At 35, Bonga Perkins is no stranger to winning, having won world, national and state titles for longboard and shortboard surfing.
That made him a natural inclusion on the list of A-grade watermen from Hawaii who were invited to this week's C4 Waterman/Honolua Surf Co Stand-up Paddle (SUP) Surfing Invitational at Waikiki, as part of the Duke's OceanFest celebration. Today he added a new title to his list, but it was an especially satifsying result given his personal connection with the sport of SUP and its founder.
The sport of stand-up paddle surfing has its roots in Waikiki and goes back to the original Beachboy days that included the legendary Duke Kahanamoku. Bobby AhChoy is credited with putting stand-up paddle surfing on the map back in the '60s, being its major practitioner close to half a century ago.
Incorporating the use of a canoe paddle, AhChoy found that by paddling around upright he had a better view of the tourists he instructed as they learned to surf at Waikiki. He could also make extra money by snapping their photos from on-high while keeping his camera safely out of the waves. He lived to see the sport become an internationally practiced extension of surfing before passing away earlier this year.
"A lot of people don't know that I grew up here (at Waikiki) ... and that I used to work for Bobby AhChoy doing that - having a camera that wasn't waterproof and a board that was 100 pounds and when he was done he'd tell me 'go take pictures and make some money for yourself', back when I was 10 or 11 years old. With the boards now being lighter, smaller and just faster in general, it's too easy."
AhChoy might have cut a lone figure high and dry on the waves back then, but he'd have plenty of company if he were still here today. So much company, in fact, that this event had to be limited to a 24-person invitational.
C4 Waterman and Honolua Surf Co. teamed up and invited 24 of the surfers they felt had greatly contributed to the rebirth and unbelievable expansion of the sport today. The final six who competed today were Perkins, Noah Shimabukuro (Maui), Dave Parmenter (Makaha), Alika Willis (Waikiki), Kalani Vierra (Kauai), and Titus Kinimaka (Kauai), who placed in that order in the final.
Over the past 12 months, the sport of SUP has barely scratched the ice, even though you'll see it on just about any given day at any major break around the surfing world. What we see today is nothing compared to what appears to be on the horizon, with equipment heading inland to places no-one ever dreamed surfing could go.
"A lot people might say this is a fad or a trend, but there's a lot people doing it, 'cause you can do it just about anywhere there's a waterway or harbor," said Perkins. "Maybe people in the midwest of America or Canada can feel like they're surfing now, so I think it's here for a long while.
"I'm just thankful that the Duke Foundation does this every year and that the sponsors - C4 Waterman and Honolua stepped up and made it fun for everybody. Plus it's so spectator friendly - there's a lot of people on the beach today."
By all accounts, today's finalists put on a brilliant display, each adding their own touches that ranged from fully-cranked turns, to entertaining paddle tricks. Even the largely uneducated crowd of tourists were mesmerized by what they saw, hanging on every word as the announcers broke down the intricacies of the sport, it's history, and the various contributions that each of the finalists have made to its development.
To find out more about SUP surfing, the best equipment on the market, and how to join the SUP wave wherever you live, visit c4waterman.com
RESULTS
1. Bonga Perkins (Haleiwa)
2. Noah Shimabukuro (Kula, Maui)
3. Dave Parmenter (Makaha)
4. Alika Willis (Waikiki)
5. Kalani Vierra (Koloa, Kauai)
6. Titus Kinimaka (Hanalei, Kauai)