Posted on: Friday, April 9, 2004
ISLE FILE
Japan sweeps women's bodyboard
Advertiser Staff
Miku Nakamura of Japan won the 15th annual Ko Olina World Championship of Women's Bodyboarding yesterday in 3- to 6-foot waves at the Banzai Pipeline.
Nakamura became the second bodyboarder from Japan to win the prestigious event. It is the only all-female wave-riding contest held at Pipeline.
Japanese competitors dominated the event, taking the top five places. Aoi Koike, who was the first Japanese competitor to win in 1998, placed second, followed by Emiko Mizoguchi, Ayako Ide and Miya Inoue.
Ana Portela of Brazil was the only non-Japanese competitor to make the final, and she placed sixth. Most of the top-ranked Brazilian competitors did not enter the contest.
North Shore bodyboarders Carol Philips and Jen Marr were eliminated in the semifinals.
SURFING
• Two from Hawai'i ousted: Hawai'i surfers Kalani Robb and Bruce Irons were eliminated in the second round of the Rip Curl Pro yesterday. The second round of the contest was completed in 3- to 4-foot waves at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia.
Robb and Irons were both defeated by Brazilian surfers. Raoni Monteiro defeated Robb, 16.50 to 13.60; Victor Ribas beat Irons, 14.67 to 9.16.
Two other Hawai'i surfers, world champion Andy Irons and Sunny Garcia, had byes yesterday and will next compete in the third round.
The contest is the second stop on the 2004 World Championship Tour.
TRACK AND FIELD • Sunset Series Meet at UH: The University of Hawai'i women's track and field team hosts the first Sunset Series Meet of the spring tomorrow at Cooke Field. Registration begins at 3 p.m. with a $2 donation per event or $5 for three or more events. Relay events are free.
The event is open to athletes of all ages and skill levels.
