Steinlager Shaka Longboard Series

Sunset Beach, Hawaii
29 April 2007

Steinlager Shaka Longboard Series Gets Going At Sunset As Beach Boy

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 29 April, 2007 : - -  Sunset Beach, Hawaii -- The first event on the Steinlager Shaka Series island tour was held at Sunset Beach on Oahu’s north shore as a hundred plus competitors busted out their boards to challenge the blustery conditions at the break.

With Saturday’s challenging four to five foot surf out of a northwest direction, conditions off Sunset point had the local north shore veterans in the pro division taking advantage of wave knowledge as both Robin Johnston and Garrett McNamara made the most out of break.

Along with Kekoa Auwae from Waianae and Ewa Beach competitor Isaac Kaneshiro, the hotly contested mid afternoon Pro final was pretty much a battle of lip launching hits and round house cutbacks as all four competitors showed some high performance wave riding.

In the end, Kaneshiro, a shortboarder and weekend longboard enthusiast took out the field with Auwae, a veteran on the longboard scene finishing second. Rounding out the final was tow-in and big wave surfer Garrett McNamara in third and north shore shaper Robin Johnston finishing fourth.

Dave Parmenter : photo Hawaiianwatershots.com

On Sunday, the first ever C4 Waterman division at Sunset Beach for beach boy stand up paddle surfing was held at the break with a shifting north swell moving on to the inside Val’s Reef as the level for SUP surfing was elevated by the four finalists.

Leleo Kinimaka from Kailua-Kona opened up the twenty minute heat from the outside as he dissected the break from start to finish with huge lip snapping manuevers and power cutbacks for a commanding early lead and never let up in dominating the competition for first place.

Trailing close behind, Makaha shaper Dave Parmenter held his own as he rode waves from the outside as well, lacerating the ledgy inside shelf to stay right with the leader as he finished in the runner-up spot. Brian Keaulana, who surfed brilliantly throughout the first two round got a solid ride mid way through,  however could not find a back up and ended in third with his nephew Nolan (Keaulana), putting in a solid backside performance for fourth place.