Catch a wave

HANALEI — When Ann Alo walked up to Pine Trees beach Saturday and saw the crowds, the tents, the media, she wondered briefly if she came to the right place for the Irons Brothers surf tournament.

“It’s like the triple crown for keiki,” the Wailua Homesteads woman said. “I didn’t think this would be this much for the keiki. They treat them really well.”

“They’ve having an awesome time,” she added.

Indeed, they were, including her daughter, Malia Alo. Shortly after completing a heat in her first surfing competition, Malia smiled as she recounted how it went: Good, but the waves were small.

Still, with only a year of surfing experience, she enjoyed being out on the water and hanging out at the beach.

“It’s just fun when you’re riding,” she said.

Fun was the name of the game for hundreds of kids ages 5 through 12 and their families who came out for the 13th annual Irons Brothers Pine Trees Classic.

On a sunny day with blue skies, the waves were enough to give the kids a taste of surfing without tossing them around too much.

Spectators included parents, brothers, sisters and friends who sat on the beach and cheered on the young surfers.

The popular event was blast for children who not only got a chance to ride the waves, but who also received prizes, lunch and much praise.

The contest started as a way for brothers Bruce and Andy Irons to give back to the island and its continued to grow in popularity, attracting families from throughout Kauai.

Keola Sheehan of Hanalei cheered as he watched daughter Piper in action. It was her first year of catching a wave under her own power after being in the Keiki push-in last year.

“Kind of a break-through year for her,” he said.

And how did she do?

“Pretty impressive,” said her proud father. “I thought she did well.”

Likewise for Barry Simmons and daughter Abby, also of Hanalei.

“It was very fun,” the 6-year-old said as she and dad carried their surfboard from the water.

Barry Simmons said his daughter is “getting into surfing whole lot more.”

“We have fun doing it,” he said.

Gavin Klein, one of the judges, competed in the Irons Brothers Pine Trees Classic when he was 13 and it was in its third year.

“I got sixth place, I think,” he said.

Judging the event, Klein said, is a chance to give back to the island. He noted the Bruce Irons and the late Andy Irons were born and raised on Kauai.

“We lost Andy, but he’s still giving back,” Klein said.

There was a lot of giving going on Saturday.

Trophies were presented to the finalists of the boys and girls’ ages 11-12 and 9-10 brackets, and were also given to all participants of the 8-and-under bracket.

But as organizers, and surfers, said, it wasn’t about winning.

Serena Bryan of Kilauea said it was her first time surfing on her own in a tournament and she caught some good waves.

The 9-year-old said when she found herself feeling “kind of scared,” she still kept climbing back on her surfboard.

“I kind of just relax, I pause for a moment, then go out there and catch a wave,” she said.