Makua Rothman And Ikaika Kalama Win North Shore Tow-In Surfing Championships

The Bank of Hawaii North Shore Tow-In Surfing Championship kicked the tour into gear this weekend in high performance surf conditions at Puuena Point, Oahu, Hawaii. Surf ranged in the 12 to the 18-foot range, with some 30-foot faces Hawaiian-style.

The hustle began at six in the morning. The harbor was jumping with contestants readying their jet-skis and equipment. From the get go the air was tense and the action hot. Teams were pulling off 360 loops high above the spindrift. Team Dustin Barca and Sion Milosky pulled a 720 to wow the crowd but later failed to advance out of the semis.

High scores were the call of the morning with a slight drop in surf, a bit of wind then a beautiful pick up of swell and glassy conditions in the early afternoon. “We are all professional so surfing the changing conditions is part of it. It was a great day of towing,” said Makua Kai Rothman. Surf cleaned up to 15 feet High Surf Warning style, some big 20-30 foot faces!

In the final it was a tube-riding exhibition in excellent Puaena Point waves. Makua Rothman and Ikaika Kalama took the lead with a perfect ten ride on a long point section as team Carlos Burle and Eraldo Gueiros pulled into a potentially high scoring wave but had to squeak it out the bottom for a lower score.

It was the Hawaiians taking it with a strong performance all the way with the highest heat score total of the day. “This is for the Hawaiians,” said Makua Kai Rothman. “We are so stoked, we did our best and it paid off.” Indeed, the Tow Champions won $9,300.00 for their efforts!

“It was a great battle of big wave gladiators, with a super competitive final,” said APT Vice President Rodney Kilborn. “It was a long day with a lot of challenges and great surf. We are happy to have the first event of the tour and we are looking forward to the future of professional tow-surfing.”

Heat Results:

QUARTERS:

#1. Jamie Sterling/Wedell Wall 20.35

Chuck Patterson/Scott Chandler 13.25

#2. Ikaika Kalama/Makua Rothman 23.5

Grant Baker/Greg Long 19.25

#3. Carlos Burle/Eraldo Gueiros 25.25

Garrett McNamara/Kealii Mamala 20.4

#4. Dustin Barca/Sion Milosky 23.5

Mike parsons/Brock Little 16.6

SEMI FINAL

#1. Jamie Sterling/Wedell Wall 19.5

Ikaika Kalama/Makua Kai Rothman 24.75

#2. Carlos Burle/Eraldo Gueiros 22.6

Dustin Barca/Sion Milosky 19.85

FINAL

Makua Kai Rothman/Ikaika Kalama 27 $9,300.00

Carlos Burle/Eraldo Gueiros 20.9 $5,000.00

For full details on the Association of Professional Towsurfers, APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit, a full list of international advisory board members representing APT and other international tow-in associations visit the Pro Tow Surfers website: www.protowsurfers.org