Page 6 - MidWeek Windward - Dec 22, 2021

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DECEMBER 22, 2021
Aloha surfers and beachgoers,
I’m writing this December surf installment just as the worst storm in ages was easing up on us. Wow, it was all over the mainland news. Family and friends called to see if we were OK. During peak flooding I could have surfed down Kalākaua Avenue or Fort Weaver Road, and some cars did!
BY GARY KEWLEY
Hawai‘i Makes A Clean Sweep In Surf Contest
That rare episode left the ocean brown with dirty water runoff and debris — like big logs floating inside Ala Moa- na Bowls. It was creepy and weird not seeing anyone out surfing early on Dec. 7 when the waves organized into rideable shape.
John John Florence earned his second victory at the renowned reef break of Hale‘iwa. PHOTOS COURTESY WORLD SURF LEAGUE /BRENT B.
Bettylou Sakura Johnson of Hawai‘i claimed her first major World Surf League win and championship tour qualification along with it.
tube ride and two aerials. This is Florence’s ninth North Shore victory to date, and he’s now tied the late great Andy Irons, who died Nov. 2, 2010 of cardiac ar- rest. You just know that Flor- ence may eventually have the most dominant competitive record on the North Shore in
Check this out, in her heat was none other than five-time world champ and Olympic gold medalist, Ca- rissa Moore! The surf was 3-4 feet and really good, to start. Often, it’s really who catches the best waves in 30 minutes, which means being at the right place at the right time. Johnson was.
Again, no one was out from Waikīkī to Kewalos. That meant even hardcore surfers weren’t taking chanc- es, which is rare for our breed. Eventually, of course, they ventured out and did just fine —luckily.
It was no surprise that the North Shore’s very own 29-year-old prodigy John John Florence won. He surfs here more than just about anyone but Zeke Lau.
his time.
He has won more events
“I’m feeling good and it’s just so much fun being here and competing again,” Flor- ence says. “After those inju- ries the last few years, it just feels good to be here and I just want to say thanks to my wife, my family, my whole team and everyone who’s there supporting me. It’s been huge going through these last couple years and to be here winning again is awesome.”
“This is such a huge mo- ment in my life,” Johnson says. “Just a big thanks to everyone being here, rain or sunshine, and I’m just going to have a big smile. Thank you to everyone in Hale‘iwa, helping me and supporting me, and I’m really happy to represent Hale‘iwa and do it here. I’m truly in shock.”
Prior to the storm of the year, we got to finish up the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Hale‘iwa Challenger, the fi- nal stop of the 10,000-point series. The men went out first in out-of-control surf. I’ve been doing surf reports for 40
on a crazy day like Dec. 5 and make the best surfers on the planet look average is as- tonishing. Florence had more power, speed, control and radical maneuvers than any- one. He even nailed a perfect 10 with unmatched turns, a
Now, the girls — they ripped and finished up on
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years and I really thought that there’s no way they’d be able to run in a 12-20-foot north swell. Waimea was going off along with the outer reefs. Hale‘iwa maxes out at 12 feet, maybe 15 feet when it’s a west-northwest to north- west swell. This was not just the wrong direction (north) but it was way over the size limit. But, lo and behold, Mother Nature allowed it.
Sunday had crazy condi- tions — rips, closeouts, bar- rels, chop and wobble — the whole ocean was alive in the surfers’ lineup.
Florence has had not one, not two, but three serious knee injuries. These have likely hindered him from getting a couple world titles on top of the two in 2016-17 that he has already.
She now qualifies for the big leagues, the World Cham- pionship Tour 2022. In fact, our second place finisher also from Hawai‘i, Gabriela Bryan, also qualified. Moore took third and in fourth was India Robinson of Australia.
Hats off, big time, to the contest director Marty Thomas for making the risky but correct call. This extra large swell was dropping and Tuesday was the final day of the holding period. They had to finish the men’s and wom- en’s heats. They did.
The key is how he won. It’s one word — domination. How anyone could go out
at Pipe than anyone except maybe Jamie O’Brien, plus two Vans Triple Crown of Surfing titles in 2013 and 2020. The only guy he has to out-do is the legendary Sunny Garcia with six Tri- ple Crowns. That record may never be broken.
Also, keep in mind that
gary@surfnewsnetwork.com
Dec 6. Winning the biggest contest of her 16-year young life was local girl, Bettylou Sakura Johnson. She made it a clean sweep for Hawai‘i.
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