‘Moore’ Surfing Talent On The Way
Kamehameha students from Kapalama and Maui celebrate winning the 2014 National Scholastic of Surfing Association Interscholastic Championship in California PHOTO COURTESY ARIELLE TARAMASCO
A message to the rest of the surfing world: There’s a lot “Moore” talent coming out of Hawaii these days, and the future is looking extremely bright.
Seventeen-year-old Cayla Moore continues to prove that she may join older sister and two-time Association of Surfing Professionals Women champion Carissa Moore on the professional surfing tour in the near future.
The younger Moore recently won the High School Girls Varsity shortboard title at the 2014 National Scholastic of Surfing Association (NSSA) Interscholastic Championship in California in convincing fashion.
“It was really cool to help my team by winning myself,” says a proud but humble Moore. “I figured out the waves early, and was able to pull it together and do well. I knew what I had to do, and I just applied what I’ve been doing my whole life in the final.”
Moore, who recently completed her junior year at Kamehameha Schools, played a major role in the school’s first overall team national championship. Kamehameha beat 15 other high schools, including powerhouse San Clemente High School.
“I was lucky to win all of my heats all the way to the finals and contribute points,” explains Moore, who advanced to the final heat the past two years. “If you win you get six points. It was really cool.”
Kamehameha beat San Clemente by a narrow score of 110-107, ending the Orange County school’s four-year reign as national champs.
It is the first time in the event’s history that a team was made up entirely of Native Hawaiian surfers.
“We integrated students from our Kapalama and Maui campuses, and put together a unified team,” says head coach Lea Arce. “It shows that these students have discipline and dedication not only to their sport, but also their education. This win goes beyond surfing.”
One of the first people to congratulate Moore was her big sis, the two-time world champion.
“She was really happy and sent me a video saying ‘Woohoo, you did it,'” says an excited Moore. “I was super happy and she was, too. I can’t wait until she comes home so we can celebrate.”
When asked if she and her older sister have a friendly school rivalry, she was quick to respond: “No, not at all, it’s cool we have different paths,” laughs Moore. “She went to Punahou and I go to Kamehameha. My sister helps me a lot with training and I’m always surfing with her, but my dad (Chris Moore) coaches me more. She definitely cheers me on and always sends me text messages before my heats. She also gives me advice on how to do interviews with the media.”
Moore wasn’t the only Warrior to surf to an individual title. Sixteen-year-old Imaikalani DeVault of Kamehameha Maui won the NSSA High School Boys Varsity shortboard division. It was DeVault’s first individual victory after competing in the NSSA National Championships the last six years.
“It was super cool because it was my first time winning after seven years of doing nationals,” says DeVault. “I was super stoked being carried up the beach this time by the whole team and it was a super cool experience!”
Moore echoed his excitement.
“We worked really hard and we got where we wanted to go,” says Moore, who also plays water polo at Kamehameha. “I surfed against great competition, and one of my teammates, Kealohi Sabate (fifth place), made it to the final too!”
Besides Moore, Sabate and DeVault, team members include Charlie Akao, Chasen Kim, Uapili Lucey, Paliku Victorino, Kuio Young and Kahia Walker.
“I’m proud to be a part of such an amazing team — they’re like brothers and sisters to me,” says Moore with an enormous smile. “We traveled together and supported each other every step of the way. Surfing is an individual sport, so being part of a team is really cool for me because I’ve never really experienced that before.”
You get the feeling there’s much “Moore” to come on many different levels.
rkmizutani@ gmail.com
