Patacchia, Uemura win E-Series openers
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Bernie Baker • Special to The Advertiser
Fred Patacchia Jr. is proof that the Macy's E-Series is working for Hawai'i's best young surfers.
Fred Patacchia Jr. of O'ahu's North Shore had a two-wave score of 16.6 to win the first event of the 2004 Macy's E-Series.
Patacchia won the shortboard division yesterday in clean 2- to 4-foot waves at Kewalo Basin. It was the first of five events on the 2004 Macy's E-Series.
The E-Series was created in 2002 to help Hawai'i surfers gain contest experience before venturing on to the world tour.
"It was more of a fun thing for me because all my friends were out there surfing with me," Patacchia said. "But at the same time, we all had our jerseys on, and the judges were scoring us, so it was a contest situation."
Patacchia has been entering the E-Series since its inception, and the practice has paid off this year. He is ranked No. 11 on the World Qualifying Series. If he maintains that ranking through the end of the year, he will qualify for the elite World Championship Tour.
"No matter how good you are, it's always good to practice, especially against guys you know can beat you," said Patacchia, 22. "These guys are my friends, but they bring out the best in me."
Patacchia, who is from O'ahu's North Shore, opened the final heat with a mind-boggling aerial maneuver that received a score of 8.0 (out of 10). On his next wave, he completed several top-to-bottom carves for a score of 8.6.
"I was lucky enough to stick that air on my first wave to give me some momentum," he said. "The conditions were great all day. It was one of the best contests I've surfed in a long time."
Patacchia
Kekoa Bacalso of Mililani placed second with a two-wave score of 15.5. In the semifinals, Bacalso scored a perfect 10.
"All the top guys from Hawai'i come out for this, so it's as good a contest as any," Bacalso said. "For me, it's good because I'm still getting my feet wet in pro contests."
Joel Centeio of Makakilo was third and Roy Powers of Kaua'i was fourth.
Kekoa Uemura won the longboard division with a two-wave score of 14.75 in the final. Ned Snow was second, followed by Kapono Nahina and Kai Sallas.
"Surfing against those guys is like surfing on the world tour, so it's really good practice," Uemura said. "And the waves were pretty close to perfect all day, so it was good all-around."
Surfers in the longboard division had to ride boards at least nine feet long.
The second event in the series is scheduled for next month at Turtle Bay.
Final results
Shortboard surfing
1, Fred Patacchia Jr. 2, Kekoa Bacalso. 3, Joel Centeio. 4, Roy Powers. 5 (tie), Kaipo Jaquias and Dustin Barca. 7 (tie), Billy Choi, Macy Mullen and Kawika Stillwell. 10 (tie), Kaimi Huihui, Travis Sasaki and John John Florence.
Longboard surfing
1, Kekoa Uemura. 2, Ned Snow. 3, Kapono Nahina. 4, Kai Sallas. 5 (tie), Joey Valentin and Keoki Saguibo. 7 (tie), Nainoa Ciotti and Scotty Fong Jr.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
