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Serafica wins third Pohai Na Keiki Nalu title in four years
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POHAI Na KEIKI NALUSaturday’s Results At Launiupoko Park
Bodyboard
9 and under—1. Mark Garnass, 2. Nicolas Nunez, 3. Keoki Muralt, 4. Wyatt Walter, 5. Conan Gentil, 6. Kaipo Soledad
10-12 years—1. Alden Mel, 2. Adam Ferrier, 3. Dallas Leblanc, 4. Liberty Clarke, 5. Shannon Williams, 6. Addison Johnson
Longboard
9 and under—1. Carver Locke, 2. Lyon Farrell, 3. Sierra Larsen, 4. Dylan Lehmann, 5. Monte Grant, 6. Owen Lingenfelder
10-12 years—1. Miles Serafica, 2. Nathan Schlea, 3. Mack Crilley, 4. Emma Koomoa, 5. Noa Castleton, 6. Kelci Ellis
Shortboard
6 and under—1. Gunnar Locke, 2. Wyatt Walter, 3. Ty-Ty Kirby, 4. Jett Farrell, 5. Skyla Adriano-Howard, 6. Elijah Hanneman
7-8 years—1. Jack Bowers, 2. Clay Milligan, 3. Conan Gentil, 4. Logan Bediamol, 5. Nicolas Nunez, 6. Nohea Bachiller
9-10 years—1. Dylan Lehmann, 2. Justin Ringsby, 3. Cyan Clark, 4. Kala Willard, 5. Lyon Farrell, 6. Monte Grant
11-12 years—1. Cole Walter, 2. Justice Patao, 3. Nathan Schlea, 4. Alden Mel, 5. Jacob Fitzgerald, 6. Miles Serafica
Girls—1. Sierra Lerback, 2. Shelby Schweitzer, 3. Dairinn Bowers, 4. Emma Koomoa, 5. Tasha Jahrmarkt, 6. Kaley Bernard.
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The 16th version of the “Gathering of the Surf Kids” had near perfect conditions for the 153 entries.
“It doesn’t get much better than this for a keiki contest,” said contest official Scott Trudon. “If it had been any bigger it would have been closing out. The waves were totally makeable and the kids were ripping.”
Serafica took advantage of the conditions to defeat 31 other longboarders. He displayed a combination of classic nose-riding and progressive surfing in dominating his finals heat.
“Launiupoko is fun to surf, I really like it,” said Serafica, who will be a seventh grader at Kalama Intermediate School. “It’s a good contest, I got a good trophy.”
The event was a fund-raiser for Jarren Patao, a Baldwin rising senior, who has bone cancer. The contest raised over $1,300 to help defray his family’s travel expenses to Oahu for treatment.
In what would have been a storybook ending, Patao’s cousin, Justice, nearly won the final event of the day, the shortboard 11-12 division. Justice Patao lost a split decision to Cole Walter.
“It was super fun,” said Walter, who will be a seventh-grader at Sacred Hearts. “It was lining up all the way to the inside, it was like a skate park.”
Walter was named the winner on two judges’s cards, while Patao was picked by one.
“I got a lot of good waves,” said Patao, who will be an eighth grader at Kamehameha Schools Maui. “I just hope my cousin gets better.”
Patao’s father, John, was happy with his son’s performance, but was more in awe of the support for his nephew.
“Nothing can explain the feeling of support from everybody. Maui has a lot of awesome people out there,” he said.
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