Amid an eclectic mix of the most prodigiously talented junior surfers the world has ever seen stands 16-year-old Hawaiian Keanu Asing. With his mix of power, finesse, and progression, Keanu is the tip of the spear and is comfortably perched at the threshold of surfing’s next big talent boom, ready to lay waste to the old standard and usher himself and his counterparts into surfing’s history. Forge
t the Momentum Generation and their ilk because what Keanu and his cohorts will bring to the game will out shadow anything we’ve ever seen.
Earlier today, Keanu added yet another notch in his belt as he claimed the Nike Pier Pressure Grade-4 event at Huntington Beach in the most lackluster of conditions.
Following his win monumental win, we sat down with Keanu who, despite having been on an unparalleled winning binge this year, remained his humble self.
You’re having a pretty ridiculous year so far. It seems like you’ve won just about every major event you’ve entered. Now with this win scratched off your list, you’re officially scaring your competition. Can you talk a little bit about your win today in Huntington?
Keanu Asing: [laughs] Yeah, it’s been a really good year for me so far. The conditions today for the contest were pretty much horrible. It was tough and it was barely breaking out there, but I got a couple of scores.
How was the competition for your final?
K.A.: The guys I surfed against were so good. They’re all so talented and are such good surfers. It was tough out there for sure. Those guys are just really, really good and I’m glad I won.
Can you talk about the board you rode for the final?
Yeah, for sure. I was actually riding the same board that I won on in Ecuador for the World Games. I think it’s safe to say that it’s a magic board.
You’ve won your fair share of contests this year. Do you ever get used to the feeling of winning and being carried up the beach?
K.A.: No, not really. At least I don’t. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that feeling…having your friends carry you up the beach. I mean, today, after I won, Rainos [Hayes] Matty [Costa] and Zeke all carried me up the beach. It’s just a great experience.
So what’s next for you?
Well, first we’re gonna go eat some pizza at a place in Newport and then we’re gonna go check out some Go-Karts…I’m pretty psyched.
Ed note: In the past year or so, Keanu Asing has won the following events:
NSSA National Championships, July 2008, Lower Trestles CA, Explorer Boys National Champion
Billabong Pro Junior, August 2008, Canguu, Bali, Event Champion
USA Championships, August 2008, Huntington Beach, CA, Boys Under 16 Champion
USA Championships, August 2008, Huntington Beach, CA, Boys Under 18 Champion
Haleiwa International Open, January 2009, Winner and 3x Defending Champion
NSSA Hawaii Contest, March 2009, Haleiwa, HI, Triple Victory: 1st Place in Open Men’s, Open Jrs, and Explorer Juniors
NSSA Hawaii Regional Championships, March 2009, Kewalo Basin, HI, Double Victory: 1st Place in Open Men’s and Open JuniorsNSSA Hawaii Conference Champion, Open Juniors
ISA World Surfing Championships, April 2009, Ecuador, World Champion in Boys 16 & Under
Going into Brazil, with the race for the title still very much wide open, we here at FREESURF thought we’d set you wise to our picks to watch out for in the event. Keep in mind that as a collective of writers, editors, and art directors that we’ve only made a few heats competitively (with the exception of Mike Latronic)…so we may not be the best people to give advice on the subject. But then again, that’s never stopped us before. Without further ado, here’s our picks for Brazil. Get some, dear reader.
Kevin Whitton, Editor: I’m going with Jordy Smith. After sticking that ridiculous Rodeo, Brazil will the be the kind of shitty wave that will be perfect for him to pull something crazy…he'll be Rodeo flipping his way to the podium.
Tony Heff, Photo Editor: I’ve got to go with my boy Ceej. Cause he’s from Florida and those guys know their beachbreaks.
Richard Hutter: Art Director: I like Adriano De Souza. The locals will put him in a Brazo trance and I think he’ll win.
Jeff Mull, Associate Editor: Dane Reynolds. Without a doubt, the best surfer alive today. The man's so good I—and the rest of the surf media—truly doesn't care about how he does on tour. That said, it’s about damn time he wins an event.
Mike Latronic, Publisher: Taj Burrow’s my call. In small waves he owns it. Unstoppable. He almost won Tahiti on turns alone.
