A Weekend in July Oakley Surf Shop Challenge/Ala Moana Bowls
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mid a building 5-foot swell, stiff offshore winds, and a scorching sun, 10 teams congregated at Magic Island for the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge. Unique with its team format (each team is composed of two shop employees and two teamriders) the event pits local surf shops against one another and leaves the winning team swimming in a year’s worth of bragging rights. With the record-breaking 10 teams amassed, the scaffolding set, and the heat horns primed, everyone was chomping at the bit to start the event. From the outset of the first heat, it was clear that this event was going to be one to rembember. With a bevy of Hawaii’s
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top surfers competing at this year’s contest, the likes of Pancho Sullivan, Kekoa Bacalso, Makua Rothman, Mark Healey and others ensured that they capitalized on the perfect surf and empty lineup on offer at this unique contest. Heading into the event with four consecutive wins, all eyes were pinned on team Town & Country to repeat their past performances. But with the aforementioned slew of talent sprinkled throughout each of the teams, it truly was anyone’s win for the taking. And as the first heat got underway and the swell continued to stack, it instantly became clear that this event was going to be one to remember. In the first five minutes alone,
double-section tuberides were raining down on the event like it was going out of style. “I just can’t believe how good it is out there right now. I don’t usually surf out here a lot because of the crowd, but to have it like this with just a few other guys out is amazing,” said Pancho Sullivan, who competed for team Surf N Sea and found himself barreled a half-dozen times at the event. “Right now I’m not thinking about winning or losing the event, I just want a chance to surf out there again.” As the event progressed into the final round, the 10 teams that began the event were whittled down to five with Town & Country, HIC, HI-Tech, Surf N Sea, and Blue Hawaii all vying