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Waikiki sees return of world's best
by George Mojo
22/06/2007:// The world’s best tandem surfing teams will return to the sport’s birthplace of Waikiki this summer to pair up on the waves for the world title.
The event, a feature of the annual Duke’s OceanFest Celebration, is being organised by the International Surfing Association and produced by the International Tandem Surfing Association.
Tandem surfing began at Waikiki in the 1920s, back in the days when Duke Kahanamoku and the famous Waikiki Beachboys would take out young ladies who would like to try their hand at surfing.
Finding it easier to manage the surfboard and the weight of two by hoisting the women up on their shoulders to ride, the sport of tandem surfing emerged.
Today, the sport is a highly athletic one that demonstrates great style, grace and skill – akin to couples dancing or figure skating, only on the waves.
Teams consist of a man and a woman, with the woman being lifted to perform a series of intricate poses on each ride while her partner maneuvers the board and rides the waves to shore.
The World Title of Tandem Surfing will feature a mix of youth and experience, and traditional hoists and contemporary styles.
Surfers competing range in age from 19 years - Sarah Burel, France, who partners with Rico Leroy - to 54 years - Blanche Benson, Hawaii, who will partner with David Vierra.
In all, a dozen teams from Hawaii, France, Australia, Brazil, Florida and California will compete, including defending world tandem champions Brian Keaulana and Kathy Terada, of Makaha.
“We are stoked to have the best teams in the world back here in Waikiki, the birthplace of modern tandem,” said Bear Woznick, co-founder of the ITSA and currently ranked third on the World Tandem Tour.
“Twice as many teams surf in this elite sport today than did 18 months ago when Rico Leroy and I first called for last year’s world title. Tandem surfing stuns everyone who sees it, whether they surf or not. It’s big, it’s visual, it’s daring, and it’s beautiful,” he added.
Along with the competition on August 22 and 23, there will also be tandem clinics at Waikiki Beach. Evening events will include autograph sessions with the original ‘Gidget’, as well as a Hall of Fame party at Tsunami’s, a luau,; and an awards ceremony and tandem surfing movie at Sunset on the Beach, on August 25th.
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