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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 23, 2002

Hawai'i surfers to face pro challenge

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

For most of Hawai'i's competitors in the World Surfing Games, it'll be boys against men and girls against women.

Nathan Carroll of Sunset Beach is one of Hawai'i's entries in the junior division of the World Surfing Games.

Bernie Baker photo

• • •

Hawai‘i roster

Open men surfing: Hank Gaskell, Mikey Mitchell, Raymond Reichle, Evan Valiere.

Junior surfing: Kekoa Bacalso, Nathan Carroll, Dustin Cuizon, Ola Eleogram.

Open women surfing: Shea Hodges, Kristen Quizon.

Open men bodyboarding: Kepa Kruse, Bud Miyamoto.

Open women bodyboarding: Chasity Baltazar.

Open longboarding: Kekoa Auwae.

Open kneeboarding: David Shinbara.

That's just how they like it.

Although the nine-day competition is open to professionals, Hawai'i's 15-member team will consist entirely of amateurs. What's more, 13 of the 15 Hawai'i competitors are younger than 19.

"It puts us at a disadvantage, sure," said Rainos Hayes, the Hawai'i head coach. "But that doesn't mean we're not capable of winning."

Two years ago, Hawai'i also fielded an all-amateur team and placed second in the overall team standings. This year's contest is scheduled to begin on Saturday at Durban, South Africa, and will feature more than 600 competitors representing 34 countries.

The event is held every two years at a different site around the world, and is considered the Olympics of surfing.

Most of the top countries — defending champion Brazil, Australia, South Africa and the United States — will enter professionals.

"We're going to be the underdogs," said 17-year-old Mikey Mitchell, who will compete in the open men's division. "That makes you want to train harder and surf harder."

Kristen Quizon, a senior at Wai'anae High who will compete in the open women's division, added: "You have to expect to go up against good competition anyway. It doesn't matter if it's pros or not. We're still going to try and do our best to win."

The Hawai'i team was selected based on overall performance in three separate tryouts.

"We could have called Sunny Garcia and Andy Irons and put together a Dream Team," Hayes said. "But it's about giving these kids a chance. The pros are chasing their own world title. For the amateurs, this is as big as it gets."

Two years ago, Joel Centeio of Kapolei captured the junior division of the World Surfing Games in Brazil. This year, the junior division (for surfers age 18 and younger) will once again be Hawai'i's strength.

Kekoa Bacalso from Mililani, Nathan Carroll from Sunset Beach, Dustin Cuizon from 'Ewa Beach, and Ola Eleogram from Maui will represent Hawai'i in the junior division. According to Hayes, all four have a legitimate shot at the world title.

"I grew up surfing with Joel (Centeio), so there's a lot of motivation to try and do what he did," Bacalso said. "It's just that every heat is going to be like a final."

The Hawai'i surfers are hoping to receive cooperation from the waves at Durban. "It can get anywhere from one foot to about six feet, but we'll be better off if it's closer to six feet," Hayes said.

Just in case, Hayes and assistant coach Bert Ishimaru have been conducting practice sessions for the team in various conditions around O'ahu.

"You have to be ready for both small and big waves," said Kaua'i's Kepa Kruse, who will represent Hawai'i in the men's bodyboard division. "Either way, you have to go out and compete against the best."