World Title of Tandem action hots up as final approaches
Kalani Vierra & Blanche Yoshida : photo Cunninghamphotos.com
The two most experienced teams in this year's World Title of Tandem of
Surfing presented by Tsunami's Waikiki will enter the final four-team
showdown tomorrow as the favorites.
Clocking up almost 200 years of surfing experience between them, the Hawaii teams of Brian Keaulana/Kathy Terada (Makaha, Oahu), and Kalani Vierra/Blanche Yoshida (Kauai), will be a tough combination for younger pairs Caleb Wilborn/Wendy Lynn (CA), and Chuck Inman/Tiffany Rabacal (Honolulu, Oahu) to topple.
On paper, defending world champions Keaulana and Terada would appear to have their names written in the stars for another crown. But a single star on the waves today - as tandem's toughest lift is named - might just tip the scales in favor of Vierra and Yoshida.
The Kauai pair has been tirelessly rehearsing the famous star lift and executed it perfectly in the semi-finals today. But Keaulana and Terada have only been successful in rehearsing the move on the beach; tomorrow they will make their first attempt at it on the waves in the final.
Right now, looking at the competition, guys like Kalani and Chuck are flawless," said Keaulana at the end of the day's action. "You watch them and they are great guys. They live and breathe tandem.
"For me and Kathy right now, again we've got to up our game, because the highest score you can get on a maneuver is the star - it's the highest one yet and that's not in our repertoire right now. But we're nailing the thing on land. We haven't nailed it in the water. So we're going to practice that today as well as tomorrow and put that in our sequence too. It's kind of like playing chess at a high level."
If you go back far enough in the annals of tandem surfing history, you will discover that 54-year-old Yoshida has more world tandem titles to her name than anyone in the competition, having been a part of the winning team from 1968 to 1973.
After hanging up her bikini for more than 30 years to raise a family and pursue a career as a school teacher, Yoshida visited this event last year and was smitten all over again. Back on Kauai, she put a request out on the coconut wireless for a willing and able-bodied tandem partner. She found highly revered waterman and lifeguard Kalani Vierra, 41. (Vierra was a baby at the time Blanche won her first world title.)
"I'm really enjoying this, way more than before I think," said Yoshida, who still stands around four-and-a-half feet tall and 90 pounds wet. "I just took it for granted before but now I appreciate every minute I get out there. We do more lifts per wave than we did back then, but we did some pretty difficult lifts back then as well."
Keaulana remembers Blanche from all those years ago. "Blanche is such an inspiration," Keaulana said. "She surfed in the Makaha International when I was one small kid. "But when we get in the water (tomorrow) I'm going to bring my game as well as Kathy and I expect also Kalani, Chuck, Tiffany and Blanche - it's going to be a match out there!" Vierra isn't as concerned with a win as he is for the future of tandem surfing.
"It doesn't matter if you're young or old, main thing is you're having fun and we love to do it," Vierra said. "Hopefully we can revive the sport. I'm training my daughter, she's 10 years old now and she's starting to do it. Hopefully other teams will come join us. Duke Kahanamoku started tandem surfing here in Waikiki and it's an honor for me to follow in his footsteps and hopefully keep the tradition going."
The World Title of Tandem Surfing presented by Tsunami's Waikiki is part of the Duke's OceanFest Celebration, held in honor of Kahanamoku. Today is the anniversary of Kahanamoku's birthday.
As for Wilborn & Lynn and Inman & Rabacal, the future looks very bright for many years to come. They will give their elders a true run for their money tomorrow and, who knows? Perhaps one of the younger teams will emerge as the stars come the end of the day tomorrow. The final will take place at 2:30pm Hawaii Time.
Final Lineup for Tomorrow:
Brian Keaulana/Kathy Terada (HI)
Kalani Vierra/Blanche Yoshida (HI)
Caleb Wilborn/Wendy Lynn (CA)
Chuck Inman/Tiffany Rabacal (HI)
Quarter Finals (1st & 2nd advance to
semi-finals) Results are printed in order of 1st through 4th.
QF1:
Clay Huntington/Kristen Huntington;
Loic Caillet/Caroline Angibaud;
Bear Woznick/Krystl Apeles;
Sean Remos/ Susannah Chun
QF2:
Brian Keaulana/Kathy Terada;
Archie Kalepa/Jaime Punakashi;
Duane DeSoto/Brianna Holguin;
Charles Christensen/Myra Burg
QF3:
Chuck Inman/Tiffany Rabacal;
Brian McEvily/Illa McEvily;
Ryan Reynolds & Jennifer Jacquez;
Pauly Chambers & Karin Rushforth
QF4:
Kalani Vierra/Blanche Yoshida (HI);
Caleb Wilborn/Wendy Lynn (CA);
Mark Gale/Debbie Gale (CA);
Jason Lusk/Leena Yada
Semi-Finals Results (1st & 2nd to final):
SF1:
Brian Keaulana/Kathy Terada;
Caleb Wilborn/Wendy Lynn;
Clay Huntington/Kristen Huntington
Brian McEvily/Illa McEvily
SF2:
Kalani Vierra/Blanche Yoshida;
Chuck Inman/Tiffany Rabacal;
Archie Kalepa/Jaime Punakashi;
Loic Caillet/Caroline Angibaud