Big waves expected for
Longboard Invitational

After waiting almost a week for ideal longboarding conditions, organizers of the third annual Bear Hawaiian Pro Longboard Invitational expect it to move ahead early this week at Haleiwa's Ali'i Beach Park on the North Shore of Oahu.

"Fairly consistent 6-10 foot surf generated by a series of strengthening gales by the international dateline, and moving rapidly to the north, will begin to hit the North Shore (today)," according to Bruce Pleas, surf forecaster for the event. Added Pleas: "This could quite possibly be the perfect storm for the contest."

Thirty-two of the word's best longboard surfers are ready and waiting for the showdown in which $20,000 in prize money is up for grabs, with a whopping $7,500 going to the eventual winner.

The event is the only international longboarding contest held in the challenging winter waves of Oahu's North Shore, where results, good or bad, can make or break worldwide reputations and careers.

This year's first four-man heat of the first round illustrates just how tough the competition will be: Current world champion and No. 1 seed Colin McPhillips is matched against current U.S. mainland pro longboard champion Josh Baxter, who was born in Kahuku.

Joining them will be the No. 13 longboarder in the world, Augusto Saldanha against local surfer Lance Ho'okano.

The G-Shock Hawaiian Pro, the first leg of the Vans Triple Crown (with surfers on shorter boards) will return with early round action when the next swell hits.

Lake takes fourth in sailing championships

Hawaii freshman Bryan Lake finished in fourth place in the Collegiate Singlehanded North American Sailing Championships at Norfolk, Va., yesterday.

Lake did not win any of the 16 races in the competition but came in second three times in the 16-boat field.

Lake qualified for the championship with a second place finish Sept. 22-23.