Howzit North Shore! Hot enough for you? As we went to press in the middle of May it was REALLY HOT! The surf went flat, the mercury in the thermometer jumped into the high 80’s in some places and many sought refuge in the shade, the ocean, any air conditioned place or even an inflatable backyard swimming pool or simple garden hose sprayed over the head. With this kind of weather in May, we might be literally melting by mid-summer and completely melted into pools of human sweat by August-September. Globally warming, locally melting? I think I hear the ice cream truck coming down the street!

To top off mid-May’s “heat-wave”, the “12th Annual World FireKnife Championship” was on at the Polynesian Cultural Center from May 13-15. These guys REALLY know how to play with fire! They start early too. The Jr. World FireKife Championships included 6-11 yr. old and 12-17 yr. old divisions. The Seniors Division included 18 year olds and up. Sparks, flames, hair, sweat, fireknifes and cheers were flying!

Sofia Mulanovich, 20, of Peru is definitely on a roll! After winning the Roxy Pro Fiji against Hawaiian Rochelle Ballard in April, Sofia did it again on May 11th by winning the Billabong Pro Teahupoo in Tahiti. Hawaiian Rochelle Ballard once again took 2nd place. Tooth and nail, neck and neck, mano a mano… these ladies are definitely duking it out in the worldwide surfing arena. Although the waves were just 3-4 feet for the final day, Teahupoo still drew blood on plenty of occasions with its razor sharp and shallow reef. Mulanovich won $10,000 and Ballard won $6000. Ballard is still in 1st place on the ASP/WCT ratings, but with this win… Mulanovich is right behind her at #2. Equal 3rds went to 6X world champion Layne Beachley of Manly, Australia and WCT newcomer Laurina McGrath of Byron Bay, Australia. Kauaian Keala Kennelly is hanging in at equal 9th on the ratings after this event. Next up for the top women surfers is the Roxy Pro France at La Madrague in Anglet, France from May 23-30.

At this writing, the Billabong Pro Teahupoo for the men is on with Round 3 going off in 6-8 foot plus surf and offshore conditions. Most of these events can be seen live on webcasts at www.aspworldtour.com. Results for the men in the next issue. Next up on the men’s ASP/WCT tour is the Quiksilver Pro Fiji at Tavarua/Namotu from May 26th to June 4th. Current men’s ASP/WCT world ratings leader for 2004 is still Andy Irons of Hawaii!

In a Star-Bulletin article from May 12th entitled “The Battle of Surf Turf: State enforcement agents cite surfers and confiscate boards at Point Panic”, the continuing clash of the “bodysurfers only” situation at Point Panic near Kewalo Basin was revealed. Point Panic and Makapuu are the only two “Bodysurfing Only” breaks on Oahu, and although the surfers generally follow the rules regarding this issue… sometimes there is a need for enforcement of the rules. On this day “State law enforcement officers forced surfers off the waves at Point panic, cited them for surfing in a restricted area and confiscated their boards. The area is restricted to bodysurfers. Bodyboards and surfboards are prohibited. The penalty is a fine from $50 to $100 and a maximum of 30 days in jail. Accused violators must appear in court.” (Star-Bulletin quote) Generally, the surfers and bodysurfers stay out of each other’s way. When the surf get’s big on the south shore, the break at Point Panic usually turns into an obvious right-hander that narrowly misses the point of rocks at the westward entrance to the Kewalo Basin waterway. However, when the waves are small or the swell is mixed up, it is sometimes hard to determine exactly which break is the real Point Panic. “If it’s mixed together, someone’s going to get hurt, and it’s going to be the bodysurfers.” Said one of the DLNR agents. (Star-Bulletin quote)

It’s good to have “bodysurfers only” spots, but generally at many breaks there can be bodysurfers, handboarders, bodyboarders, shortboarders and longboarders all surfing together… and as long as everyone shows respect for each other… everyone can get along and everyone will get waves. It’s all about respect!

That’s it for now. Maybe we’ll get some more North Swells. Pray for South Swells. Aloha….Ace Cool!