Mau Ah Hee was the only double winner at the Ole Longboard Classic on Saturday, claiming the open men and 30-39 age group titles at Launiupoko Beach Park. The Liquid Lens photo
Mau Ah Hee won the open men and the 30-39 age group at the 28th annual Ole Longboard Classic, making him the only double winner Saturday at Launiupoko Park.
For Ah Hee, it was his fourth Ole open men’s title and first since 2017. Kekaula Campbell, with eight victories, is the Ole all-time open men’s leader. Campbell placed sixth in the open and second in the 40-49 division Saturday.
“It’s been a while since I won the age group and the open,” Ah Hee said. “Pretty happy, just in awe right now. Stoked, the competition was awesome.”
Open men was the largest overall division with 36 competitors.
Tasha Jahrmarkt defended her title in the open women division. Sam Rosario photo
Ah Hee led a family contingent that garnered eight trophies. Wife Ariel placed fifth in the 19-29 division, sister Mahealani was second in the Aunties and third in the 40-49, father Snake was fourth in the 70 and over, and mother-in-law Marcy Martin was third in the 50-59 and fourth in the Aunties.
Ah Hee seemed to be in the right spot to catch waves in the final at the “Lahaina” peak.
“I noticed the past year or two, the shifting off the break here,” he said. “It’s not in the regular spot so I paddled to the left side of the peak where the waves would shift.
“I was kind of being aggressive, but still having fun. I had to get the win. Fun day today but it was a competition.”
Ah Hee attributes his recent lifeguard training to helping him stay in surfing shape. He was in the recent Maui County beach lifeguard class and started lifeguarding at Hanakao’o Beach Park two months ago.
Miles Serafica is perched on the nose in winning the 19-29 age division Saturday. The Liquid Lens photo
“If I didn’t go to that training I’d probably be kind of out of shape,” the 34-year-old Lahaina resident said. “Big shout out to Captain Zach and Lieutenant Johnny for whupping my butt in shape, lots of burpies and lots of running.”
Another lifeguard from that recent recruit class also walked away with a first-place trophy as Miles Serafica won the 19-29 division.
The 26-year-old Pukalani resident, who is stationed at Hookipa, said the recruit class was helpful for him as well.
“Feel more fit for sure, doing burpies and stuff,” he said. “Definitely helps with the surfing and the cardio we go through. I feel like I’m a stronger paddler.”
Tasha Jahrmarkt repeated as the open women champion. The 25-year-old from Paia said she didn’t feel any added pressure defending her title.
Bella Kuailani goes backside in claiming the junior girls crown. The Liquid Lens photo
“Since winning last year I didn’t have like a lot to prove,” Jahrmarkt said. “I felt like I could just surf and have fun and it all worked out really well.”
In the final, the wind turned strong onshore, but Jahrmarkt was still able to cross-step to the nose of her board.
“I found a couple little smooth in betweeners between the wind,” she said. “I felt really confident on my board. It was just picking the right ones I guess.”
Bella Kuailani, a sophomore and a member of the King Kekaulike High School surf team, won the junior girls title. The junior girls and the 19-29 divisions, with 24 surfers, were the two biggest age-group divisions.
It was Kuailani’s first Ole title.
Zolten Poulsen shows his winning form in the junior boys division. The Liquid Lens photo
“I felt pretty good, really proud of myself,” she said. “I was catching the lefts because I prefer my front side.”
Zolten Poulsen, a freshman at Maui Prep, took the junior boys crown.
“I think I surfed a smart heat,” said Poulsen, who last month placed third in open longboard at the National Scholastic Surfing Association National Championships in Huntington Beach, Calif. “I picked the right waves that looked like they had the cleanest lines on them so I could nose-ride them, and surf them all the way to the beach.”
Another repeat winner was Kihei’s Mikaela Woodard, who won the junior women after claiming the junior girls title last year. Other winners included: Brixton Craig (menehune), Kai Claydon (junior men), Scotty Fong (40-49), Ken Goring (50-59), Bruce Baptiste (60-69), Nathan Moody (70 and over), Jessica Damasco (Aunties), and Kekoa Canullo (Ole Board).
