Fan voting to decide Hawai'i's favorites
Advertiser Staff
Andy Irons or Bruce Irons?
Rochelle Ballard or Keala Kennelly?
Surfing fans will get to vote for their favorite Hawai'i surfer in the FreeSurf Magazine Kai Mana Awards.
Voting started today and will run through Oct. 5. Ballots are available at most surf shops around the state, and online at www.freesurfmagazine.com.
The winners will be announced at the Kai Mana Awards Banquet on Dec. 8. Every completed fan ballot will be eligible to win two VIP tickets to the awards banquet.
Several other awards will be announced at the banquet, and those categories will be decided by Hawai'i's contest surfers.
MAUI SURFERS REACH FINAL IN CALIFORNIA
Maui surfers Dusty Payne and Wesley Larsen placed second and third, respectively, in the inaugural Xcel Fear at the Pier contest last weekend at Huntington Beach, Calif.
The contest was open to surfers age 20 and younger, professional or amateur.
Florida's Eric Geiselman won the four-person final with a two-wave score of 15.75. Payne was second with 10.35 and Larsen third with 10.15.
In the semifinals, Payne had a two-wave score of 19.25, which included a perfect 10.
Mason Ho of O'ahu's North Shore tied for fifth place, and Tonino Benson of the Big Island tied for seventh.
WORLD TOUR RESUMES IN SOUTH AFRICA
The men's World Championship Tour is in South Africa this week for the Billabong Pro at Jeffreys Bay.
It is the sixth of 11 stops on the 2006 tour. Through the first five events, Florida's Kelly Slater is ranked No. 1 with 4,233 points. Kaua'i's Andy Irons is No. 2 with 4,140. His younger brother Bruce Irons is No. 9.
The contest will run on the four best days between today and July 22.