Redwings Memorial World Championships of Handboarding

Point Panic, Oahu
29 - 30 July 2006

Pedro Refuerzo Wins the Redwings Memorial World Champs of Handboarding

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 August, 2006 : - -  Aloha na hoa o ka nalu: here are the results of the 2006 Redwings Memorial World Championships of Handboarding and the Royal Richard Memorial World Championships of Paepo Boarding.  The waves, wind and weather were excellent for our contestants and everyone got plenty of waves in the 4 to 7 foot range to show off their world class skills in heats that lasted up to 90 minutes. 

In the very competitive Senior Men's Division (31-40 yrs) Kai Santos and Wyatt Tillotson again battled it out with Kai narrowly winning in a split decision. Wyatt made an almost miraculous comeback after sustaining a very serious injury came back to just outscore Kai and win the Pro Division and both took home a handsome share of the $500 purse. 

But, at the end of the grueling 2 day meet, it was Point Panic's Homeboy, Pedro Refuerzo whose stamina, athletic gracefulness and stunning spinners prevailed to win the Grand Championship Division.  This was clearly Pedro's weekend as he also took first place in the hotly contested Men's Masters Division and place a close 3rd in the Pro Division. 

Alec 'Ace Cool' Cooke : photo Dan Devine 

Young Kaneali'i Wilcox surprised us all by winning the Junior Men's Division and placing  4th in the GC in his first time out at Panics. . .and at the other end of the age scale, Panics' great old-timer Nigel Robertson easily won the Dugong's Division with multiple long rides from Dougie Land all the wall to the wall. 

In the hour and a half long Paepo Championship event Jarrett Liu and Claude Higa again were in tight competion for the title, but this year Claude prevailed in 1st place. . . and Gene Lehano came in a very close third. Ho'omaikai to all of the dedicated athletes who entered this year and mahalo nui loa to our 2006 REDWINGS Meet Committee Members and to our diligent judges, scorers, and logistics crew who gave so much of their time to make this event possible. 

We are grateful to our sponsors (Viper Surfing Fins, Hydro Sports, Patagonia, Buttons Hawaii, JR's Caps & Embroidery, Manoa Honey Company, the Whitford Family and the Lehano Ohana), our donors (The Outrigger-Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, CTS Foundation, Joe Santo, Ken Robbins, Don Weir), and to the state agencies who are the stewards and protectors of our precious Kaka'ako State Waterfront Park (HCDA) and Point Panic Ocean Waters.       

Kyle Hussey : photo Dan Devine

HANDBOARD GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS:  

1 PEDRO REFUERZO
2 KAI SANTOS
3 WYATT TILLOTSON
4 KANEALI'I WILCOX
5 MEALOHA HOOTEN
6 PILI LEHANO
7 MICHAEL KLIKS
8 LARRY RUSSO    

HANDBOARD DIVISIONS:

PRO OPEN
1 WYATT  TILLOTSON
2 KAI SANTOS
3 PEDRO REFUERZO
           
WOMEN'S OPEN
1 MEALOHA  HOOTEN        
2 KATIE MIN
           
JUNIOR MEN (18-30 YRS)
1 KANEALI'I  WILCOX  
2 PILI LEHANO
3 TAI CHONG
           
SENIOR MEN (31-40 YRS) 
1 KAI SANTOS
2 WYATT TILLOTSON 
3 JARRETT LIU  
4 ANDY STENGER
           
MEN' S MASTERS (41-58)
1 PEDRO  REFUERZO
2 LARRY RUSSO
3 RICHARD MIN
4 WAYNE TAKAMINE           
5 ALEC COOKE  

www.redwingsmemorial.com