Rookie off to auspicious start in Hawai'i longboard series
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Keegan Edwards is a young, professional longboard surfer. He's also a good professional longboard surfer.
Any sponsors interested?
Edwards proved his worth against the state's best by winning the Hawaiian South Shore Open yesterday at Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.
The contest was the season opener of the Hawaiian Longboard Federation's Steinlager Series. All surfers had to ride boards at least 9 feet long.
"I'm hoping to go on the (longboarding) world tour," said Edwards, 20. "But this is my first year as a pro, so I'm looking to get some sponsors to help me out."
He's certainly doing his part on the waves. There have been two pro longboard events in Hawai'i in 2002. Edwards has won both.
"I guess I'm kind of on a roll," said Edwards, who also won a national amateur championship last year. "I just want to keep it going."
Waves were in the 1- to 3-foot range yesterday, and Edwards emerged victorious with a combination of smooth nose rides and sharp cutbacks. In the four-man final, his top three rides scored a total of 20.1.
He jumped to an early lead with scores of 7.6 and 8.5. The ocean went flat late in the heat, making it difficult for the other finalists to make up the deficit.
"I was feeling pretty confident at the end," Edwards said. "I knew I had those two solid waves early."
His "surfing buddy," Kai Sallas, placed second. They often surf together off Waikiki and Ala Moana.
Sallas, 21, had a chance to catch Edwards, but wiped out twice while attempting fancy maneuvers.
"That might have been the difference, I don't know," said Sallas. "But I wanted to take the chance."
Sallas still had the best single-wave score of the final with a 9.0, and finished with a total of 18.0. Sion Milosky placed third and Duane DeSoto was fourth.
Finals were also completed in 11 amateur divisions. The next event in the series will be June 22-23 at Lahaina Harbor, Maui.
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Final results
Pro: 1, Keegan Edwards, $600. 2, Kai Sallas, $350. 3, Sion Milosky, $300. 4, Duane DeSoto, $250. 5 (tie), Kekoa Auwae and Noah Shimabukuro, $150. 7 (tie), Jordan Hart and Kiva Rivers, $100.
Menehune: 1, Ben Kealoha Jr. 2, Kaimana Beauford. 3, Emerick Ishikawa.
15-19: 1, Kekoa Auwae. 2, Keoki Saguibo. 3, Venton Siliado.
20-29: 1, Atilla Jobbagyi. 2, Kekaula Campbell. 3, Scotty Fong.
30-39: 1, Virgil Sisiam. 2, Michael Sisiam. 3, Iko Ballunga.
40-49: 1, Mel Kinney. 2, Rodney Nakasato. 3, Ernie Maxilom.
50-59: 1, Glenn Rayno. 2, Bob Kim. 3, Buster Kellum.
60-older: 1, Bob Brown. 2, Bill Bragg. 3, Dickie Abbey.
Junior Wahine: 1, Amy Lawson. 2, Joy Magelssen. 3, Tiare Thomas.
Wahine: 1, Tyra Freitas. 2, Maka Puaa. 3, Lee Barraclough.
Over 200 pounds: 1, Jamie Ballenger. 2, Virgil Sisiam. 3, Michael Sisiam.
Weekend Warrior: 1, Layton Sun. 2, Kaleo Kealoha. 3, Nathan Totman.
