Oxbow Team News

Duane DeSoto takes the Makahiki title

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 January, 2009 : - - DeSoto has won the Makahiki Games longboard surfing contest yesterday, topping a field that included defending world champion Bonga Perkins. The one-day contest was run in 3- to 5-foot waves at Makaha Beach.

"That's the thing, there's so many good guys right here in Hawai'i," said DeSoto, 31. "And when the waves are good like this, it really feels special to walk away with the win." Perkins won the Makahiki Games last year, and went on to win the world championship. DeSoto is hoping for a similar formula.

"I feel like I'm in better shape than I have been in a long time," he said. "When you have to surf five times in a row like we did today, you have to be fresh for every heat. But I could go back out and do a couple more heats right now. I was just so excited to be out here in waves like this."

DeSoto was raised in Makaha but now resides in 'Ewa. It was his fourth Makahiki Games win in the past six years. He won it three years in a row from 2004-06. Yesterday's four-man final featured DeSoto, Hale'iwa's Perkins, Venton Siliado of 'Ewa Beach, and Kekoa Auwae of Nanakuli.

Perkins and DeSoto traded the lead throughout the 25-minute heat, but DeSoto got the last wave, and it proved crucial. He completed several precise turns in the open section of the wave, and rode it all the way into the treacherous shorebreak. The judges rewarded him with an 8.0, and it was enough to give him the win.

"I had a feeling I had only one good wave and I needed one more," DeSoto said. "I didn't know the scores, but I felt good after that last one." DeSoto's two-wave total was 16.0 (out of 20), which topped Perkins' score of 15.25. "I have to thank Bonga, too," DeSoto said. "Him bringing the world title back to Hawai'i really inspires us."

Perkins was competing for the first time since winning the world championship in November. "For Duane to recognize me with a shout out like that is really cool," Perkins said. "It makes me realize that I brought the title home not just for myself, but for Hawai'i." As the defending champion of the Makahiki Games, Perkins received a bye all the way into the semifinals.

"That can work for or against you, and I think it kind of worked against me today," Perkins said. "You're obviously in the semis, which is good. But you have to start cold when everybody else is warmed up."

Siliado placed third, but may have had the most inspirational run of the contest. He was not on the original list of contestants, and was allowed in as an alternate only after another surfer failed to show. Auwae placed fourth. Makamae DeSoto, Duane's younger brother, was eliminated in the semifinals.

RESULTS
Lonboard
1st Duane DeSoto
2nd Bonga Perkins
3rd Venton Siliado
4th Kekoa Auwae

Stand Up Paddle
1st Kekoa Auwae
2nd Duane DeSoto
3rd Sam Pae
4th Ikaika Kalama
5th Greg Pavao
6th Brian Keaulana

Canoe
1st Mel Puu - Team Quik
2nd Kainalu Froiseth - Team Makaha Mafia
3rd Keone Keaulana Team - Home Grown
4th Brian Keaulana - Team Stunts Unlimited

Click for more info on Makahiki Games

www.oxboworld.com

About Oxbow: 
A pioneer of sports fashion apparel, Oxbow was founded in 1985, offering fashionable surfwear collections for both men and women. Recognized as a major international surfwear brand, Oxbow is currently experiencing strong worldwide growth, thanks to its successful retail and wholesale strategy.

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Lucas LEVEZAC/Oxbow
llevezac@oxbow.fr

Longboard - Surfersvillage