Page 7 - MidWeek East - August 24, 2022

Aloha surfers and beachgoers,
August swell fi- nally came through for us on the weekend of Aug. 20. Waves from the south-south- west were almost advisory level on Aug. 21 with some 3-5-foot Hawai‘i scale (for top spots). Wow, it felt good to get some juice again. We’d been waiting for about three weeks.
BY GARY KEWLEY
Weeklong Festivities Include Fun Under The Sun
Raising Cane’s Going to the Dogs Surfur competition takes place in Waikīkī. PHOTO COURTESY DUKE’S OCEANFEST
The other big news we’ve been waiting two years for was the 19th annual Duke’s Oceanfest. This would have been the 21st event if not for the pandemic. We kicked off Aug. 20 with the new swell building, just in time. It was Mother Nature blessing the weeklong ocean festival and celebrating the spirit of the great Duke Kahanamoku.
View it all from Waikīkī beaches if you just want to watch from the shoreline. It’s the best people-watching show in paradise.
For example, Brazil’s Filipe Toledo has over 53,000 points and Califor- nia’s Griffin Colapinto only has 36,800 points prior to finishing any heats in Tahiti. Well, Colapinto can over- take Toledo by having a re- ally good day. Normally, Co- lapinto’s chances wouldn’t be likely going from No. 5 to No. 1 in a single contest. But now? Any of the top five have a chance at history.
Born Aug. 24, 1890, the father of modern-day surfing is still smiling down on all competitors and spectators gathering on the world’s most famous beach, Waikīkī. He’d also be pleasantly surprised at how many categories of competition there now are.
Duke’s iconic legacy of surfing and aloha feeds into a timeless cause — the Out- rigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation. Formed in 1986, this nonprofit’s mission is to financially support individ- uals and organizations that perpetuate the spirit and leg- acy of Duke Kahanamoku. For example, more than $3 million in grants and schol- arships have been invested in Hawai‘i students, teams and events that sustain the same
motivating force that pro- pelled Duke to greatest.
nal contest. Meaning, we’re on the last regular format of competition of the year. It’s the ninth contest and it’s in Tahiti. It takes about three days to complete — as did all the prior events after the midyear cut.
two new world champs. This big finals day is in Sep- tember at Trestles in South- ern California.
The new WCT configura- tion is nuts. There’s plenty of controversy as many pre- fer the old way. But, I’m all in either way, and can’t wait.
The weeklong festivities
gary@surfnewsnetwork.com
include much more than long and short boarding, tandem, paddleboarding and stand- up surf racing. There’s also a 1-mile swim race, a canoe regatta in honor of wound- ed warriors, surfboard water polo, beach volleyball, foil surfing, AccesSurf adaptive surfing — even a Red Bull Party Wave and Raising Cane’s Going to the Dogs Surfur competition. This last contest will be “ruff” — sor- ry, I couldn’t resist.
The top rated five men and top five women from the preceding nine events go for broke for just one day to determine the 2022 world champ. It doesn’t matter if you come into the contest at No. 1 by a big margin prior to this grand finale.
Every year Duke’s Oceanfest donates part of its proceeds back to the foun- dation. If you find it in your heart to help, please learn more at dukefoundation. org. Mahalo.
The Outerknown Tahiti Pro comes just before the very last single day of WCT competition, crowning our
This new format has only happened once before. It ran last year and the fresh format helped Carissa Moore win her fifth title and Gabriel Medina his third.
Hope you’re keeping up to date at surfnewsnetwork. com. Mahalo for the hang- 10 time.
The World Champion- ship Tour has come to its final contest, before the fi-
The new post-pandemic design has totally evolved.
GQ, dropping in 4 U!
AUGUST 24, 2022 7
Tele TALK STORY
with Congressman Ed Case
September 1, 2022 – 6:00pm-7:30pm Hawai‘i Time
I am hosting another Live Tele-Talk Story Community Meeting to update you on Congress’ and my actions, listen to your concerns and answer your questions.
To join, just stay on the line when you receive my call from ph. 808-650-6688 right before our Talk Story, or, if you don’t hear from me, call in at 855-274-9528.
You can also join online at https://case.house.gov/live/
We Are Here To Help You – Email: ed.case@mail.house.gov • Website: case.house.gov DC Phone: (202) 225-2726 • HI Phone: (808) 650-6688