, and Justin Redman of Australia fourth.
Auwae's performance was impressive considering he was the only amateur to advance to the final of the longboard division.
Two other Hawai'i surfers remain in contention for today's final day of competition.
Kekoa Bacalso of Mililani lost for the first time all week in the junior division (for ages 18 and younger) surfing semifinals yesterday. He will compete in today's consolation final. If he wins that, he will advance to the grand final.
In the open women's surfing division, Kristen Quizon of Wai'anae won two consolation heats yesterday. She needs to win two more consolation heats today to advance to the grand final.
In the men's division, Hank Gaskell of Maui was eliminated in the semifinals of the consolation round.
In other finals held yesterday, Neymara Carvalho from Brazil won the women's bodyboard division, and Kyle Bryant of Australia won the kneeboard division.
Hawai'i is in fifth place in the overall team standings, behind South Africa, Brazil, Australia and France.
Hawai'i was allowed to enter its own team separate from another United States team. The USA team is in 12th place.
More than 600 competitors from 34 countries are participating in the nine-day contest, which is considered the Olympics of surfing.
