NEWS & EVENTS
JB Hillen
Sammy Morretino
Keahi Parker
Tanner McDaniel
SAMMY MORRETINO MAKES HISTORY AT THE 662 RIDESHOP WESTSIDE CHALLENGE Photos by Tyler Rock
During the weekend of January 16-17, the last event of the Kellogg’s IBA Hawaii Bodyboarding Tour, the 662 Rideshop Westside Challenge presented by Gyroll Wetsuits at Keaau saw not only 6-foot, solid surf but also a rewriting of the record books. Kauai’s own Sammy Morretino became the triple 2015 Tour Champion by clinching not one, not two but all three titles in the Kellogg’s Hawaii Tour: Drop Knee, Stand Up and the Pro Men’s Division, something never done before. Even more impressive was that he did this without winning a single pro men’s event but consistently stayed near the top of the points race, which helped him to come out ahead at the conclusion of the year. At the Westside Challenge, Morretino came in second overall to Keahi Parker, with JB Hillen scoring third and Tanner McDaniel, the youngest in the final, coming in fourth. Looking forward, the top tour finishers will be seeded directly into the Mike Stewart Pipeline Invitational, slated for February 21 to March 4, without partaking in the trials.
662 RIDESHOP WESTSIDE CHALLENGE RESULTS Men’s Division 1. Keahi Parker 2. Sammy Morretino 3. JB Hillen 4. Tanner McDaniel
Dropknee Division 1. Bud Miyamoto 2. Sammy Morretino 3. Abe Balmores 4. Dayton Wago
Women's Division 1. Karla Costa 2. Melanie Bartels 3. Lindsey Yasui 4. Summer Hillen
Standup Division 1. Sammy Morretino 2. Mack Crilley 3. Abe Balmores 4. Kai Holt
Junior Division 1. Tanner McDaniel 2. Peter Piho 3. Keoni Horswill 4. Ezekiel Bartels
Master's Division 1. Pat Caldwell 2. Jimmy Hutaff 3. Ben Severson 4. Keith Sasaki
2015 KELLOGG'S IBA HAWAII TOUR CHAMPIONS Men's Division - Sammy Morretino Women's Division - Karla Costa Junior Division - Kawika Rohr-Kamai Dropknee Division - Sammy Morretino Standup Division - Sammy Morretino Master's Division - Pat Caldwell