Qualifier for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing
Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii – Oct.28-Nov.10

EZEKIEL LAU WINS HIC PRO PRESENTED BY VANS

15-year-old Ian Gentil Runner-Up

www.vans.com/hicpro

OWNLOAD BROADCAST QUALITY HIGHLIGHT VIDEO HERE
(Results & Shot List at bottom of press release)
DOWNLOAD HI RES STILL IMAGE PACKET HERE

Sunset Beach, HAWAII – (Nov. 6, 2011) — Ezekiel Lau, a 17-year-old high school senior, has won the $85,000 HIC Pro Presented by Vans, held at Sunset Beach today. Lau, who attends Kamehameha School, posted a convincing win over 15-year-old Maui schoolboy Ian Gentil; Kauai’s Kamalei Alexander, 33; and defending HIC Pro champion Billy Kemper (Maui, 21) respectively. Today’s final day of competition was held in consistent 4- to 5-foot surf.

With school now wrapping up, Lau is focused on his opportunity to compete in the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing that begins next week Saturday, November 12.

Above: Ezekiel Lau on the way to victory in the HIC Pro final. Photo: Bernie Baker

Lau maintained the momentum he had built through today’s rounds and kept his rivals on the defensive for the duration of the 35-minute final. Gentil offered up the strongest challenge, posting the highest single wave score of the final for a couple of critical fins-free maneuvers that earned him 6.8 points out of 10. But without a second solid score, he was no match for Lau, whose professional competitive experience eclipsed the 15-year-old. Alexander and Kemper were in a similar position, finding themselves short on back-up scores.

This is Lau’s second ASP victory this year, having taken out the equally rated 4-star Copa Quiksilver El Salvador event back in July.

“This is my first year doing a lot of the WQS events,” said Lau. “I got a lot of opportunities to travel more and I had a good summer. I did this event last year and it was totally different. I was struggling through the whole event. I just wanted to come over this year and improve on last year. I did that and I’m happy with a win. I’ve been looking forward to this my whole life pretty much, watching everyone get out there and get in the Vans Triple Crown, so just to get in it, I feel honored.”

Maui’s Hank Gaskell, the 2009 HIC Pro champion, lost in the semi-finals today but still amassed sufficient points to win the 2011 ASP Hawaii Regional Champion title. His result earned him $1,000 and a wildcard into the first two events of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

“It means a lot to me,” Gaskell said of his ASP Hawaii Championship. “There are so many good surfers in Hawaii. Even though there are only three events, it’s the closest thing we have to a (regional) tour out here. Just to get the seed into the Triple Crown, that’s what I’m most excited for. I’ve surfed against all those (world tour) guys before, it’s always good to surf against the best guys in the world. It’ll push me to do my best, personally. I just hope I can battle them.”

The HIC Pro (Oct. 28-Nov.10) and Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (Nov. 12-Dec. 20) round out the 2011 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour, crowning the regional and world champions respectively. The 2011 ASP tour then commences in Hawaii with events in January and February to close out the Hawaiian winter.

FINAL:
1st: Ezekiel Lau, Honolulu, $12,000 – 12.35 points (6.35, 6.0)
2nd: Ian Gentil, Maui, $6,000 – 10.9 points (6.8, 4.1)
3rd: Kamalei Alexander, $4,000 – 10.2 points (6.1, 4.1)
4th: Billy Kemper, Maui, $3,000 – 9.4 points (5.0, 4.4)

SEMI-FINALS:
H1: Billy Kemper; Kamalei Alexander; Joel Centeio
H2: Ian Gentil; Ezekiel Lau; Mason Ho; Tyler Newton

QUARTER FINALS:
H1: Billy Kemper; Joel Centeio; Kahea Hart; Mikey Bruneau
H2: Hank Gaskell; Kamalei Alexander; Albee Layer; Ian Walsh
H3: Tyler Newton; Ian Gentil; Makuakai Rothman; Jamie O’Brien
H4: Mason Ho; Ezekiel Lau; Pancho Sullivan; Michael O’Shaugnessy

ROUND OF 32:
H1: Joel Centeio; Ian Walsh; Alex Smith
H2: Kahea Hart; Kamalei Alexander; Makai McNamara; Flynn Novak
H3: Hank Gaskell; Mikey Bruneau; Kaimana Jaquias; Taylor Thorne
H4: Albee Layer; Billy Kemper; Jesse Merle-Jones; Jonah Morgan
H5: Ian Gentil; Michael O’Shaugnessy; Manuel Selman; Eala Stewart
H6: Tyler Newton; Pancho Sullivan; Christ Foster; Jack Perry
H7: Mason Ho; Makuakai Rothman; TJ Barron; Solomon Ortiz
H8: Ezekiel Lau; Jamie O’Brien; Evan Valiere; Danny Fuller

