Posted on: Monday, June 21, 2004

Uemura family has big day in, out of ocean

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

It was a day of celebrations for the Uemura family yesterday.

Of course, there was Father's Day. But there was also a first birthday and an unexpected contest victory to celebrate.

Kekoa Uemura won the HIC/Faith Riding Classic longboard surfing contest yesterday at the "Tennis Courts" break off Ala Moana Beach Park.

The victory was witnessed by his father, legendary surfer China Uemura. It also came hours before Kekoa went off to celebrate the 1-year-old birthday of his only nephew, Kayde.

"It's a pretty good day," said Kekoa, 21. "We'll all be having fun tonight."

The contest was the second of five stops in the Steinlager Shaka Summer Series. Most of the state's top longboard surfers participated in the two-day contest.

The finals were staged in consistent 1- to 3-foot waves at a spot that rarely hosts contests.

"I actually don't practice out here much," Kekoa said. "But the wave is pretty good. It lines up really well and if you get the right ones, you get a long ride."

He got two extremely long rides in the 30-minute final, and was rewarded with scores of 8.6 and 7.9. His final tally of 16.5 was enough to edge the other three finalists.

"Everybody was getting waves," Kekoa said. "I got lucky and caught a couple of the good ones."

Kekoa won $500 for the victory, and didn't have to spend any of it on a Father's Day gift. Prior to yesterday's contest, China Uemura had already agreed to treat his family at the 50th State Fair in honor of his grandson's birthday.

"I don't mind," said China, a former national champion in longboard surfing. "Him winning the contest is my present."

Kekoa is also turning victories at this time of year into an annual event. Last year, he won a pro contest the day after his nephew was born.

Keegan Edwards placed second with a two-wave score of 14.7.

"There were some good waves," he said. "I normally never surf out here, but it's a good wave for a contest. I was just happy to make the final."

Ben Kealoha Jr. was a surprise finalist and finished third with a score of 14.0. The senior-to-be at Nanakuli High was the only amateur to make the final heat.

"It was exciting for me just to surf with all these guys," said Kealoha, 17. "I look up to all of them."

Earlier in the day, Kealoha won the boys division for amateur surfers ages 13 to 17.

Kapono Nahina's scores actually tied Kealoha for third place, but Kealoha was awarded the higher spot based on a tiebreaker.

Former world champion Bonga Perkins was eliminated in the semifinals.

Yesterday's contest was the final "warm-up" before the World Longboard Championship contest in France next month. Around a dozen surfers from Hawai'i are expected to compete for the world title, including Kekoa Uemura and Edwards.

"I was hoping to do well here and take the momentum to France," Edwards said. "It's just one contest (to determine the world champion), so you have to be at your best."

In addition to the pro-am division, finals were staged in 18 amateur divisions yesterday.

Standouts from the amateur divisions included Jamie Ballenger, Geodee Clark, Jason Miyamura and Jordan Hart. Ballenger was the only competitor to win two divisions.

All competitors in the series are required to surf on boards at least 9 feet long. The next event in the series is scheduled for July 31 and Aug. 1 at Kewalo Basin.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.