HANALEI — As the distant figure in the yellow shirt tried to catch yet another wave, Julian Bailey watched, shouted encouragement — and cheered, too. This was, after all, his son Cody out there competing in the Irons Brothers Pine
HANALEI — As the distant figure in the yellow shirt tried to catch yet another wave, Julian Bailey watched, shouted encouragement — and cheered, too.
This was, after all, his son Cody out there competing in the Irons Brothers Pine Trees Classic.
“He’s doing fantastic,” the Kapa‘a man said. “I’m so proud.”
A few minutes later, his heat finished, 9-year-old Cody emerged from the waters and walked onto the beach, carrying his surfboard and sporting a big grin, too.
The first to greet him was his dad, who quickly helped with the board and offered a high-five.
“Nice job,” he said to Cody, participating in the surfing event for the third straight year. “You did great.”
Cody nodded. He could hear his dad’s advice, and it helped.
“It was good, but kind of rough, kind of a hard time,” he said.
But it’s worth the wait for the good waves.
“It’s smooth when you go down the waves,” he said. “It feels so good when you catch the waves.”
Nearly 300 kids ages 5-12, a record, turned out for the 12th annual Irons Brothers Pine Trees Classic at Hanalei.
With each horn blast indicating a new heat, surfers rushed down the beach and plunged into the water, paddling out in search of waves. Parents lined the shoreline, cheering and shouting instructions.
Conditions, blue, sunny skies, gentle breeze, solid but not insane wave action, were as close to perfect as it can get, said director Migz Graham.
“We like these kind of conditions because we’re dealing with kids who are just starting in surfing and we don’t want to scare them and send them out in waves they can’t manage,” he said. So it’s perfect to have really small surf. It’s like a pool out there, it’s like a lake.”
Each young surfer received a gift pack, and prizes went to age group top placers.
The classic is for unranked surfers early in their careers and beginning to try competitions.
Its popularity is clear, considering 130 contestants were 5 to 8 years old, which is referred to as the “keiki push in” and requires parents to be in the water with their children.
The Pine Trees Classic was started by the Irons family. Andy Irons was a three-time World Champion who died in 2010 from an illness at the age of 32.
He and younger brother Bruce, also a top surfer, were raised in Hanalei.
It’s here they learned the sport.
Parents and coaches of Saturday’s surfers are thrilled the Pine Trees Classic continues each year.
“It’s awesome,” said Chauncy Pa, just after watching 9-year-old son Keliko ride the waves. “The kids love it. It’s so nice they put it on every year.”
“Andy and Bruce are giving back to the community,” said Kelsey Longley, whose daughter Phoenix and son Cruz were in the classic.
Longley still surfs, too.
“I don’t surf as much as I used to. I should, but I don’t,” he said, smiling. “The kids get me in the water, though.”
Ethan Sage of Princeville grew up surfing with the Iron bothers. He loves the Pine Trees Classic.
“I hope they never stop and it goes on forever,” he said.
Sage, a surfing coach, watched one of his students, 11-year-old Phoenix Longley, compete Saturday.
He said young surfers need to try and be first out, catch as many waves as they can, and get the biggest waves. After finishing a few runs, then it’s time to pull out the tricks.
Saturday’s waves were big enough to present challenges for the older kids, but also small enough to make it easier for the younger ones.
Phoenix started slowly, he said, but finished strong.
“I was pretty impressed,” he said.
Makoa Shope of Hanalei said the waves were “no big deal” on Saturday. No surprise.
“I mean, this is summer time, it’s the North Shore,” the 10-year-old said.
Still, he admits to being a little nervous before his heats.
“You never know what place you’re going to get. You just want to advance,” he said.
So, how did he do?
“I think I did all right,” Makoa said.
Regardless, he loves these sunny days on the waves.
You just get out there and have fun,” he said.
• Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