*****
Ole Longboard Classic
Saturday’s Results
At Launiupoko Beach Park
Open men–1. Mau Ah Hee 14.13, 2. Hans Vandervoort 12.27, 3. Alika Apo 11.37, 4. Kai Claydon 10.10, 5. Scotty Fong 10.00, 6. Kekaula Campbell 9.84.
Open women–1. Tasha Jahrmarkt 11.16, 2. Lara Claydon 10.73, 3. Ashley Taoka 9.04, 4. Bella Kuailani 8.96, 5. Yuki Knight 6.53, 6. Tamryn Taoka 5.00.
Menehune–1. Brixton Craig 8.60, 2. Rael Pineres-Schooley 7.54, 3. Alexandria Poulsen 7.07, 4. Kona Yamada 6.67, 5. Noah Cambier 6.40, 6. Coco Castorina 6.27.
Junior boys–1. Zolten Poulsen 13.33, 2. Kahlili Pineres-Schooley 8.77, 3. Jayden Craig 8.33, 4. Aiden Haas 8.00, 5. Eddie Kramer 6.67, 6. Dylan Riley 5.70.
Junior girls–1. Bella Kuailani 10.20, 2. Imani Caserta 10.03, 3. Zoey Offergeld 8.70, 4. Juliana Colpas 8.00, 5. Gianna Pogni 7.13, 6. Hayden Baldwin 6.63.
Junior men–1. Kai Claydon 10.84, 2. Kekoa Canullo 8.37, 3. Reilly McCook 8.30, 4. Maxx Cherry 5.47, 5. Carson Hayes 2.73.
Junior women–1. Mikaela Woodward 10.00, 2. Tamryn Taoka 10.00, 3. Keani Canullo 9.83, 4. Hadley Talavs 5.60, 5. Anna Fosbinder 4.23, 6. Karissa Ginoza 3.67.
19-29–1. Miles Serafica 13.00, 2. Kevin Neal 10.34, 3. Tasha Jahrmarkt 9.54, 4. Rycin Pavao 8.84, 5. Ariel Ah Hee 8.17, 6. Ashley Taoka 6.26.
30-39–1. Mau Ah Hee 13.07, 2. Jonah Dayoan 11.26, 3. Alika Apo 9.46, 4. Bart Patitucci 6.60, 5. Casey Casco 6.50, 6. Tara Pavao 5.34.
40-49–1. Scotty Fong 14.90, 2. Kekaula Campbell 14.17, 3. Mahealani Ah Hee 9.00, 4. Ryan Schooley 7.00, 5. Cade Dudulao 6.46, 6. Tami Duldulao.
50-59–1. Ken Goring 10.97, 2. Kent Apo 10.70, 3. Marcy Martin 6.24, 4. David Wilson 6.13, 5. David Pruitt 5.70, 6. Andy Claydon 5.67.
60-69–1. Bruce Baptiste 9.33, 2. Gary Savage 6.83, 3. Tomi Tsuda 6.00, 4. Mauro Serafica 1.83.
70 and over–1. Nathan Moody 10.20, 2. Kevin Eide 9.67, 3. Barry Brown 9.50, 4. Snake Ah Hee 8.63, 5. Jeff Lackey 5.77, 6. Randy Hall 4.84.
Aunties–1. Jessica Damasco 8.74, 2. Mahealani Ah Hee 8.17, 3. Yuki Knight 6.20, 4. Marcy Martin 6.07, 5. Tisha Paet 4.50, 6. Abigail Tirabassi 3.90.
Ole Board–1. Kekoa Canullo 9.66, 2. Hans Vandervoort 9.63, 3. Travis Alexander 9.50, 4. Lara Claydon 7.20, 5. Shelby Schweitzer 7.13, 6. Travis Baptiste 7.10.
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