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Michelle Cabalse
T&C Surf Designs
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GROM PHENOMS READY TO SHRED WAIKIKI

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(July 13, 2008) - After a week of flat conditions, Queens surf break surged to life when nearly 200 groms hit the water for the 11th Annual T&C Surf Grom Contest on July 12-13.

The event encompasses two days of surfing and beach games at one of the South Shore’s premier surf spots, giving groms and mini groms a competitive experience without the pressure of rated surf contests. Champions were crowned in longboard, shortboard and bodyboard divisions.

"It is really exciting to see the event continue to get bigger and better every year,” says T&C Surf president and founder Craig Sugihara. “ We are stoked to see the kids enjoy the ocean and friendly competition."

With prime-sized waves rolling in at Queens and sweet little reforms gently breaking at Baby Queens, surfers age three to fourteen paddled out to enjoy the waves.

The first title of the day went to an all-around water girl, Honolua Blomfield, 9, of Haleiwa in the bodyboard 9 & under division. Skilled in longboarding, shortboarding and bodyboarding, she posted a 7.5 out of a possible ten to earn the highest score in her heat. Titus Lafradez of Honolulu grabbed the bodyboard 10-14 title by opening a solid three-point lead the others couldn’t close.

Keola Auwae, 7, of Wai`anae successfully defended his shortboard 7 & under title against a formidable field of six little rippers, including seven-year-old runner-up Makana Pang of Hale`iwa, who kept the heat on through the finals. Dane Rust, 11, of Honolulu ripped his way to first place in the shortboard 8-11 division, earning an average of more than three points per wave more than his competitors. Cole Yamakawa, 13, of Honolulu scored two perfect tens from two judges to take the shortboard 12-14 division win.

In the contest’s newest division, created to meet a growing demand for girls’ competition, T&C crowned its first queen of the waves in the shortboard 9 & under division. Moana Jones took the high spot on the podium against a fully-stacked heat of little mermaids. The older girls in the 10-14 division had their work cut out for them as the waves subsided and good sets were harder to come by. Cayla Moore of Honolulu took home the big girls win in a tough paddle battle for the best waves.

Finn McGill, 8, of Haleiwa, who has already earned a reputation for his distinct longboarding style, repeated his 9 & under division win against a tough contingent from all four shores of O`ahu. Eala Stewart, 13, of Waikiki took the backyard advantage all the way to the top to earn the longboard 12-14 title.

Six new T&C surfboards were given to the top non-sponsored surfers, and new bodyboards went to the top three bodyboarders.