HONOLULU, HAWAII – Surfersvillage Global Surf News -- Waikiki took care of her own today, serving up a pair of wins for local surfers Kai Sallas, 28, and Kelia Moniz, 16, in the Rabbit Kekai Toes on the Nose pro longboard and Gidget Pro, respectively. Home grown knowledge played an integral part as hip-high waves and a lazy full tide brought it all down to wave selection and footwork finesse. Moniz won $2,000, and Sallas took home $2,500.
Hawaii surfers faired well overall, filling three of four places in both finals. But in both events the runner-up position went to Southern Californians; in the Gidget Pro it was 32-year-old Cori Schumacher, and in the Toes on the Nose, Steven Newton, 24.
The Toes on the Nose men's final definitely called for more testosterone as waves become scarcer than towel space on Waikiki Beach. Not a single breaking wave went unridden, and more than a few waves saw at least two riders up, resulting in interference penalties. On the losing end of the interference calls were Keegan Edwards and Duane DeSoto, who placed third and fourth respectively. Sallas posted a definitive win, steering clear of the chaos with runner-up Steven Newton.
Sallas showed no lingering effects of the foot injury that has seen him landlocked for the past three months, only returning to the ocean last week. While the injury forced him to miss all of the epic summer swells that poured through town earlier in the season, it might have worked out to his benefit. He was excited just to be back in the lineup caring little that the waves were less than optimal. Plus, there's the added power of the moment that comes with surfing a final in front of a home crowd, in front of Rabbit Kekai, the event's namesake, and in honor of Duke Kahanamoku.
"I've been riding longboard since I began surfing right here in Waikiki," said Sallas. "My dad's a beachboy, so to win here with Rabbit (Kekai) on the beach, and at the Duke's event feels real Waikiki-ish.
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