The 2009 Sandy Beach Bodysurfing Championships are all pau! Mahalo to all our members and friends for competing, participation and/or supporting this great kaha nalu event. The Honolulu Bodysurfing Club, Bob & Jan Thomas & ohana did a wonderful job again with this contest. Unfortunately this will be the last year for them to conduct this contest. Bob is retiring and moving to the friendly isle of Molokai where he built his ohana retirement home. HSBA will probably be running this event next year. Stay tuned for more info when the HSBA board members meet with Bob Thomas on this issue.

HSBA members won almost all of the divisions in this contest. HSBA wahine Delori Manus swept 1st place in both the Women Bodysurfing Open and the Women Handboarding(HB) Open. Delori was absent from this event last year, but came back this year with a powerful show of talent. I believe Delori can do any thing in the ocean.

Another double 1st place winner is HSBA young-gun Kaneali'i Wilcox (17 yrs old). He won both the Men Bodysurfing 17 yrs-under and the Men HB 25 yrs-under. Kaneali'i is so fun to watch with his bag of tricks on these waves. He is one of the bright young stars in a pool of talent teenaged rippers. The future looks good for our sport. Special note, Kaneali'i recently won the Grand Championship at the 2009 Redwings Memorial World Championships of HB held at Point Panic in epic 4-5ft waves. He beat the defending Champ Kai Santos, Mike Stewart, Jeff Hubbard and all the other finalist.

Other HSBA members who won their divisions: Kai Santos Men HB 40 yrs-over, Chris Mercier Men HB 26-39 yrs, & Chris Dumlao Men Bodysurfing 30-39 yrs. There were many HSBA members who made the finals. Congratulations to all the finalists and competitors at this event.

Mahalo to all the members and friends who came out to this event to help and support this event. I know this was great success for our beloved art/sport of bodysurfing. Special mahalo to Gladen Braddock and George Ferreira for taking care of our HSBA tent-city throughout the weekend. I hope to see all at the next year at this event.

The next bodysurfing event will be at Point Panic. This will be the inaugural "Pure Point Panic Bodysurfing Contest" that will be directed by Kanekoa Crabbe. It will probably be the end of July or August.

A hui hou!