There is always anticipation and positive energy at the start of any surf contest, but the buzz at Bayans on Dec. 14 for the final Hawaii Surfing Association contest of 2019 was on a different level.
The excitement was thanks in part to the return of HSA member Brodi Sale from competing in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. The 16-year-old Sale finished the Triple Crown in 111th place out of 150 competitors and pocketed $2,000 for his efforts. He placed ahead of a number of seasoned Big Island pros and continued the upward trajectory he has been on since he started surfing in the World Surf League Qualifying Series in 2018. He is currently ranked 212th in the world and has one top-five finish and two top-20 finishes.
Sale competed in the men’s open and junior men’s events in the Dec. 14 HSA contest, won every heat and finished on top of the podium in both events. It was clear to the spectators that he was a step ahead of his competitors, surfing with power and speed and attempting to finish virtually every wave with an aerial maneuver.
When asked to compare surfing in the WSL versus the HSA, Sale pointed out: “The waves are a lot bigger, and I am surfing against men who are literally the best in the world, so it is very challenging.”
He said he was competing in the HSA contest to have some fun and surf some heats on his home break.
“This is where it started for me, so it’s pretty cool to still do a couple events,” Sale said.
Sale credits the Big Island’s premiere big wave surfer, Shane Dorian, for being a great coach and mentor in support of the young surfer’s journey.
“He’s taken me on trips, coached me when I’m home, he’s been a really good friend and I can’t thank him enough,” Sale said of Dorian.
Sale’s return was only one part of the contest, as HSA had one of its largest fields of the year, providing a complete day of surfing to keep competitors and fans engaged.
The bodyboarders got the contest started and Mana Fujihara took top place on the podium after finishing the ride of the day with a reverse flip. Keoni Avanilla and Matt Solomon rounded out the top three.
In the men’s open event, Sale was joined on the podium by Cooper Schmarr and Kaiden Lieto, while in the men’s junior division, Sale was first with Kaiden Lieto in second and Dylan Schmarr third.
The women’s open saw Dani Sale and Sophi Carlucci go head to head, with Carlucci taking the win. In the girl’s 13-17 division Carlucci and Dani Sale took first and second again with Kira Geesy capturing the third spot on the podium.
The girls 11-and-under division featured one of the biggest fields of the year, and it was Opal Dowdey in first place, Kirra Geesy in second, and Shavanie Uribo in third.
The boys 11-and-under division was led by Zal Costa who grabbed the top spot with Kalei Rivas and Kaninau Lambeth also making the podium.
In what is typically the most competitive division in the HSA, the 12-13 boys saw Tosh Stratton capture first, with Jackson Dorian taking second, and Makoa Auhoon in third. Tosh Stratton and Jackson Dorian flipped their positions in the 14-15 boys division, with Jackson taking first to Tosh’s second and CJ Bruno in third.
The longboard division wrapped up the contest with Angelo Dowdey in first place, with Wes Moore in second and Dani Sale third.
The HSA season is winding down with the final contest before the state championships set for Feb. 29. Two more youth surfing contests are scheduled on the Big Island before then — Volcom’s Live Like Sion Grom Fest Dec. 28 at Honolii, and the Shane Dorian Keiki Classic at Banyans on Jan. 18.