Pro Surfers, Sponsors Were Backbone Of Keiki Surf Meet
(Editor’s note: The following report is submitted by the organizers and co-founders of an annual benefit and keiki surf meet in Kailua.)
BY SEAN YANO and MIKE MILLER
The 2012 Kailua Shorebreak Classic, held Aug. 25 at Kalama Beach Club with perfect weather and wave conditions, enjoyed the largest crowd and most contestants — 150 — in its eight-year history.
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The Aug. 25 Shorebreak Classic, which brought 150 young surfers and dozens of sponsors to Kailua Beach, earned $1,390 for Na Kama Kai, a non- profit that promotes ocean safety and conservation among youths. At the check presentation were (from left) Na Kama Kai treasurer Carol Arnott, Na Kama Kai founder and CEO Duane DeSoto, Na Kama Kai chairman Bud An- tonelis, and Shorebreak Classic coordinators Sean Yano and Mike Miller. Photo from Sean Yano.
Local surfing pros Pancho Sullivan, Ross Williams, Keoni Watson, Glen Matsumoto and Jason Shibata all were there to support the keiki, and they even had their own kids competing.
The winners were: Timmy Metcalf, Juniors (boys 14-16); Ayla Sprecher, Girls (16 and under); Koa Matsumoto,
Boys (10-13); Diego Ferri, Groms (boys 7-9); and Kaleo Relator, Super Groms (boys 6 and under).
But the day’s highlight was when rising surf star and 2011 Shorebreak Classic girls champion Brisa Hennessy — who declined to enter the contest this year in order to volunteer her time — gave surfboards to contestants Scarlet Ray and Niko Ponte, who inspired her with their positive attitudes.
That’s truly what this event’s all about: giving keiki an opportunity to build confidence, sportsmanship and friendships through surfing, plus the entire community coming together to remember Kailua’s best.
All proceeds from the donation tickets went to the nonprofit Na Kama Kai, founded by 2010 ASP longboard champion Duane DeSoto, whose mission is to educate and empower youths in ocean safety and conservation.
Shorebreak honors the memory of Peter Miller, Jason Bogle, David Aluli and Jeff Barbieto. Bogle was a professional surfer who died in 2004 after a long battle with bone can- cer. Miller, his best friend, was an air ambulance pilot who died in an accident while flying to Maui in 2006. Just one day before that accident, Miller’s close friend Aluli died. And last year, a special dedication was made to Barbieto, a member of Ku‘au Rescue, who died in June 2011 while diving in deep waters off of Ewa Beach.
A special thanks to all of the generous sponsors and amazing volunteers: Ku‘au Rescue lifeguards who spent the entire day keeping our keiki safe, Zia’s Café Kailua, Emmett Miller (Peter’s father), Jan Aluli (David’s mother), JJ Dolan’s and Brew Threw for providing a delicious meal for all the contestants and volunteers, and Jamba Juice Kailua for donating 200 smoothies.
Top division winners won brand-new custom surfboards from Hawaiian Island Creations, Jason Shibata and J. Kashiwai, Danny O’ Brien, Straight Up Hawaii and Gordon Hansen.
All surfers received a prize pack and event T- shirt specially designed and donated by the head designer of DC Shoes and former Kailua surfer, Gibo Tennburg. The packs included T-shirts, hats, slippers, stickers, wax and lots more from our very generous sponsors: HIC Kailua, Volcom, Billabong, Hurley, Rip Curl, Reef, RVCA, Twin Islands Clothing, Vertra Sunscreen, Da Kine, Susu Slippers, Sera’s Surf & Sport, Island Snow, Mac- beth Shoes and Kailua Sailboards.
Just a few of the prize giveaways the crowd won were five surfboards donated by Kimo’s Surf Hut, Jimmy Kay from Hawaiian Surfboards, pro surfer Keanu Asing, local surfer Hunter Johnson, and Jason Bogle’s father, Steve.
There also were skate- boards from 808 Skate Kailua, Sector 9 and Olley Skateboards, surfboard bags from Freedom Riding Company, backpacks, deck patches, hats and clothing.
