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| 2007 NSSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY NO FEAR |
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In an industry that aspires to fun in the sun, youth is still king and being at the beach playing with your friends, fortunately, is still the core of every surfer’s existence. In a society where 11 year-olds now school their parents on how to make proper use of their hi-tech cell phones and PDAs, be warned. We must accept that the next generation is light years ahead of the baby boomers in ADD and does not just gravitate to modern technology— they dictate it. When it comes to Earth and gravity, water and air, the next generation moves on it, in it and over it faster and with more agility. 
Nearly 1,000 NSSA members qualified for the national event from nine districts. Of the 29 divisions now comprising the series, two are heralded in the grand finale known as The Governor’s Cup, which is comprised of the Open Men and Open Women. These divisions skew up to age 18, which signifies potential as a major steppingstone to a pro surf career, or perhaps a last hurrah before joining the workforce or heading off to college. In a sense, the NSSA Nationals result stamps passage to adulthood.And apparently the NSSA organization continues to evolve and grow up as well. Facing a multitude of pressure from sponsors, parents, athletes and the media, NSSA organizers reshuffled this year’s national’s dance card to accommodate a new four-man heat system, in place of the six-man, for the prestigious Open Men and Open Women divisions. With so much riding on a good performance at Nationals, it’s no wonder many top players and parents shared the same sentiment. The nuts and bolts of Nationals this year were a familiar story. Thousands of athlete’s families, friends and industry movers hiked the trail to see the kids blow up at Trestles. Very small 1- to 3-foot surf conditions put the judges and contestants to the test of skill, wave judgment and patience. Although the four-man format relieved some pressure for Open Men’s and Women’s, there were still a good many interferences and paddle-battles for waves. In all the other divisions it was, again, a mad frenzy for set waves and positioning. Island wahine killed it. It could have been a regional final in the 50th State as the Open Women’s and Explorer Women’s finals were completely stacked with Hawai‘i names like Carissa Moore, Alessa Quizon, Coco Ho, Nage Melamed, Monya Byrne-Wickey, Leila Hurst, Sage Erickson and Alana Blanchard. Carissa Moore has now brought home a record-making 11 NSSA national titles. No other surfer in the history of the NSSA Championships has more than seven. And the 14-year-old icon has won the Open Women’s division (considered the top division for females) for the last four years. Big Island’s Tonino Benson won the Open Men’s division and the $1,000 prize purse Air Show. Highlight surfing came from names like former NSSA champs Kekoa Cazimero and Granger Larsen as well as California’s Corey Arambede, Dillon Perllio, Alex Smith, Spencer Regan, Eric Snortum, and Blake Jones. Mighty Mauians like Kai Barger, Albee Layer and Dege O’Connell also had moments of note. Of the mini guys, some new names came into play and look like they will be a force to be reckoned with in years to come: Benjy Brandt, Imai Devault, Lahiki Minashmin and Keala Naihe. 
Overall, Hawai‘i slaughtered national competition, taking 4 of 6 titles in the Open division, dominating 22 of the 32 finals spots in the Open category and 29 of the 32 finals slots in the Explorer scholastic categories. Hawai'i surfers won 10 individual titles and 13 runner-up placings. Congratulations to all the competitors who represented Hawai‘i with epic performances this year! [PAU]2007 NSSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS GOVERNOR’S CUP OPEN MEN (all ages): 1) Tonino Benson (HAW), 2) Cory Arrambide (CA), 3) Alex Smith (HAW), 4) Kai Barger (HAW) GOVERNOR’S CUP OPEN WOMEN (all ages): 1) Carissa Moore (HAW), 2) Coco Ho (HAW), 3) Sage Erickson (CA), 4) Alana Blanchard (HAW) OPEN JUNIORS (15&under): 1) Andrew Doheny (CA), 2) Keanu Asing (HAW), 3) Kiron Jabour (HAW), 4) Evan Geiselman (FLA), 5) Nick Falbo (HAW), 6) Albee Layer (HAW) OPEN BOYS (12&under): 1) Kealamakia Naihe (HAW), 2) Koa Smith (HAW), 3) Benji Brand (HAW), 4) Luke Hitchcock (HAW), 5) Lahiki Minamishin (HAW), 6) Makai McNamara (HAW) OPEN MINI GROMS (10&under): 1) Benji Brand (HAW), 2) Ian Gentil (HAW), 3) Imaikalani DeVault (HAW), 4) Kanoa Igarashi (CA), 5) tiebreak: Chaz Kinoshita (HAW) & Kalani David (HAW) EXPLORER MEN (all ages): 1) Cory Arrambide (CA), 2) Kai Barger (HAW), 3) Dillon Perillo (CA), 4) Dylan Melamed (HAW), 5) Dege O’Connell (HAW), 6) Spencer Regan (CA) EXPLORER JUNIORS (17&under): 1) Kai Barger (HAW), 2) Alex Smith (HAW), 3)Granger Larsen (HAW), 4) Kekoa Cazimero (HAW), 5) Tonino Benson (HAW), 6) Dillon Perillo (CA) EXPLORER BOYS (14&under): 1) Evan Geiselman (FLA), 2) Keanu Asing (HAW), 3) Andrew Doheny (CA), 4) Tanner Hendrickson (HAW), 5) Koa Smith (HAW), 6) Davey Brand (HAW) EXPLORER MENEHUENE (12&under): 1) Kolohe Andino (CA), 2) Kealamakia Naihe (HAW), 3) Lahiki Minamishin (HAW), 4) Isiah Moniz (HAW), 5) Koa Smith (HAW), 6) Benji Brand (HAW) EXPLORER WOMEN (all ages): 1) Carissa Moore (HAW), 2) Alessa Quizon (HAW), 3) Nage Melamed (HAW),4) Coco Ho (HAW),5) Monyca Byrne Wickey (HAW),6) Leila Hurst (HAW) EXPLORER GIRLS (14&under): 1) Alessa Quizon (HAW),2) Malia Manuel (HAW),3) Carissa Moore (HAW),4) Leila Hurst (HAW),5) Marissa Shaw (CA),6) Ashley Hunter (HAW) SCHOLASTIC DIVISIONS HAWAII PLACERS: Middle School Girls: 1) Malia Manuel, 2) Leila Hurst Middle School Boys: 4) Kaoli Kahokuloa, 5) Elliott Leon Middle School Longboard: 2) Kaoli Kahokuloa Middle School Team: 2) Kapa'a Middle School High School Girls: 2) Allie Brown NATIONAL AIRSHOW CHAMPION: Tonino Benson (HAW).
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