Over 200 females show up for Rip Curl and China Uemura's 10th Annual Wahine Classic, WAHINES TAKE OVER QUEENS

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WAHINES TAKE OVER QUEENS

Over 200 females show up for Rip Curl and China Uemura's 10th Annual Wahine Classic

By: Darlene Conolly

Photos: Photos: FreeSurfMagazine.com

June 6, 2006

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The 10th Annual Rip Curl and China Uemura's Wahine Classic kicked off another beautiful summer at Queen's in Waikiki. Over 200 female surfers, including shortboarders, longboarders and bodyboarders of all ages showed up to compete in the 4-6 foot surf.

The 16-division competition was held June 3-4 and served as a benefit for The Sex Abuse Treatment Center of Kapoliani Medical Center. The first 20-minute, 4-person heat began with a bang as the beach was flooded with tourists from around the globe.

"It's just like heaven competing with girls that just want to surf," said Geodee Clark, a 17-year-old pro-am longboard contestant. "It's not just about the competition, it's about the camaraderie and surfing with only girls in the water on a perfect day like this."

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The number of participants was less than previous years, possibly due to lingering fears of water pollution caused by the heavy rains in the spring. But that didn't stop host Uncle China (as the girls adoringly call him) Uemura from holding the event.

"The women are special. This is what they needed in Hawaii - A women's surf meet with different categories. Here, everyone can get the feeling of winning."

--China Uemura, event organizer

Uemura spent the weekend rocking out to the live music he organized as bands from reggae to rock filled downtown Waikiki with catchy tunes and put smiles on everyone's faces.

"My women's event, they always get (good) waves," stated the Hawaiian surf legend between hand jives and various renditions of the Hula. "The women are special. This is what they needed in Hawaii - A women's surf meet with different categories. Here, everyone can get the feeling of winning."

Highly respected Kauai local, Bethany Hamilton, surfed in the pro-am shortboard division and advanced through the first round in the morning before being eliminated in the semifinals. Nevertheless, Hamilton put on a good show as always.

In the end, it was Moanalua High School freshman Megan Godinez who performed like a veteran and out-surfed an experienced field to win the pro-am longboard division.

"I was really, really nervous," 14-year-old Godinez stated. "But I came through it. It was just me and the waves out there."

Also placing second in the longboard junior girls division, Godinez earned the $1000 prize purse for her victory in pro-am longboard.

For complete event results, click here.

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