Female surfers rip in Waikiki
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Thirteen was a lucky number for more than 200 female surfers in Waikiki yesterday.
China Uemura's 13th Annual Wahine Surfing Classic featured quality surfing in quality waves at Kuhio Beach. The final day of the two-day contest was completed in consistent 3- to 5-foot waves.
"I've done every one — 13 years for me," contestant Geodee Clark said. "I would say these were the best waves we've ever had here for a contest. We had waves in the past, but not as big and consistent as this. It was so much fun."
The contest features competition in shortboard and longboard surfing for females of all ages and skill levels.
It was created in 1997 by former national champion longboard surfer China Uemura as a way to give female surfers an opportunity to compete in a contest just for themselves.
"Somebody must like the girls because every year they get waves for this contest," Uemura said. "What I like seeing is how high the level of girls surfing is now. Plenty of these girls rip in waves like this."
Joy Monahan of 'Aina Haina led the way. She warmed up for defense of her world longboard championship by winning the pro-am division yesterday.
Monahan dominated the final, receiving scores of 9.2 (out of 10) and 8.7 for a total of 17.9.
"There were so many waves coming in, but not all of them were opening up," she said. "A lot of them were closing out, so the strategy was trying to stick with the good ones."
Monahan won the 2008 women's world longboard title last summer in France. She is still a full-time student at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, so this past weekend was her first contest of 2009.
"The last few months have been about school, so I just train in the gym and study," said Monahan, 23. "But I got home a month ago and I've been trying to surf every day and have fun."
Monahan will defend her world title at the Roxy ASP Women's World Championship next month at Biarritz, France.
"This was definitely a good warmup," she said. "It gives me some good confidence."
Monahan received $1,000 for the victory. She is the first surfer to become a repeat winner of the pro-am division at the China Uemura Wahine Classic. She also won in 2005.
Crystal Dzigas placed second, Kaitlin McGuire was third, and Tiare Friedman was fourth.
The other divisions may not have offered cash prizes, but the surfing was still on the money.
But in keeping with contest tradition, surfers did not have to win their division to walk away winners.
Clark, for example, received $500 and a new longboard as a gift from the Uemura family. Clark, a student at the University of Hawai'i, said she needed the money to compete at the world championship contest next month.
"It's unbelievable what Uncle China does for us girls," Clark said. "A bunch of us grew up with this contest, and he's still helping us after all these years."
Vanina Walsh, a 12-year-old surfer who moved to Hawai'i from Arizona two years ago after experiencing Uemura's contest, placed fourth in the shortboard junior girls division and sixth in the SUP division.
Several other competitors received new surfboards for sportsmanship and academics.
In another contest tradition, proceeds were donated to The Sex Abuse Treatment Center of Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children. The Tommy Holmes Foundation contributed $10,000 to the cause.
FINAL RESULTS
LONGBOARD SURFING
Pro-am: 1, Joy Monahan. 2, Crystal Dzigas. 3, Kaitlin McGuire. 4, Tiare Friedman. Grandmasters: 1, Sweetie Mossman. 2, Susan Nishida. 3, Suzanne Walker. 4, Gwen Mole. 5, Dawn Chang. 6, Sharon Lum Ho. 7, Masami Yamaoka. Senior women: 1, Joan Fukumoto. 2, Char Iida. 3, Doreen Teramae. 4, Pinoi Makalena. 5, Darlene Mamiya O'Shea. 6, Mayumi Kimura. Women: 1, Akoi Pada. 2, Hiromi Endo. 3, Mimi Horiuchi. 4, Helen Villena. 5, Jodi Cole. 6, Ritsuko Sugiyama. Junior girls: 1, Kaili Rodman. 2, Maile Enos Branigan. 3, Kate Easton. 4, Ashley Asing. 5, Ha'a Keaulana. 6, Kylee Ann Cunningham. Girls: 1, Tiare Friedman. 2, Stacia Ahina. 3, Geodee Clark. 4, Taryn Apo. 5, Kanoe Uemura. 6, Ashley Ahina. Menehune: 1, Tia Blanco. 2, Kelly Graf. 3, Joy Haynes. 4, Tatiana Whitford. 5, Cayla Moore. 6, Tehani Perkins. Pee wee: 1, Honolua Blomfield. 2, Kahanu Delovio. 3, Gabriela Yester. 4, Tenaya Richardson. 5, Tiara Whitford. 6, Brittany Penaroza.
SHORTBOARD SURFING
Women: 1, Joan Fukumoto. 2, Nichola Turner. 3, Jeannie Chesser. 4, Jenny Stewart. 5, Yuko Kawamae. 6, Maki Yamamoto. Junior girls: 1, Kelly Graf. 2, Shruti Kartrik. 3, Maile Enos Branigan. 4, Vanina Walsh. 5, Tia Blanco. 6, Heidi Choi. Girls: 1, Missy Valdez. 2, Visha Bongo. 3, Yukiko Whiteside. 4, Virginia Fajardo. 5, Lawaun Nahinu. 6, Ivy Okamura. Pee wee: 1, Kahanu Delovio. 2, Honolua Blomfield. 3, Ocean Tsutsui. 4, Laiku Delovio. 5, Tenaya Richardson. 6, Kailee Graf.
OPEN
Super wahine: 1, Ashley Quintal. 2, Stacia Ahina. 3, Yukiko Whiteside. 4, Candice Appleby. 5, Tiare Friedman. 6, Doreen Teramae. Stand-up paddle: 1, Candice Appleby. 2, Pinoi Makalena. 3, Geodee Clark. 4, Visha Bongo. 5, Stacia Ahina. 6, Vanina Walsh.
