China provides fun for longboarders
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Joey Valentin demonstrates a classic pose during the final heat of the pro division of China Uemura's 19th Annual Longboard Surfing Classic at Kewalo Basin.
Bernie Baker photo |
China Uemura's 19th Annual Longboard Surfing Classic started yesterday with the professional division at Kewalo Basin. It is the first time that Uemura has staged a separate division for pros.
"There are so many good surfers in Hawai'i and only a couple of them go on (the World Longboard Tour)," said Uemura, a former national longboard surfing champion. "I'm just trying to help these guys out — give them another contest to do and let them try and win some money."
The final was held in 1- to 3-foot waves yesterday, but Uemura will not announce the winner until tomorrow, during the awards presentation for the entire contest.
Amateur heats in various age divisions will be held today and tomorrow at Kuhio Beach, Waikiki. Approximately 300 surfers are expected to compete. All competitors must ride longboards, which are about 9 feet and have rounded noses.
The pros surfing in yesterday's final were Jye Byrnes of Australia and Hawai'i competitors Duane DeSoto, Bonga Perkins and Joey Valentin.
None of the finalists stood out, so the winner was truly a mystery after the 25-minute heat was completed.
"I don't think I won it," DeSoto said. "I saw Bonga get a good one, but it's so hard to tell. I wouldn't be surprised no matter who gets it."
In truth, the surfers were pleased just to have another contest on the Hawai'i schedule.
"It's like a breath of fresh air," DeSoto said. "We needed something different, and when it comes to longboard contests, Uncle China knows what it's all about, so he came through for us."
In the previous 18 years of his contest, Uemura did not distinguish between professionals and amateurs. Pro surfers could enter his contest in their respective age divisions.
But with the increased popularity of the sport in recent years came an increased number of professional entries. To make it fairer to the amateurs and more appealing to the pros, Uemura created the professional division this year.
"I would have surfed this event whether there was a pro division or not," said Perkins, a former world champion. "But it does make it more fun to compete against the pros."
What's more, Uemura said his goal was to make the professional division a "surfer's contest." Each pro was asked to pay an entry fee of $125, with $100 going into the prize pool and $25 going toward local charities (it is an Uemura tradition to donate proceeds from his contests to charities).
"It's like a gambling pot," DeSoto said. "You put your money in the pool and best man wins."
The winner will receive $1,200, with second place receiving $600 and third and fourth getting $300 each.
Uemura has already secured an additional $1,000 from a sponsor for next year's prize purse. He also expects the entry list to increase, which would also increase the purse.
"China's contest has always been prestigious," Valentin said. "Just his name alone on the contest makes you want to win it. The fact that you can win some money is a bonus."
Twenty-four pros turned out yesterday, including two of the top three ranked longboard surfers in the world. Perkins is currently ranked No. 2 on the World Longboard Tour; Byrnes is No. 3.
Byrnes is here on a "side trip" because another contest was canceled in Brazil. He was convinced to enter by Kekoa Uemura, China's son and one of Hawai'i's best young pro longboard surfers.
"The waves weren't great today, but it was still better than a lot of the waves we normally surf on the tour," Byrnes said. "I'd say it was worth it to come here."
Byrnes was also impressed with the aloha of Uemura's contest.
"We were fed breakfast and lunch," Byrnes said. "We usually don't get anything to eat or drink at other contests. Just the whole atmosphere of this contest makes it worth entering."
