Amateurs find many gifts in Ala Moana Bowl competition

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Weston Hori won the boys division and said it was worth it just to surf with only a couple of guys out there at the Ala Moana Bowl. Neal Miyake • Photo

For amateur surfers, the gift of waves can be more than satisfying.

Yesterday, they got that and more during the Local Motion/Ezekiel Surf Into Summer contest at the Ala Moana Bowl.

"Every year, we try to make it like Christmas in summer for the kids," said Calvin Maeda, director of marketing for Local Motion. "But to top it off, we got waves this year."

More than 200 surfers of various ages competed in the three-day event, making it the largest amateur surfing contest in the state. Waves ranged from 1 to 4 feet yesterday — perfect conditions for the youth divisions.

"The waves were nice and I hardly ever get to surf with only a couple of other guys out there," said Weston Hori, a freshman at Kalani High who won the boys surfing division (ages 13-14). "It was worth it just for that."

If not, Local Motion and several other surf companies provided more than $10,000 worth of prizes.

Amy Lawson, a freshman at Iolani, walked away with a new skateboard, a surfboard bag, T-shirts and other surfing apparel.

"This contest goes off," she said. "It's fun just to get to surf in the contest, but then you get all these prizes if you make the finals."

Lawson earned her share, winning the women's longboarding division, and placing second in the women's surfing division.

She even recorded the only perfect 10 of the day during her longboard victory. "I did like three hits off the top (of the wave) and then I was noseriding for a little bit," she explained.

Bill Lawson, Amy's father, also entered two divisions, but was eliminated in the first round of both. Not that it mattered much to him yesterday.

"This is a fabulous contest," he said. "My daughter is walking away happy; that's all that matters."

T.J. Barron, a sophomore at Kahuku, won the prestigious junior men's surfing division (ages 15-17). Many of the competitors in that division are expected to turn professional in the next few years.

Other division winners: Robert Martinez (14-younger bodyboarding), Joshua Chan (men's bodyboarding), Kekoa Cazimero (menehune surfing), Billy Choi (men's surfing), Hoptong Smith (masters surfing), Reid Kawamae (senior men's surfing), Tory Titcomb (women's surfing) and Jordan Hart (men's longboarding).