Moore captures 3 titles at nationals
Advertiser Staff
Eleven-year-old Carissa Moore of Honolulu made history by winning three titles at the National Scholastic Surfing Association's National Championships at San Clemente, Calif., last weekend.
Moore, a Punahou School seventh-grader, was awarded the Governor's Cup as the outstanding female surfer of the week-long contest, and became the first female to win three championships at the NSSA Nationals. She won the middle school girls, explorer women and open women divisions in 3- to 6-foot waves at the Lower Trestles surf break.
Moore
The NSSA Nationals is considered the most prestigious event in the country for student surfers.
Carissa's father, Chris, said she was the youngest in the open women's division, which is open to contestants through high school and college age. She scored 8.5 (out of 10 points) and 7.5 on her rides to beat 23 others in that division.
Carissa also placed third in the middle school longboard division, meaning she surfed in four final heats.
"We were overwhelmed," Chris Moore said. "It was more than I could have thought for Carissa. We knew she had the potential. ... She has the surfing ability, but experience is a weakness. She's just so young, but she overcame it."
The last male surfer to win three titles at the NSSA Nationals was California's Bobby Martinez in 1995, according to meet officials.
During the awards ceremony on Sunday, Carissa said that she wanted to share her trophies with shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton of Kaua'i.
Hamilton, who lost her left arm in a shark attack last October, placed fifth in the open women's division.
"Carissa and Bethany had everybody on the beach talking," said Bobbi Lee, director of the Hawai'i region of the NSSA. "People could not believe that Carissa was doing the things she was doing at her age. And Bethany ... she's back."
Clay Marzo of Lahaina, Maui, was the only male to win two titles. He placed first in the open juniors and explorer boys divisions.
"Clay was scoring 8s and 9s on almost all of his waves," Lee said.
Two surfers from O'ahu's North Shore also won national championships. John John Florence won the open boys division, and Kiron Jabour won the explorer menehune division.
The NSSA Nationals was the second of three national championship events for amateur surfers this summer. The USA Surfing Championships is scheduled for July 23 to 25 at Huntington Beach, Calif.
Hurley International National Scholastic Surfing Association
2004 National Championships
San Clemente, Calif.
June 18 to 26
Hawai'i finalists
Open Men: 3, Kaimi Hui Hui; 5, Ola Eleogram; 6, T.J. Barron.
Open Juniors: 1, Clay Marzo; 2, Tyler Newton; 4, Casey Brown; 6, Dusty Payne.
Open Boys: 1, John John Florence; 3, Hizson Lin Kee; 5, Ezekiel Lau.
Open Mini Groms: 3, Ezekiel Lau; 4, David Brand.
Open Women: 1, Carissa Moore; 5, Bethany Hamilton; 6, Paige Alms.
Open Longboard: 5, Ned Snow.
Explorer Men: 2, Ola Eleogram.
Explorer Juniors: 5, Hank Gaskell; 6, T.J. Barron.
Explorer Boys: 1, Clay Marzo; 3, Kekoa Cazimero; 5, Tyler Newton; 6, Tonino Benson.
Explorer Menehune: 1, Kiron Jabour; 3, Ezekiel Lau; 5, Albee Layer; 6, Johann Hedemann
Explorer Women: 1, Carissa Moore; 3, Coco Ho; 6, Leilani Gryde.
Explorer Bodyboard: 2, Travis Smith; 4, David Phillips; 5, Kainoa Lum.
Explorer Longboard: 2, Ned Snow; 3, Makamae DeSoto.
Air Show: 2, Hank Gaskell; 4, Ola Eleogram.
High School Longboard: 2, Makamae DeSoto.
High School Team: 8, Kahuku.
Middle School Girls: 1, Carissa Moore.
Middle School Longboard: 3, Carissa Moore.
