Connect with us

GSPN

GUAM HOLDS STRONG IN FIJI

[sixcol_five_last]

PRESS RELEASE – (Cloudbreak/Tavarua, FIJI –– Dec. 7, 2013) Guam’s surfing team maintained their strong form going into the second and final day of the 2013 Melanesian Surf Cup in Fiji.

In the Open Men’s Short Board category, Shane Pier and Aaron Taylor again won first place in their respective semi-final heats while Derrick Ikehara took second place in his semi-finals. All three surfers advanced to the six-man finals today and competed against Fiji’s Inia Nakalevu, and Vanuatu’s Feanser Kalmet and John Stephens.

In the Boys Under 18 division, Jared Brandon Gogue placed second in his semi-finals and entered the finals against New Caledonia’s Tom Morat and Vanuatu’s duo, Camillo Kaltabang and Tuppe Leroy Kalmet. In the Open Female Shortboard, Guam’s Alison Bowman competed against Fiji’s Hannah Bennet and New Caledonians, Anais Rouveyryol and Julie Loudieres. Bowman also went into the Open Female Long Board finals on Dec. 6 against Fiji’s Hannah Bennet and New Caledonia’s mother and daughter team mates, Marnie and Leilani Morat.

“The level of competition was good. The wave conditions today were tougher today than in the first day as they were smaller. We had two-foot waves with the occasional three-footers. But it was still contestable. I didn’t have any expectations going into the competition –– just wanted to take it heat by heat and do the best in my rounds,” said Derrick Ikehara, one of the three Guam short board finalists.

“I thought the level of competition was pretty high. I’m surprised that the Melanesian island nations have such a strong surfing culture and their athletes surfed very well. The waves were better during our two-day warm ups before the actual contest. During the competition, the wave sizes were between two and three feet,” said Aaron Taylor. “As far as expectations going into this event, I was trying to imagine what it’s like to surf Cloudbreak. I had no idea how it was going to be and this has been a great learning experience. We made new friends with all the country teams.”

For Jared Gogue, who has competed in junior surfing events in Japan and Hawaii, the Melanesian Cup was at a different level in many aspects. “The level of competition is not what I expected. The juniors from these countries were surfing at a high level and it was a surprise as I’ve never seen them on the Internet on videos of surfing competitions. The Melanesian Cup is the first event I’ve attended where everything happens far offshore on a boat so you’ve to be prepared for all sorts of situation – remembering to bring all your gear – because you can’t turn back to shore once you’re out on the break. Overall, this has been a great experience. We’ve been treated very hospitably by everyone.”

Alison Bowman, Guam’s lone female junior surfer on the team said, “Being able to surf Cloudbreak was in itself just awesome. The level of competition was definitely keen. The girls I surfed with were all good. The waves were inconsistent where you’ll get clean pumping waves in one heat and choppy ones in another. But it was still super fun and I really had a good time.”

Results of today’s finals will not be announced until the closing ceremony and awards banquet on Sunday, Dec. 8 in Nadi, Fiji. The closing ceremony will be at 6:00 p.m. Fiji time (4:00 p.m. Guam time). In addition to the individual winners of each of the seven categories, the Melanesian Surf Cup trophy will go to the country team with the highest points overall. For the full results, please go to Fiji Surfing Association Facebook page. Results are expected to be posted by 7:00 p.m. Guam time.

The countries competing in this year’s 4th Melanesian Surf Cup are Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, Samoa and Vanuatu. The Guam team’s travel to Fiji was made possible in part with contributions from Tumon Bay Lobster and Grill, Lotus Surf Shop, Bank of Guam, Cassidy Associated Insurance, Primo Surf, Fokai Industries and Da Kine.

2013 Melanesian Cup - Teams Group Shot at Opening Ceremony. (photo courtesy of John Philp)

2013 Melanesian Cup – Teams Group Shot at Opening Ceremony. (photo courtesy of John Philp)

[fbshare url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/gspn/guam-holds-strong-in-fiji/” type=”button”] [fblike url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/gspn/guam-holds-strong-in-fiji/” style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]

[/sixcol_five_last][useful_banner_manager_banner_rotation banners=53, 38, 83, 86 interval=8 width=120 height=600 orderby=rand]

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

August

September 2023

October
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for August

1st

Events for September

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for September

3rd

Events for September

3rd

No Events
Events for September

5th

Events for September

6th

Events for September

7th

Events for September

8th

Events for September

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for September

9th

No Events
Events for September

11th

Events for September

12th

Events for September

13th

Events for September

14th

Events for September

15th

Events for September

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for September

17th

Events for September

18th

Events for September

19th

Events for September

19th

No Events
Events for September

21st

Events for September

22nd

Events for September

23rd

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for September

23rd

No Events
Events for September

25th

Events for September

26th

Events for September

27th

Events for September

28th

Events for September

29th

Events for September

30th

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

COMING SOON …

  • High School Football starts Sept. 29
  • Brawl 3: Oct 13
  • Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman Competition October 29

 

QUICK HITS

The Figo Islanders 40s women’s softball team took gold in the Senior Softball World Championship in Las Vegas. Figo came out of the loser’s bracket and beat the Arizona Belles 17-3 in the AA division championship game Sunday afternoon.
Other Guam teams that played in the 40s tournament were: Team SOTTA (women’s) and Bud Light Guam, Friars 671 and Sindalun Guahan (men’s).
Sindalu finished a respectable 4th out of 24 AAA division teams.
——————————————————-
In Guam’s first time competing in the FIBA Asia Cup, we draw China, Japan, and Mongolia in Group C. Competition begins in 2024. Guam also moves up the FIBA world rankings to #76.

More in GSPN