SHOT LIST:
0:00-0:09 – site scenic
0:09-0:29 – Ian Gentil (Maui) action
0:29-0:57 – Hank Gaskell (Maui) action
0:57-1:34 – Hank Gaskell IV
1:34-1:50 – Ezekial Lau (Honolulu) action
1:50-1:55 – Ezekiel Lau beach carry up
1:55-2:00 – Awards shot
2:00-2:30 – Ezekiel Lau interview
END

Watch is Live at www.Vans.com/HICPro

Presents the Premiere of RIP CURL’s new film “Float” & Rip Curl fashion show! This Friday, Aug. 26th, at Lulu’s Bar & Grill in Waikiki. Primo drink special’s along with tons of raffle prizes. All proceeds are go to the Japan Relief Fund! Film starts at 9pm.

Tickets available @ All OAHU HIC locations!

Congratulations to Brandon Agtarap of Waipahu, Hawaii… HIC’s first monthly winner of a $100 HIC Gift Card! If you want to win too… just sign up on our email list at  hicsurf.com for next month’s contest. Good luck!

Tickets available at :

HIC Lanhaina Cannery
1221 Honoapiilani Hwy. Suite C-7
Lahaina, HI 96761

(808) 667-6111

Phone: (808) 667-6111

With a team format that pits local surf shops against one another, the contest heightens existing rivalries and gives the winners enough bragging rights to fill a shaping bay. With teams composed of two shop employees and two teamriders, this year’s contest proved to be the biggest Hawaii has seen to date with a record 10 teams competing at Bowls.

As has become tradition, Town & Country was looking to be the team to beat with team leader Travis Hashimoto, Dustin Quizon, Makua Rothman, and Geoff  Wong all ripping. But just behind them, nipping at their heels, stood a hungry team HIC. Composed of Kekoa Cazimero, Joel Centeio, Merv Kuahiwinui, and Devin Jamie, HIC was looking like they could steal the win this year. As the clock ticked down, a solid set washed through the lineup that saw a number of surfers snag near-perfect scores. Barrels, high-speed carves, and elavator-drop floaters streamed through all at once. With a last-minute shift in the points, it seemed as if any of the remaining teams could have claimed the win.

With the final heat horn blowing, contestants showered off and met up for a post-contest party later that night where the winners were announced. With a narrow margin and led by the top-shelf surfing from Kekoa Cazimero, team HIC had won the event and claimed the title.

“This was such a fun event and I’m so stoked that we were able to win this year,” said Kekoa Cazimero. “Bowls is one of my favorite waves and I can’t believe we got to surf it pretty much alone when it’s this good. We’re really stoked and are definitely looking forward to competing at the national games in Huntington.”

Final Results

1. HIC - 31.8 (Davin Jaime, Kekoa Cazemero, Merv Kuahiwinui*, Joel Centeio)

Davin Jamie

Kekoa Cazimero

Merv Kuahiwinui

Joel Centeio

2. Surf N Sea – 28.86 (Joey Sadoy, Garrett Kanakaole, Pancho Sullivan*, Richard Jensen)
3. T & C – 26. 53 – (Geoff Wong, Dustin Cuizon*, Travis Hashimoto, Makua Rothman)
4. Hi Tech – 23.83 (Reuben Cantere, Ola Eleogram, Kain Daly*, John Chiu)
5. Blue Hawaii – 19.63 (Devin Brueggemann, Jordan Brueggemann, John Parks, EJ Mitsui*)

*Indicates whammy surfer

SURFER Magazine’s OSSC event series teams shop employees with shop pros for a chance at $10,000 and the title of the best surf shop in the U.S. This year will see 280 surfers from 70 shops around the country compete at seven regional stops before culminating at the Huntington Beach pier in September for the National Championship. For photos, video footage, results, and more check out SurfShopChallenge.com.

Special thanks to Oakley and other event partners Muscle Milk, New Era Caps, Futures Fins, Buell Wetsuits, and Bubble Gum Wax for all their support. Without their involvement the Surf Shop Challenge series would not be what it is today.

READ MORE HERE