Perfect 10 highlights Longboard Classic as siblings double up on titles
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The Ah Hee siblings each won two divisions, but it was Oahu's Joie Kaiu who had the highest scores Saturday during the 32nd annual Ole Longboard Classic at Launiupoko Park.
Launiupoko was in top form, delivering consistent waves throughout the day for the 224 competitors surfing in 16 divisions.
Mau Ah Hee, a Maui County lifeguard from Lahaina, won his sixth open men's title and the 30-39 division, while his older sister, Mahealani, a Kahului warehouse supervisor, repeated in both the 40-49 and Aunties divisions.
Kaiu, an 18-year-old from Kaimuki, had the highest-scoring single wave and two-wave score of the 64 heats. She scored a perfect 10 and had a two-wave score of 19.53 in the junior women final. Kaiu displayed a quick, effortless nose-riding style that carried her to the open women's crown as well.
"I was shocked when the announcer said it was 10 across the board," Kaiu said. "I thought it was good, but didn't think it would be a 10. I'm very thankful. It was really fun -- my second time surfing on Maui. My first time was the high school state (championships) at Hookipa."
Kaiu placed second for Kamehameha Schools Kapalama in the longboard at the inaugural Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Surfing Championship in May.
"Surfing at Launiupoko was really fun," she said. "I love the Lahaina peak. It's like a perfect right, it just peeled all the way."
Kaiu was a little apprehensive before her open women's final. In her heat was Lara Claydon, the two-time defending champion, as well as three-time champion Tasha Jahrmarkt and Keani Canullo, a pro longboarder from Honolulu.
"Seeing all the names on the list, I was like, 'Wow.' It looked like it was going to be a stacked contest. I was super excited for open women, but really scared for the final with all the girls there like Keani, Lara and Tasha. They were girls I looked up to when I started surfing. They were my inspiration, so competing against them was kind of nerve-racking a little bit. I'm happy I was able to pull through."
The Ah Hees continued their Ole contest success. Mau Ah Hee didn't know if he could even surf when he woke up early Saturday morning. He was one of the water safety officers hired for the Holokai Molokai open ocean race on Friday.
After the race, Ah Hee was riding his personal watercraft back to Maui across the Pailolo Channel when he went airborne, fell off the ski and tweaked his knee.
"Saturday morning I couldn't move my leg," he said.
Mau Ah Hee perches on the tip of his board in the 30-39 final. He also won the open men title for the sixth time. Photo courtesy Dayanidhi
Although he had trouble walking, he had no problem cross-stepping to the nose of his board and hanging 10. After his first open men's heat, he wore a knee brace the rest of the day for support.
"Today was amazing," Ah Hee said. "I'm sore, but it was amazing because we had waves the whole day -- you could see everybody's talent. Feels good to be back on top and have my name on the trophy."
Spectators were able to see his sister Mahealani's longboard talent. It was the second straight year she defeated five men in the 40-49 final. She also had no trouble repeating her victory in the Aunties division.
"I like beating the men," said Mahealani Ah Hee, a woman of few words. "I did my best and I just like having fun."
Mahealani Ah Hee banks to her left as Mike Grier (white jersey) goes right in the 40-49 final. Ah Hee won the 40-49 and the Auntie divisions. Grier was fifth in the 40-49. Photo courtesy Dayanidhi
Balou Patitucci-Dominguez repeated in the menehune division, as did Zolten Poulsen in the junior men. Harry Timmins easily defended his 70 & over division title.
The tandem division was brought back for the first time since 2019 after being nixed because of covid. The tandem winners were the father-daughter team of Shayne and Kajarine Edelhertz.
Tandem also brought back Maia West to surfing competition for the first time since her freshman year at King Kekaulike, when she was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive cancer in her ribs. West was a shortboarder for the Na Alii surf team when her season was cut short. She was treated at a Cleveland hospital for a year before returning to Maui a year ago.
Her Ole tandem partner was her friend, Ione La Turner. Although they didn't make the final, West, who is 15 months in remission, was stoked.
"It was so fun," West said. "I love to compete."
Maia West returned to surf competition for the since being stricken with cancer over two years ago.
Hass Jahrmarkt took the 60-69 age group. Photo courtesy Dayanidhi
Balou Patitucci-Dominguez glides to a win in the menehune division. Photo courtesy Dayanidhi
Zolten Poulsen repeated as the Junior Men champion. Photo courtesy Dayanidhi
Luca Damasco steps to a win in the Junior Boys. Photo courtesy Dayanidhi
Ken Goring, the Kihei Charter surf coach, shows his students how to nose-ride in claiming the 50-59 age group. Photo courtesy Dayanidhi
Bode Davis cruised to a win in the Ole Board division. Photo courtesy Dayanidhi
Kalli Sprenger nose-rides to a win in the junior girls as Ocean Lipstein (green jersey) paddles back out. Lipstein finished 5th. Photo courtesy Dayanidhi
The other winners were Kalli Sprenger (junior girls), Luca Damasco (junior boys), Ty Simpson-Kane (19-29), Ken Goring (50-59), Hass Jahrmarkt (60-69) and Bode Davis (Ole Board).
