Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 81° Today's Paper


Hubbard rules Sandy Beach Challenge

Jeff Hubbard and Melanie Bartels captured the IBA Sandy Beach Challenge in 2- to 3-foot waves at Half Point on Saturday.

The waves pumped all day at the notoriously shallow reef break, which is perfect for the bodyboarders to get barreled and launch into the sky.

Every island was represented with a strong contingent vying for the Sandy Beach Challenge title.

The men’s final was a seesaw battle between two world champions — Hubbard and Guilherme Tamega.

Hubbard got out to an early lead with a 9.5 (out of 10) wave. Tamega quickly answered with a solid wave of his own. Time was ticking down, and with five minutes to go Tamega boosted a huge air-roll-spin maneuver to take the lead.

Hubbard needed a 7.3 with time winding down and the crowd on edge. With about a minute left Hubbard stroked into a left and went for broke with a huge ARS of his own, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The scores were not announced until the awards ceremony, where an ecstatic Hubbard was crowned the champion.

"I feel great. It was a fun day hanging out with everyone watching the groms rip and seeing everybody," Hubbard said. "It had such a good vibe today, I am going to go home smiling, especially with a win. The final was kind of slow for waves, so it was a bit tough, but being in the final you are only going for the win, so luckily I got two good ones."

Hubbard waited until his last wave to earn the win.

"At the end there Guilherme got that wave to push himself ahead of me and I wanted one more shot and luckily a wave came in right at the buzzer and I got just enough for the score."

Bartels, the pride of the west side, made it back-to-back wins with her victory in the women’s competition.

The multi-talented Bartels has won shortboard, longboard and bodyboard titles in her career and is the reigning IBA tour champion.

And it showed with her veteran tactics in the final.

With the waves in the final being inconsistent, Bartels went for the medium-sized waves with more wall and more scoring opportunity. She clocked some tube time and busted out some impressive el rollos.

"I am just stoked to win because I love Half Point because it’s a punchy wave and that’s the kind of wave I like. I was having fun out there," Bartels said. "I just try to do my best every time and that’s all you can ask for."

She credited a good scouting job for the victory.

"The final was a little slow, so it was hard to find the best waves, but I did my best on the waves I caught," Bartels said. "I was watching the waves before my heat to figure out my strategy. I was hoping I would have priority when a good wave came and I did."

Bartels leads the tour again after winning the first event at Shipwrecks on Kauai a couple of months back.

This marks two wins in two events on the tour so far with the next event heading to her home break at Keaau Beach Park.

"I am looking forward the next event at Keaau’s because Karla (Costa-Taylor) beat me at my home break there last year and I was kind of bummed about it," Bartels said.

"My goal is to is to do good at my home break and and land something sick."

Comments are closed.