Macy's E-Series Event #5

HASA Series
Ala Moana Bowls, Oahu
15 July 2006

Cuizon and DeSoto KO the Rest of the Field at the Macy's E-Series Season Finale

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 19 July, 2006 : - -  With the islands getting some of the worst weather in decades and having the states biggest sewage spill, the Macy's E-Series was forced to postpone its final event of the season this past April at the world renowned Ala Moana Bowl. 40 million gallons of raw sewage was pumped into the Alawai canal on March 24, 2006, causing beaches to be closed from Kewalo Basin to Waikiki Beach.

Three and a half months later the Macy's E-Series rescheduled its season finally and scored some perfect 2 to 3 foot surf at the bowl. 
 
With most of Hawaii's up and coming pros on break from the WQS tour, the field for the men?s short board division was stacked. Coming off back to back Macy's E-Series wins Dustin Cuizon was looking for his third consecutive win, but with the likes of Joel Centeio, Randall Paulson, and Kekoa Bacalso that was going to be a tall order to fill.

In the 25 minuet final Cuizon started his campaign quick with a solid opening ride that was rewarded with an excellent score of 8.5. The Ewa Beach local backed up his opening ride with another high score to establish an early lead.

Randall Paulson an Ala Moana Bowls regular and the only goofy footer in the final, calculated some carving front side slashes and snuck into a few Bowls  to make a serious run for the victory. Mililani's Kekoa Bacalso waited patently out the back during most of the heat for the bomb sets, Bacalso made a late charge and scored two solid rides in the closing minuets of the final.

But it wasn't enough to stop Cuizon from clinching his third win of the season and respectfully taking the Macy's E-Series season title.

In the long board division, current ratings leader Kekoa Uemura was unable to attend this final event, this left the season title up for grabs. With the tide filling in, the men?s long board final started with some solid waves coming through, this heat showcased four of Hawaii?s best power surfers. Defending champion Duane DeSoto was on a mission and carved his way to a solid score on his opening ride.

Answering DeSoto?s challenge was Kapono Nahina with his powerful and quick back hand attack. Honolulu?s Scotty Fong JR needed to finish in the top two places to take the season title, but the pressure was too much and Fong couldn?t find his rhythm in the final. Former world champion Bonga Perkins stuck to his solid game plan and waited for the best set waves.

But it was DeSoto delivering the knock out punch on a big set wave, executing some wicked back hand snaps and positioning himself in a huge tube to get the highest wave score of the final a 9.25. With that DeSoto walked away with the win and a cool $800.00 for his days work. Event though he wasn?t present at the event Kekoa Uemura still won the Macy?s E-Series season title, this is Uemura?s second season title, he won his first back in 2004. 

The Macy's E-Series is a new and unique style of surfing competition geared toward the elite short board and long board surfers in Hawaii, this series is a good stepping stone for these hot up and coming local surfers to sharpen their skills for professional surfing competitions around the world. A big mahalo to Macy?s, Free Surf Magazine, and Board Stories for making this event series a huge success.

Results:

Mens Shortboard
1st        Dustin Cuizon
2nd        Kekoa Bacalso
3rd        Randall Paulson
4th        Joel Centeio
5th        Derrek Lyons-Wolfe & Hank Gaskell
7th        Raymond Reichle & Marcus Hickman 

Mens Longboard
1st        Duane DeSoto
2nd        Bonga Perkins
3rd        Kapono Nahina
4th        Scotty Fong JR
5th        Makamae DeSoto & Keoki Saguibo

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Bert Ishimaru

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