Contest reaches out as far as Bangladesh
| • | 8 Hawaii gymnasts qualify for Jr. nationals |
Advertiser Staff
Surfers from as far away as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are expected to participate in the 3rd Annual Freedom Surf Contest next weekend at Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.
The contest is being run by Surfing the Nations, a nonprofit organization that encourages surfers to give back to the community.
Tom Bauer, the founder and director of Surfing the Nations, said the international surfers participating in next week's contest are a result of past endeavors of the organization.
Surfing the Nations sponsors trips to various countries each year to teach the sport. Bauer said he first met surfer Jafar Alam in Bangladesh in 1998.
"We saw Jafar as a teenager in 1998 with an old surfboard, and helped him improve his surfing," Bauer said. "We have worked with him over the years to start the Bangladesh Surf Club and to spread the love of surfing and community service to others. Coming to Honolulu for the Freedom Surf Contest fulfills a longtime dream for Jafar."
Next week's contest is scheduled for May 9 and 10, and will feature age-group competition for shortboard and longboard surfing.
One of the prizes is a surf trip to Java, Indonesia.
For entry information, visit www.surfersgivingback.com.
SLATER FEATURED IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
World champion Kelly Slater of Florida is the subject of a 10-page feature article in this week's edition of Sports Illustrated.
The article delves into Slater's childhood and his rise to a record nine world championships.
One line of the article states: "Kelly could be the Michael Jordan and David Stern of his sport — the iconic athlete doing aerials and 360s and the power broker trying to change the structure and marketing of his sport."
HAWAI'I SURFERS IN CALIFORNIA CONTEST
More than 20 surfers from Hawai'i are competing in the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro men's contest this week at Lower Trestles, Calif.
The contest is one of the top events on the 2009 World Qualifying Series.
Top contenders from Hawai'i include Fred Patacchia Jr., Dusty Payne, Granger Larsen and Flynn Novak.
The finals are expected to run tomorrow.
