Howzit North Shore! Hot Days, Cold Days, Rainy Days and Sunny Days. April was like a half and half transition from Winter to Summer. It was either so Hot you thought it was August, or so Not…you thought it was January. Maybe that’s why “April Showers Bring May Flowers”…at least this year! The “Great Planetary Alignment” of Spring 2004 added to the crackling energy of April, along with the annual Spring Break Madness… as massive amounts of tourists and locals flocked to the sporadically sun-drenched beaches of the North Shore to hopefully dry out from a wet winter in Hawaii or an icy cold one on the mainland. Meanwhile, the small wave surfers had a heyday all over the North Shore as the sun came out, the days got much longer and the small wave swells continued to pour into North Shore beaches. Laniakea parking lot was “standing room only” on a regular basis with less room than that out in the water. It’s a bummer when the North Shore is “trafficked out”, but it’s good for business!

“Still no ruling on school surfing” was the headline on page A21 of the Sunday Honolulu Advertiser on April 11th. “Six months after the state Board of Education seemed ready to recommend surfing as a high school sport, some board members are having reservations, and will now look at whether surfing should be part of a broader ocean-sports policy.” (Advertiser quote) Other water sports, like kayaking, are also being considered for public schools as part of this “broader ocean-sports policy”. We “want it to be broad enough so that each sport would not have to come back one by one (to get approval)” said Breene Harimoto, the board’s chairman. (Advertiser quote). So the surfers wait, form private surf clubs, surf in the amateur ranks or just surf for fun. State Senator Fred Hemmings, a legendary surfer said “making surfing a high school sport would give it legitimacy and would allow surfers to be recognized as athletes, just like football and basketball players.” (Advertiser quote) The debate goes on.

The Billabong XXL Awards were decided in April. The Billabong XXL Award goes to the rider of the biggest wave of the year, anywhere in the world, as long as it’s documented in a photograph. The award carries with it a $60,000 prize plus an extra $1000 per foot of wave over 60 feet. Last year, Oahu surfer Makua Rothman won the title after riding a 66-foot wave at Jaws on Maui. Jaws took honors for the 2nd year in a row, when Pete Cabrinha, 42, of Maui was presented a $70,000 check for riding a record 70 foot wave on January 10th at the famous Peahi break off Maui’s north shore. Jaws, regarded as one of the biggest and most powerful breaks in the world, produced four of the five nominees this year. Cabrinha acknowledged his tow-in roots and the surfing buddies who pioneered the sport at Peahi.

The 15th annual Ko Olina World Championship of Women’s Bodyboarding was held as a one-day event on April 7th at Pipeline. The day included a clean 4-6 foot west swell and sunny skies. Miku Nakamura, 24, of Japan won the event. Japan almost took away the finals completely with Aoi Koike 2nd, Emiko Mizoguchi 3rd, Ayako Ide 4th, and Miya Inoue in 5th. Only 6th place went to a non-Japanese competitor, Ana Paula Portela of Brazil. Top local finishers included Carol Philips and Jenn Marr in equal 9th place.

On April 15th, Australian Joel Parkinson won the 32nd annual Rip Curl Pro at Bell’s Beach, Australia (Event #2 on the 2004 Foster’s men’s ASP / WCT). “Parko” moved into 2nd place on the tour ratings and pocketed $30,000 with this victory. Australian Taj Burrow took 2nd place and $16,000. Equal 3rds went to reigning 2X World Champ Andy Irons of Hawaii and Californian Pat O’Connell. Next it’s off to the Billabong Pro Teahupoo in Tahiti for the men (May 6-18) and the women’s Roxy Pro Fiji (April 18-24).

Haleiwa resident Lori Soyland-Murray is lucky to be alive after surviving a motorcycle accident that landed her in a month’s hospital stay that included two weeks in a coma. She would like to thank all the people that have given her support spiritually, emotionally and financially. Lori runs the Soap Cellar, Haleiwa.

On Saturday, May 1st, there will be a fundraiser at Breakers in Haleiwa for the Jason Bogle Cancer Fund from 6PM-2AM. Please come out and support this great cause, as well as help Breakers celebrate its 1st year anniversary since opening in Haleiwa. There will be great live music, fashion shows and raffles for surfboards and all kinds of other valuable prizes. Be there! Aloha… Ace Cool!