A weekly feature about surfing in Hawai'i. Submit comments or story ideas to dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or call 535-8101.

Teenage surfing phenom Carissa Moore of Honolulu added yet another accolade to her already illustrious list of achievements.

Moore is featured on the cover of the May edition of Surfer magazine, under the caption "Carissa Moore ... surfs better than you."

She is believed to be the third female to appear on the cover of Surfer, which started in the 1960s and is considered the largest and most influential magazine in the sport.

The last female surfer to receive the cover shot of the magazine was then-world champion Lisa Andersen in 1997.

"It feels pretty amazing," Moore said in a press release. "I am really stoked and feel very honored. Right now, there are so many girls, especially around my age, that are ripping and that are really pushing the level of women's surfing."

Moore, 16, is a junior at Punahou School.

She is already the winningest surfer in the history of the National Scholastic Surfing Association with 11 national titles. Last November, she won the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach, becoming the youngest surfer to win a Triple Crown of Surfing contest.

Jason Kenworthy, a surf team mentor for Nike 6.0 — one of Moore's primary sponsors — said in the press release: "Landing on the cover of Surfer is a monumental feat for any surfer, but this is huge for both Carissa and all up-and-coming female surfers."

MAUI'S PAYNE WINS AIRSTRIKE CONTEST

Dusty Payne of Maui won $50,000 for what was voted the best aerial maneuver in a contest called the Kustom Air-strike.

Payne, 20, completed a frontside 360-degree aerial on a wave at Bali, Indonesia.

The contest was based on video of aerial maneuvers from around the world over an eight-month period. Payne rode his wave in December.

The $50,000 first-place prize is one of the largest in the sport.

Fellow Maui surfer Clay Marzo was a finalist.

To view the video of Payne's winning wave, visit www.kustomairstrike.com.

BRUCE IRONS TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT T&C

Kaua'i's Bruce Irons and other professional surfers from the Volcom team are scheduled to sign autographs at the T&C Surf store in Pearlridge next Friday.

Irons is a former winner of the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational and the Pipeline Masters and is one of the most popular surfers in the world.

Other surfers scheduled to sign autographs are Dave Wassel, Marcus Hickman and Gavin Beschen.

The session, which is free, is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

HSA 2008-09 SEASON COMING TO A CLOSE

The final regular-season contest of the 2008-09 Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series is scheduled for May 2 and 3 at Kewalo Basin.

The series is part of the Hawai'i Surfing Association, and features competition in various age groups for shortboard surfing, longboard surfing and bodyboarding.

The HSA State Championship is scheduled for June 4 to 6 at Ala Moana Bowls. For information, visit www.hasasurf.org.