Bethany Hamilton, 13, captured the Open Women’s Shortboard Division title in last weekend’s Local Motion/Ezekiel Surf Into Summer event. The annual amateur contest, now in its 18th year, is probably the largest and among the tops in the state. The
Bethany Hamilton, 13, captured the Open Women’s Shortboard Division title in last weekend’s Local Motion/Ezekiel Surf Into Summer event.
The annual amateur contest, now in its 18th year, is probably the largest and among the tops in the state. The three-day tournament ended Monday in 2- to 6- foot surf at left-breaking Ala Moana Bowls.
About 300 surfers in 10 divisions from around the state competed in the contest.
A goofy-footed Hamilton, who called Bowls one of her favorite Oahu spots, scored 5.8 on two waves in the final heat, handing her the victory over Kellie Frye and Crystal Mortensen.
June 5n8, Hamilton goes on to the Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association Championships also at Ala Moana. The next tournament is the National Scholastic Surfing Association Championships in San Clemente, Calif. at the end of June.
Kolea Fukumitsu, of Hakipuu, Windward Oahu, took the Junior Men’s (ages 15-17) Shortboard prize.
Hamilton and Fukumitsu will represent Hawaii at the NSSA. Like many youth surfers, they are enrolled in an “e-school” called the Myron B. Thompson Academy, which allows them to do homework and assignments via the Internet instead of solely on campus.
