Hawaii could have major presence in surfing, ‘sidewalk surfin’ in the Olympics

In 1920, Duke Kahanamoku first proposed to the International Olympic Committee that surfing be included in the Games. One hundred years later, the vision of Kahanamoku — arguably Hawaii’s greatest Olympian — will become a reality in Tokyo.

And then some.

Not only is surfing part of the 2020 program for the first time, so, too, is what Jan and Dean sang about in their 1964 song “Sidewalk Surfin.’ ”

Better known as skateboarding, the sport will be contested in two disciplines — street and park — at Ariake Urban Sports Park.

Last week saw two potential Olympians from Hawaii make great strides toward one of a maximum two spots on their respective U.S. teams in surfer Carissa Moore and skateboarder Heimana Reynolds.

Reynolds (Mid-Pacific) won the ISO Skateboarding Open of Park in Nanjing, China, on Friday which moved up to No. 1 in Monday’s world rankings with 47,300 points, his recent victory worth 40,000 points.

The 20-year-old takes a break from Olympic qualifying events when heading to next week’s X Games in Minneapolis.

Moore’s victory on Friday at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, not only had her moving up a spot to No. 1 in the world but it had the 26-year-old solidify her place at No. 1 in the U.S. rankings. Moore (Punahou) has 41,175 World Surf League Championship points; Lakey Peterson is the second-ranked American (33,850) and Caroline Marks third (32,135).

“It would be an honor and a dream come true to be a part of the first Olympics for surfing and to represent my country and my flag would be amazing,” Moore said after her J-Bay victory. “I know that we can’t really celebrate or think about the Olympics until this year is done. I just feel like there’s so much work to be done.”

The final four events are in California, France, Portugal and Honolua Bay, Maui. Moore is the defending champion in all except France; she was third there last year, eliminated 14.14-13.26 in the semifinal to eventual winner Courtney Conlogue of California.

Kauai’s Malia Manuel (GED when graduating early) currently ranks fifth among U.S. women (27,800) — Conlogue is fourth — with the North Shore’s Coco Ho (Elite Element Academy) sixth (16,320). Kauai’s Tatiana Weston-Webb (Kapaa), who has dual citizenship, is the top-ranked Brazilian (25,120) and has a huge lead over her Brazilian rivals.

WSL points is first in the hierarchical order of Olympic qualification. There are a maximum of two male and female surfers per country with the top 10 men and top eight females earning automatic berths unless their countries have already reached quota.

On the men’s side, it was looking really good for the North Shore’s John John Florence to make the Olympics until he ruptured an ACL during the quarterfinals of last month’s Oi Rio Pro in Brazil. He was the WSL points leader (32,425) until missing last week’s J-Bay in South Africa, dropping to No. 3 in the overall rankings; California’s Kolohe Andino finished third at J-Bay, moving him to No. 1 (33,845).

Florence (Kahuku), No. 2 among American men, hasn’t officially withdrawn from the final five events and is taking it event by event, according to a WSL representative. That keeps the Olympic door cracked for Florence as well as for 47-year-old Kelly Slater, the latter who announced he was retiring after this season but would postpone that for Tokyo. Slater currently is the third-ranked American (21,055) while Honolulu’s Seth Moniz (home schooled) is No. 5 U.S. (16,800) with the final tour stops in Tahiti, California, France, Portugal and Banzai Pipeline.

Among the others from Hawaii:

Boxing

Jazzell Bobadilla (women’s 106 pounds) and Dalis Kaleiopu (men’s 138 pounds) have qualified for December’s Olympic Trials. where each weight-class winner will be nominated for the U.S. team that goes to Tokyo.

Bobadilla (Campbell), the top-ranked U.S. female at 106 pounds, qualified for the trials by finishing second at this year’s Western Elite Qualifier.

Breeanna Locquiao (Mililani), a former Rainbow Wahine soccer player ranked No. 2 nationally at 106, has not yet qualified for the trials. She won her weight division at the 2017 Golden Gloves.

Kaleiopu (Waianae), No. 2 nationally at men’s 138, qualified for the trials after finishing second at the 2018 Elite National Championships. He later won the Western Elite Qualifier.

Karate

Shannon Nishi-Patton (women’s 50kg) is one of nine selected to the U.S. team headed to Peru for the Pan American Games which open this week. Karatekas cannot qualify directly for Tokyo during the event but winning a medal in Lima could qualify them by the close of the qualification period on April 6, 2020. Nishi-Patton (Mid-Pacific) was the 2011 Pan American gold medalist at 55kg.

Wrestling

Clarissa Chun is currently serving on the U.S. coaching staff as the women’s assistant coach, a position she’ll likely hold in Tokyo. Chun (Roosevelt) was the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist.