DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM A snowboarder had fun atop Mauna Kea in 1994.

Snow on the volcano

Snowboarders from around the
state are heading for
Mauna Kea's summit

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By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com

Snowboarders from around the state hope to converge on the summit of Mauna Kea tomorrow for an informal tournament that organizer Kim Ball compares to "the early days of surfing competition."

The Mauna Kea Snowboard Championship has no entry fee, no prize, just "a bunch of guys that love to ride," Ball said.

The conditions needed for serious snowboarding -- at least 18 inches of snow -- have not been seen on Hawaii's tallest volcano since early 1999, said Ball, owner of Hi-Tech Surf Sports in Kahului. If held, this year's event will be the fourth of its kind.

Yesterday evening, the road to the 13,796-foot summit was closed due to winds gusting 60 to 80 mph with 100 percent humidity and freezing temperatures -- possibly good enough for a few more inches overnight.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Snowboarder and Island Snow Boards shop manager Keith Kajioka showed some boards yesterday.

So word was spreading that things were looking good for a tournament tomorrow if the weather clears.

Ball will fly to Hilo from Kahului tomorrow morning, without even knowing if the road to the summit will be open.

"We may get skunked," he admitted, "but we've had pretty good luck."

If all goes as planned, the tournament will run from about 1 to 4 p.m. with age categories to be decided when they see who is there. The two events will be the snowboarders' version of a slalom race, the "boarder-cross" and a "big air" contest.

Go for the snow Ski Guides Hawaii offers the Big Island's only package ski and snowboard tours -- plus daily rentals of snowboards and skis. For more information, call 808-885-4188 or see www.skihawaii.com.

Oahu snowboarder Keith Kajioka, 32, has been snowboarding about six years and plans to be on the Big Island tomorrow.

"It's a little different from surfing, but it gives you that same rush," said Kajioka, who tries to make one mainland snowboarding trip a year.

"Mauna Kea's snow is different -- similar, I guess, to Southern California, like Mountain High," he said. "It's icy a lot of times and gets pretty slushy."

"Most times, there is nobody around. The view is nice if the weather cooperates, and if it's sunny it's pretty warm. I've done it with a tank top on."

Ball's glad the event is supported by snowboarders but actually does not want it to get too big, because "you can't have too many people on the summit."

"It's been a core group from first year (1994), maybe 30 guys," Ball said. "Three years ago, there were 75."

He is not sure how many will show up this time. But anyone who shows up with a board and the experience not to hurt themselves can enter.

Professional surfer Keoni Watson, who describes his love for snowboarding as "an addiction," will be there.

Last year, he snowboarded for 25 days on the mainland, and he just got back from a trip to Mammoth, Calif., where there was a 6-foot base.

But the "novelty of going in Hawaii" has got the 29-year-old Oahu resident stoked. "This is my first time on Mauna Kea. I'm excited. We've been talking about it the past couple years."