Results
Menehune (10-13 years) -- 1. Balou Patitucci-Dominguez, 14.17; 2. Alice Grier, 11.67; 3. Bandit Udell, 9.50; 4. Guide Udell, 9.37; 5. Harbor Haas, 9.07; 6. Maddox Williams, 7.67.
Junior Girls (11-14 years) -- 1. Kalli Sprenger, 13.26; 2. Gracie Sarno, 10.83; 3. Peata Lee-Hubin, 9.83; 4. Tiare Sloan, 8.84; 5. Ocean Lipstein, 8.83; 6. Briana Strubhar, 7.53.
Junior Boys (11-14 years) -- 1. Luca Damasco, 15.57; 2. Kaniela Miranda, 14.60; 3. Kona Yamada, 11.83; 4. Brixton Craig, 10.87; 5. Christian Kim, 10.50; 6. Kameron Kimmel, 9.75.
Junior Women (15-18 years) -- 1. Joie Kaiu, 19.53; 2. Bella Kuailani, 13.57; 3. Lila Sloan, 12.67; 4. Imani Caserta, 12.33; 5. Ella Anderson, 11.07; 6. Nala Strubhar, 10.94.
Junior Men (15-18 years) -- 1. Zolten Poulsen, 16.34; 2. Bode Davis, 15.16; 3. Aiden Haas, 14.17; 4. Nahuel Messera, 11.34; 5. Jayden Craig, 11.00; 6. Jack Hill, 9.66.
19-29 -- 1. Ty Simpson-Kane, 15.17; 2. Angelo Constantino, 14.56; 3. Lara Claydon, 14.03; 4. Bailey Sato, 12.34; 5. Sam Rosario, 12.20; 6. Tasha Jahrmarkt, 10.73.
30-39 -- 1. Mau Ah Hee, 16.34; 2. Jonah Dayoan, 14.50; 3. Hans Vandervoort, 12.83; 4. Jansen Balberdi, 12.33; 5. Kekoa Kalehuawehe, 10.07; 6. Bart Patitucci, 8.43.
Aunties (35 & over) -- 1. Mahealani Ah Hee, 15.67; 2. Tisha Paet, 10.00; 3. Jessica Damasco, 9.57; 4. Marcy Martin, 9.17; 5. Natasha Truong, 9.00; 6. Elena Dominguez, 8.17.
40-49 -- 1. Mahealani Ah Hee, 13.60; 2. Abram Wimmer, 12.00; 3. Chris Haas, 9.00; 4. Matt Padgett, 8.77; 5. Mike Grier, 8.34; 6. Shayne Edelhertz, 7.67.
50-59 -- 1. Ken Goring, 13.44; 2. Joe Barone, 11.50; 3. Hayden Pogni, 9.36; 4. Jeff Zamora, 9.33; 5. Leomer Domingo, 9.04; 6. Rob Weis, 9.00.
60-69 -- 1. Hass Jahrmarkt, 10.67; 2. David Wilson, 9.50; 3. Paul Kimmel, 9.44; 4. Marcy Martin, 8.50; 5. Chris Walsh, 8.43; 6. Bruce Baptiste, 7.17.
70 & over -- 1. Harry Timmins, 13.13; 2. Nathan Moody, 8.06; 3. Jeff Lackey, 7.07; 4. Steve Nickens, 6.33.
Ole Board -- 1. Bode Davis, 15.50; 2. Ken Goring, 14.33; 3. Harry Timmins, 9.70; 4. Shelby Schweitzer, 9.66; 5. Isaac Medina, 8.33; 6. Peata Lee-Hubin, 8.33.
Open Women -- 1. Joie Kaiu, 15.47; 2. Tasha Jahrmarkt, 14.83; 3. Lara Claydon, 13.43; 4. Keani Canullo, 13.13; 5. Bailey Sato, 12.77; 6. Bella Kuailani, 11.17.
Open Men -- 1. Mau Ah Hee, 18.16; 2. Angelo Constantino, 15.30; 3. Jonah Dayoan, 14.50; 4. Ethan Spelts, 14.10; 5. Andrew Nakihei, 12.50; 6. Kala Willard, 12.27.
Tandem -- 1. Shayne and Kajarine Edelhertz, 13.95; 2. Andrew and Kaia Nakihei, 12.27; 3. Chris Walsh and Jireh Perry, 11.48; 4. Alice Grier and Sayler Udell, 11.01; 5. Capri Mathers and Emma Johnson, 10.03; 6. Guide Udell and Aukan Messera, 8.88.