Kanoa Igarashi from Huntington Beach won his first NSSA National title over the Fourth of July weekend in one of the most exciting Open Boys final in recent history!  Competitors including, Kalani David, Seth Moniz and Kaulana Apo from Hawaii as well as Jacob Davis and Colt Ward from California competed in the twenty-five minute final line up. The conditions were tough with mushy 2-3 foot wind chopped peaks at the south side of the Huntington Beach pier. The competitors gave us a fun show from the mini groms to the Open Men and Women events. Moniz, started out with a bang receiving an 8.5 from the judges and looked like he was on his way to a National Title. Kalani David and Jacob Davis were ripping it up with some good scores as well while Igarashi, with half of the final already over, was still looking for a good wave.  Finally, a small set came in for Kanoa who was in perfect position for the good right-hander. His score dropped in at a 6.5 from the judges. 

Kanoa rips at his home break of HB during the final!

Kanoa, followed it up with another clean inside connector, by smashing it off the top and blowing out the tail! This put the twelve year old out in first place with six minutes left in the final.  Moniz, still looking for another good wave to follow up his first big score, could not seem to find another to back up his 8.5 heat high score. Kalani David, was also looking for one as well to put him over the top along with Davis, who was right in the mix . With a minute left in the final, David, thought he found what was needed and ripped apart the small insider as the horn sounded. We all had to wait for the judges score on his last ride to see who took the National title. As the scores came in, it was apparent that it was not enough to put him over the top into first place. Kanoa (12.35) took his first National title with Jacob Davis (11.85) finishing in second, David (11.40) for third and Moniz (9.95), Ward (9.35), Apo (4.65). 
 

Boys final line up.

I've been amazed watching the level of surfing from all of these young competitors. The maneuvers they are pulling off consistently in competition are mind blowing to say the least; that's why getting as much speed possible is needed these days! Many of the new tricks they're doing like: air reverses, ollyoops, double-grab airs, passion-pops, punts, rodeo flips, all take a lot of momentum in order to complete them.

First National Title for Kanoa.

Kanoa, is a big fan of Xtreme Cream and applies it religiously to his boards before every contest (I personally applied a fresh coat to his board an hour before the final). He set the NSSA record of 30 wins last year and now a National Championship! OnIt Pro is proud to have him on our team. Kanoa is now in Australia with the Quiksilver Team for a contest , then he's off to Japan and France. What a summer!

Check the flags; windy conditions on the final day of competition.

A good crowd on hand for the finals.

Kaimana Jaquis

In the Open Men Final, it was Kaimana Jaquis from Hawaii
taking the championship! Kaimana surfed flawlessly in the final against  brothers, Conner and Parker Coffin from Santa Barbara and East Coast big-air sensation, Evan Geiselman. It came down to the last wave of the event for Coffin, like in the boys final to see who was this years champion. Coffin's wave was not enough to overtake Kaimana who took the win for the Hawaiian conference.

Catherine Clark, Nage Melamed, Alexa Frantz, Lakey Peterson

                                                 
Lakey Peterson won her consecutive Open Women title, in a terrific battle against a tough field including Nage Melamed, from Hawaii. Melamed, was leading the final until her last wave of contest in which she received a interference (cuts high score in half) with only seconds left in the heat costing her the title. A gracious Peterson didn't want to win this way, but is very happy to have another championship under her belt.
                                               

Kanoa and the 2011 Pac Sun USA Surf Team.

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Kanoa wins Title

                                         Kanoa gets his trophy