KALAHEO, HAWAII (Eagle News) — To Tahiti, we ride!
The WSL’s Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Region shifts from the North Shore of O’ahu Island, Hawai’i to the beautiful Polynesian lands of Tahiti, particularly the surf spot of Rangiroa. Like Hawai’i, Tahiti is a top vacation destination in the South Pacific. It is also home to native son and Papara Pro Open Tahiti defending champion Ariihoe Tefa’afana. For this contest, he will have to go wave for wave against top names like Kai Lenny, a young local from the Island of Maui; as well as Big Island phenom Michael O’Shaughnessy.
The Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro bested for four days. All riders presented such technicality in the water, for many of them knew how odd the waves would barrel in. But those who successfully negotiated the complex waters of Rangiroa surely did not disappoint judges and spectators as they displayed scores that would help them advance further in the competition.
During the quarterfinals and semifinals, it almost seemed impossible to not know who the finalists were going to be. Sadly enough, local favorite Tefa’afana was not to be one of them but instead two well-acquainted Hawaii-based riders: Sheldon Paishon and Michael O’Shaughnessy.
Some would argue that Paishon would not have made it to the finals as he went up against a very elusive rider, Ulualoha Napeahi. For their first set of waves during the semis, their scores turned out very close. Still, Paishon pulled away with a massive increase on his second wave. It was enough to make it to the finals. Meanwhile, O’Shaughnessy was not as fortunate as he started a little weak coming off his first wave but finished strong in his second wave, defeating Tereva David and also moving on to the final round.
In the showdown featuring the two Hawaii natives, O’Shaughnessy got the short end of the wave and just could not get going. His setback allowed Paishon to outscore his friend by nearly 11 points. Paishon eventual finished as the overall champion.
As this World Surf League event concludes, another is well under way: the Papara Pro Tahiti 2018, scheduled to last until March 16.
(Eagle News Service, Mark Angelo Abalos, EBC Hawaii Bureau)