Prone to Sass: Adam Bice on doing it lying down
In a word, Adam Bice is "classic." Kauai classic at that. He stems from what may possibly be the most outrageous (read sacracastic) crew of a long line of bodyboarding clans to call the Garden Island home. In between Facebook updates, and pulling into closeouts, Bice found a few minutes to chew the fat with FREESURF. Read on. —Jeff Mull
FREESURF Magazine: You're known as being a proponent for the outer island bodyboard movement. Can you talk about how you got into bodyboarding and its roots on Kauai with Kauai Classic crew?
Adam Bice: I'm known? Kauai ? Where's that?
FSM: Convince me. As a surfer, what am I missing by not being a bodyboarder?
AB: A lot of tube time and massive ramps wasted by your selection of water-craft. Minors though, more waves for me.
FSM: What's something bodyboarders have over surfers?
AB: We get more chicks. We are almost getting as many as the Stand-Up paddlers these days.
FSM: Almost...Anyway, the whole slab phenom got started with bodyboarders rushing some peaks that weren't deemed surfable. Now trying to kill yourself on ugly waves is oh-so cool to do. What will bodyboarding give surfing next? Don't say drop-knee surfing...please.
AB: Dropknee surfing? I dont suggest riding dropknee on a surfingboard. Sounds painful. As for dropknee bodyboarding, it is a rare artform that can be performed stylishly by only a select few. Bodyboarding and surfing are related, but bodyboarding is in another realm. I suggest watching "Boogie Nation 9." It comes out in September. Premieres on Oahu,Maui and Big Eye. So if you surfers want some more inspiration, come to the movie.
FSM: Can't we all just get along or are we to be forever rooted in rivalry? That said, I think you're a pretty cool guy.
AB: The rivalry will always exist as long as humans are ignorant. The next generation of bodyboarders are definately taking no back-seats in the future, I can tell you that much. Yeah Jeff, your cool too, I guess, for a surfer. hahahaah.
FSM: Touche Bice...
Drenched in Perfect
Unless you've been living under a rock lately or have been on a total bender, you're wise to the fact that Town has been sprayed with two weeks straight of overhead swell. You name it—Bowls, Kewalos, Diamond Head—they've all been on a roll lately.
That said, the crew at FREESURF has been covering what's been the greatest June in Town that any of us can remember. Video, photos, editorial...we've been on it from all angles for the entire month. And yeah, we scored some goods. With any luck, we'll be able to come up for air long enough to put the next issue out. Rest assured, dear reader, that you'll be flooded with the Best of Honolulu in the next issue. Stay tuned.
Empty the Ashtray: Parking rates on the rise at Kapi‘olani Park
City Bill 25 proposes a 600 percent increase at meters around Kapi‘olani Park in Waikiki for park and beach parking. The rates will rise from 25 cents for an hour to 25 cents for ten minutes, or $1.50 an hour. The rate increase is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2009.
Protests are in place to buck the hike in parking rates. Beginning on June 6, at 3 p.m., volunteers will be rallying with homemade signs and wearing red clothes at the Dillingham Fountain across from the Elk’s Club.
Concerned citizens can also submit written testimony opposing Bill 25 by noon on Tuesday, June 9 to all council members or even better, testify in person on Wednesday, June 10 at the city council meeting at City Hall for one to three minutes of personal testimony. Call 768-5011 to find out the time bill 25 will be heard, and show up en masse.
In a word, Adam Bice is "classic." Kauai classic at that. He stems from what may possibly be the most outrageous (read sacracastic) crew of a long line of bodyboarding clans to call the Garden Island home. In between Facebook updates, and pulling into closeouts, Bice found a few minutes to chew the fat with FREESURF. Read on. —Jeff Mull
Unless you've been living under a rock lately or have been on a total bender, you're wise to the fact that Town has been sprayed with two weeks straight of overhead swell. You name it—Bowls, Kewalos, Diamond Head—they've all been on a roll lately.
City Bill 25 proposes a 600 percent increase at meters around Kapi‘olani Park in Waikiki for park and beach parking. The rates will rise from 25 cents for an hour to 25 cents for ten minutes, or $1.50 an hour. The rate increase is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2009.
