As these Olympics play out in Rio de Janeiro, the Games are whetting the appetite and stirring the imagination of Hawaii’s surfers who wait for their historic turn in 2020.
The International Olympic Committee recently announced the Tokyo Games will host the inaugural surfing competition.
“Watching the Olympics has introduced me to a lot of sports (that) I never would have known existed (and) I hope it does the same thing for surfing,” said Sebastian Zietz, who was among several of Hawaii’s top surfers who commented in emails to the Star-Advertiser.
“I am surprised it is happening in my generation,” Malia Manuel said.
“It is a dream, I think, for every athlete to one day compete in the Olympics,” said three-time world champion Carissa Moore. “It is such a prestigious platform and (I) am excited that it is finally (becoming) a reality for surfing.”
Zietz said, “It would probably mean more than any other contest to walk with your countrymen at the opening ceremony. It is thought to be the most prestigious event (for any) sport. More than any other surfing event, the Olympics is about representing your country.”
Ezekiel Lau said, “That (representing your country) is the ultimate goal and would be an honor to be able to represent my country, but more importantly Hawaii, being that surfing originated in Hawaii and that I am Native Hawaiian.”
Moore said, “I think there are still a lot of questions to be answered: What will be the format, qualification process, where it will be held, etc.”
“There’s a lot of different theories on how the format will be and how many surfers will get to represent their country,” Manuel said. “We are just speculating and seeing all the cool scenarios that could happen.”
For example, some wonder if the IOC will stick with plans to hold the event in the ocean off Chiba, an hour south of Tokyo, or avail itself of new technology such as Kelly Slater’s man-made wave pool.
Tatiana Weston-Webb said, “I think everybody’s happy with the decision. There are a bunch of remaining factors and variables that surfers are questioning, but that’s normal. And, they will figure it all out by 2020, I’m sure!”
Weston-Webb said, “I think all of us surfers are just still a bit shocked that the IOC has given us all the (credit) we deserve. Surfers work as hard as any other athletes out there and to receive news like that means our sport has new doors opened and is growing by the minute.”
