Lakey’s Lines: Team USA staying strong in Piha

HI GUYS!!!

Forgot where I left off…I know I told you about the big stormy day with the shark. Well, things have settled down since then. We (the girls) surfed the 3rd day. The waves had dropped a bit and it was much more manageable. We all surfed two rounds that day and we all four made it through both rounds for the girls 18-and-under division.

The waves in Piha have cleaned up after a stormy start to the competition. (ISA Photo)

Unfortunately Conner Coffin is now out of the competition, but his little brother Parker who is in the boys 16’s is going strong still in the main draw.

The third round of competition for the girls fell on the 4th day. The waves were a bit bigger and kinda stormy. We were at the other location down the beach, which isn’t quite as good as the main sight. I made it through my heat to advance to the 4th round of the main draw quarterfinals. Two of us Americans stayed in the main and two of the girls went to the repercharge(backdraw). You want to stay in the main draw because you dont have to surf as many heats that way to make your way into the final. It’s the diamond lane on the 405 so to speak.

That evening we had the French team over to our place for dinner. We served…yep, you guessed it: hamburgers, french fries and corn on the cob. We all want to trade our USA baseball caps for their French berets when the contest is over. It was fun getting to know the French team better, even though we don’t speak French, they spoke English.

Santa Barbara's Parker Coffin needs to advance through two more heats to make the Boys-16 final. (ISA Photo)

So today we woke up to sunny skies, off-shore winds and about 4-to-6 ft pumping surf. The guys were up first and all the 16’s are still in! Our local Parker Coffin surfed amazing along with teammate Kolohe Andino. They are both still in the main draw. We have two guys left in the 18’s boys and all the girls still have a chance. We are all now in the repercharge heats though.

CHECK UP TO MINUTE RESULTS

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I surfed the first heat today with a girl from Hawaii, Australia and France. The waves were tricky, a bit closed out and bombing. I  started the heat with a nice set wave and a pretty good score of a 6.8. I tried to paddle directly back out through the waves, but ended up killing about 5 minutes and having to paddle around through the rip current. When the heat is only 20 minutes, every minute really counts. I then caught another set wave, came up for my turn and air dropped a couple feet. I didn’t stick the landing unfortunately. I was still in second place till the last 30 seconds as no one really got anything and my first score was a good one. Then Hawaiian Malia Manuel caught a little insider and was able to advance into second. I ended up third.

This means I surf tomorrow in the repercharge against my other 2 teammates.  If I make it past that I will be in the semifinals and then onto the final the last day. We shall see….  The waves are suppossed to drop a bit each day now, pray for off-shore winds and glassy conditions!

All in all it has been an amazing experience. The weather has cleared up, the competition is so much fun and no matter what happens the sun will still shine tomorrow. Stay tuned. I hear the sun is now out at home and the waves are pumping!!!!

Thanks as always…

LAKEY P.