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World Title of Tandem Surfing, part of Duke's OceanFest
by Howard Swanwick
24/08/2007:// Defending World Title of Tandem Surfing champions Brian Keaulana and Kathy Terada (Makaha, HI), wowed the crowd at Waikiki Beach today with a seamless performance in their first appearance in the event. The top-seeded team in the first heat to take to the waves today, all eyes were on the defending champs to see where the bar would be set. They didn't disappoint, slipping straight into gear as they honed in on the largest waves and longest rides of their 20-minute heat with trials winners Ryan Reynolds and Jennifer Jacquez (CA) and Matt Callahan and Kat Cichsz (HI). They would stand to be the top performing team of the day.
Transitioning effortlessly through difficult lift sequences, Keaulana maneuvered his way across the waves while holding Terada high and dry to swing and loop like a yo-yo at the end of a trickster's string. Their movements were graceful with perfectly executing lifts in a style that was magic to the eye.
"I think we had the best position in the lineup, which allowed us to get the bigger waves that ran for a long time across the reef," explained Keaulana. "When you can get that, the rest is easy."
Easy to a world champion team perhaps, but not such a dream for several of the other teams contesting the event.
"We were just looking to maximize the sequence of moves we could get on a wave, so all the while that Kathy was up in the air, we were calling out to each other saying 'this move next, then that move'... It was a good heat," said Keaulana.
Kauai pair Blanche Yoshida and Kalani Vierre were similarly impressive in the last heat of the day. Yoshida was part of the world champion tandem team back in 1968, holding the title through 1973. At 54 years of age today, she hasn't lost an ounce of the flair or passion for tandem that she had all those years ago. Teamed up with one of Hawaii's most proficient watermen, they are on track to challenge Keaulana & Terada for the title.
In all, five of today's winning teams were from Hawaii: Keaulana/Terada; Duane DeSoto/Brianna Holguin; Bear Woznick/Krystl Apeles; Chuck Inman/Tiffany Rabacal; Kalani Vierra/Blanche Yoshida. Three California teams also tasted victory: Clay & Kristen Hungtington; Caleb Wilborn & Wendy Lynn; and Brian and Illa McEvily.
Joining them to advance to tomorrow's quarter finals are: Jason Lusk/Leena Yada (CA); Ryan Reynolds/Jennifer Jacquez (CA); Loic Caillet/Caroline Angibaud (France); Archie Kalepa/Jaime Punakashi (HI); Charles Christensen/Myra Burg (CA); Mark & Debbie Gale (CA); and Sean Remos/Susannah Chun (HI).
The quarter finals and semi-finals of the Main Event will take place tomorrow and conclude with the final on Saturday.
The World Title of Tandem Surfing, presented by Tsunami's Waikiki, is a feature event of the Duke's OceanFest Celebration.
For more information on Duke's OceanFest, please visit www.dukefoundation.org For more information about tandem surfing and this event, please visit www.itsatandem.com
RESULTS: World Title of Tandem Surfing, Presented by Tsunami's Waikiki
Main Event Round 1 (1st & 2nd advance, results printed in order of placings)
H1: Brian Keaulana/Kathy Terada; Ryan Reynolds & Jennifer Jacquez (CA); Matt Callahan/Kat Cichsz (HI)
H2: Clay Huntington/Kristen Huntington (CA); Jason Lusk/Leena Yada (CA); Scott Perez & Shannon O'Neill (HI)
H3: Duane DeSoto/Brianna Holguin (HI); Loic Caillet/Caroline Angibaud (France); Luis Mejia & Asia Carpenter (CA)
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