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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Hawaii's Moore top female amateur surfer

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Carissa Moore

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Carissa Moore once again proved that she is the best female amateur surfer in America.

Moore added to her record total of national championships by winning two divisions at the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) National Championships last week at San Clemente, Calif.

Moore, who is 14 and a sophomore-to-be at Punahou School, won the open women and explorer women divisions in what may be her final performance at the NSSA National Championships.

"I wasn't thinking about what I did all the other years," she said. "I knew it was a clean slate this year and the competition is always tough. It was really difficult this year, so I'm really happy I was able to win."

Moore now has a record 11 NSSA national titles. No other surfer in the history of the NSSA championships has more than seven.

What's more, the open women's division is considered the top division for females, and Moore has won it each of the last four years.

In Saturday's final heat, Moore received scores of 9.75 (out of 10) and 8.25 for a two-wave total of 18.0. That was the highest total score of the entire contest.

"The winds were kind of onshore, but the wave is still really fun," Moore said. "All the other girls were surfing really well, so any one of us could have won it."

Coco Ho of Sunset Beach placed second, and Alana Blanchard of Kaua'i was fourth.

Moore still has three years of eligibility remaining in the NSSA, but she may not add to her record total of 11 titles.

Her father, Chris, said they will focus on other events next summer. He emphasized that Carissa will remain in school, and has no immediate plans to turn professional.

"Our plan is to not do the NSSA next year, but it's not because we want her to go pro instead," Chris said. "When you've won something a certain amount of times, there's only so much more you can do. There are other events and opportunities out there for her and so we're going to look into that.

"We'll see how it goes. If she really wants to come back a year or two from now, then by all means, we will."

Led by Moore, the Hawai'i surfers were the standouts last week. Hawai'i surfers combined to win 10 individual titles, and added 13 runner-up showings.

"We dominated," NSSA Hawai'i director Bobbi Lee said.

Tonino Benson of the Big Island won the prestigious open men's division — the top division for males.

"It was pretty nuts," he said. "The final was really close the whole way, and it came down to the end. I'm really happy I got this one."

Alex Smith of Kaua'i placed third, and Kai Barger of Maui was fourth.

Benson, who is 17 and a home-schooled senior, won an amateur world championship in 2005.

"This one is really special, too," he said. "I've been wanting to win this title for a long time."

Benson also won the airshow division and the $1,000 check that came with that victory. He and Moore were the only Hawai'i competitors to win two titles.

Other standouts from Hawai'i included:

  • Keala Naihe from the Big Island, who won the open boys division and placed second in the explorer menehune division.

  • Kai Barger from Maui, who surfed in three finals, winning the explorer junior division, placing second in explorer men, and fourth in open men.

  • Alessa Quizon from Makaha, who upset Moore to win the explorer girls division. She also surfed in three finals.

  • Benji Brand from O'ahu, who surfed in three finals, including a victory in the open mini-groms division.

  • Malia Manuel from Kaua'i, who won the middle school girls division and placed second in the explorer girls division.

    How Hawai'i surfers fared:

    OPEN DIVISIONS

    Men: 1, Tonino Benson. 3, Alex Smith. 4, Kai Barger. Women: 1, Carissa Moore. 2, Coco Ho. 4, Alana Blanchard. Juniors: 2, Keanu Asing. 3, Kiron Jabour. 5, Nick Falbo. 6, Albee Layer. Boys: 1, Keala Naihe. 2, Koa Smith. 3, Benji Brand. 4, Luke Hitchcock. 5, Lahiki Minamishin. 6, Makai McNamara. Mini-groms: 1, Benji Brand. 2, Ian Gentil. 3, Imaikalani Devault. 5, Chaz Kinoshita. 6, Kalani David. Longboard: 6, Cedric Caires.

    EXPLORER DIVISIONS

    Men: 2, Kai Barger. 4, Dylan Melamed. 5, Dege O'Connell. Juniors: 1, Kai Barger. 2, Alex Smith. 3, Granger Larsen. 4, Kekoa Cazimero. 5, Tonino Benson. 6, Nathan Rex. Boys: 2, Keanu Asing. 4, Tanner Hendrickson. 5, Koa Smith. 6, Davey Brand. Menehune: 2, Keala Naihe. 3, Lahiki Minamishin. 4, Isiah Moniz. 5, Koa Smith. 6, Benji Brand. Women: 1, Carissa Moore. 2, Alessa Quizon. 3, Nage Melamed. 4, Coco Ho. 5, Monyca Byrne-Wickey. 6, Leila Hurst. Girls: 1, Alessa Quizon. 2, Malia Manuel. 3, Carissa Moore. 4, Leila Hurst. 6, Ashley Hunter. Senior men: 1, Christian Budroe. Airshow: 1, Tonino Benson.

    SCHOLASTIC DIVISIONS

    Middle school girls: 1, Malia Manuel. 2, Leila Hurst. Middle school boys: 4, Kaoli Kahokuloa. 5, Elliott Leon. Middle school longboard: 2, Kaoli Kahokuloa. Middle school team: 2, Kapa'a Middle School. High school girls: 2, Allie Brown.

    Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.