FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Dustin Cuizon exploded out of a cutback yesterday during the Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association (HASA) state championships at Ala Moana Bowls. Cuizon was the winner of the Junior Men's Shortboard division, which is considered the most prestigious division in the event.
Cuizon adds
another crownThe 18-year-old surfer,
who plans to turn pro,
is one of the many winners
at the state amateur meet
Some surfers will always compete as amateurs, while others are only biding their time before they become professionals.
Both types were well represented at the Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association State Championships, a three-day event in which more than 400 competitors from across the state participated in 28 divisions, making it one of the biggest amateur contests in Hawaii.
"A lot of these kids, we're letting them train, letting them compete, getting them ready for (Association of Surfing Professionals) type qualifying," said Wendell Aoki, HASA president and contest director. "Plus, we also try to surf all the (other) divisions, all the ages. We also serve the older guys."
All finals were held yesterday at Ala Moana Bowls, in challenging waves with 6- to 10-foot faces, made more difficult to ride by a stiff southeast wind. The top finishers received spots in the United States Championships, to be held June 28-July 6 at Oceanside, Calif.
Among the winners, Ewa Beach's Dustin Cuizon captured the Junior Men's (ages 15-17) Shortboard division, considered the most prestigious of the event.
Cuizon is among the most decorated amateurs in Hawaii history and plans to turn pro at the end of this month (likely foregoing the U.S. Championships). But before moving on, he picked up yet another state title to go along with the slew of national championships he's earned.
"This is pretty much like practicing, (to make) progress as I get older because all these guys are good and they make me push my surfing more," said Cuizon, who recently turned 18 and probably will last surf as an amateur at the National Scholastic Surfing Association Championships, June 24-28 in San Clemente, Calif.
Cuizon added that he "feels good" when thinking about his stellar amateur career because he "got to surf with the best from Hawaii and experience a lot with the guys from Hawaii."
His win wasn't easy, though, as Cuizon edged out second-place Gavin Gillette on a tiebreaker. He won by receiving the highest single-wave score (two best are judged for the overall score) in the heat, an 8.88-point (out of 10 maximum) ride he managed with only seconds left in the 15-minute, six-person final.
Finishing third through sixth were: Zach Arreola, Ola Eleogram, Raymond Reichle and Hank Gaskell.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Sophomore Men's crew of the Kaneohe Canoe Club paddled their way to victory in a one-mile race at the Hui Wa'a meet at Keehi Lagoon yesterday.
"I had a couple fun ones," Gillette, 17 and from Kauai, said. "If I could have just done one more turn, I probably could have squeezed through (for the victory)."
Other notables included Casey Brown and Jenny Kono. In the Boys' (12-14) Shortboard, Kailua-Kona's Brown placed first in each of his qualifying heats on Friday, and then capped a dominating HASA states performance by winning the final despite feeling sick Saturday night.
"I was pumped and ready for the finals, but I guess (Saturday night) I ate too much chocolate cake," the recently turned 15-year-old said. "I've been kinda having stomach aches, but my coach, Rainos Hayes, just told me to go out there and not hold back. And I did it, and I took (the win) and I'm stoked on that."
His two-wave total of 17 points was more than two better than second-place Tonino Benson (14.38), and well higher than those of the other three finalists. Brown dedicated the victory to friend Jason Bogle, a Hawaii pro suffering from cancer.
For Kono, a 19-year-old University of Hawaii student, the HASA contest was her first state meet. And while she might not share pro potential with Cuizon, Kono surfed well enough to also win -- hers coming in the Women's (18-above) Shortboard.
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Travis Sasaki finished fifth in the boys division final heat yesterday during the Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association state championships at Ala Moana Bowls.
An Ala Moana Bowls regular, Kono used her knowledge to nab two solid rides during a heat in which her fellow competitors struggled to tally one. Early on she scored an 8.13, and she sealed the victory later by landing a floater for a 7.38.
"This is my home spot and I like it big, so I'm just glad the waves were a good size," Kono said. "My strategy was just to catch two sets (bigger waves). I'm happy (with the result), I'm proud of myself."
Other division winners were: Hizon Lin Kee, Menehune (12-under) Shortboard; Andrianna Mendivil, Girls (17-under) Shortboard; Kekoa Uemura, Men's (18-24) Shortboard; Zach Arreola, Open Shortboard; Richard Jaquias, Masters (25-34) Shortboard; Rodney Nakashima, Senior Men's (35-44) Shortboard; Bobby Judd, Grandmasters (45-54) Shortboard; Ben Aipa, Senior Grandmasters (55-64) Shortboard; Malcolm Ing, Legends (65-above) Shortboard; Albee Layer, Shortboard Air; Daryn Flem, Menehune (14-under) Longboard; Katherine Van Dyke, Girls Longboard; Aka Pai, Junior Men's Longboard; Makamae DeSoto, Open Longboard; Keone Young, Men's (18-29) Longboard; Malia Eischen, Women's Longboard; Charleston Awai, Masters (20-39) Longboard; Dean Nakamaru, Senior Men's (40-above) Longboard; David Shinbara, Kneeboard; Tucker Bentecou, Boys (14-under) Bodyboard; Kainoa Curn, Junior Men's Bodyboard; Jed Kutaka, Men's (18-29) Bodyboard; Mia Yamaoka, Women's (all ages) Bodyboard; Joe Kelling, Drop Knee; Willy Petrovic, Bodyboard Launch.
