25 divisional winners crowned in final event of HASA season

Surfers who braved the rising costs of gasoline and airline tickets to get to Ala Moana Bowls the past three days were greeted with a rising swell.

The result was a priceless experience for many of them at the Hard Rock Cafe/Burger King State Championships. The final day of the three-day contest was completed yesterday in pristine 2- to 5-foot waves.

The event is the season finale for the Hawai’i Amateur Surfing Association, and more than 270 surfers from around the state participated.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to surf on a day like this with only three girls out there,” said 15-year-old Erika Steiner from Hanalei, Kaua’i. “All three days were good, so it was way worth it to come here for this.”

Steiner won the girls longboard division and placed fourth in the girls shortboard division.

The top surfers from the state championship contest will represent Hawai’i at the Surfing America USA Championships at Huntington Beach, Calif., in August.

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(Source: Dayton Morinaga, Honolulu Advertiser)

Photo of Erika Steiner courtesy of The Hanalei Surf Co.)