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Volcom Pufferfish 2006, Hanalei, Kauai
  
Usually, when Volcom comes to town, Mother Nature provides epic conditions for the kids AND the Pro-Ams. This year, on October 28th, 2006, the surf was tiny in the morning, although still contestable.  As the day wore on, a huge NW swell filled in the famed Pine Trees beach break to the point of close outs, with barely time for a turn. Still the Kauai kids showed up in droves and it was game on!  Every one from the tiniest Grom to the WQS tour hardened veterans were vying for a slot in the Volcom Qualifiying Series World Championships.

Kauai is overflowing with talent, young and old and watching the groms surf  all day just re-confirmed that. In the Groms division of 14 & under,  it was Elliot Leon who came out on top, walking away with a ZooYork skate deck, Vesta watch, DA KINE deck pad and leash and a Volcom backpack full of goodies. 
Nathan Carvalho surfed well all day but fell short in the finals and still got a fat bag of prizes. Third went to Michael Sylva and the final was rounded out by Mana Medeiros, Luke Hitchcock, and Keola Carrrera who all walked away with some sick prizes!

Junior mens was the most stacked division of the event, and it was Nathan Rex pulling it out the winning spot with his powerful surfing, second was Kiron Jabour who was killing it all day too, just edging out young Dylan Goodale. Aaron Swanson did one of the sickest airs of the event in the first round but got fourth in the final, Bear Bailey came in fifth and last years Big Island Pufferfish champ Dylan Melamed got sixth.


<--- Mario, killing it in his Junior Mens heat.

JD & Evan Bouret

Alana Blanchard

In the Girls division it was young Nage Melamed who took top honors with a couple big maneuvers in the finals earning a sick skate deck from Zoo York and a Volcom back pack full of stuff from Vestal, Electric and some Ipod accessories, Leila Hurst came in a close second, and Alana Blanchard got third, All 3 were within 1 point of each other, Andrianna Mendevil, Natalie Briggs and Bethany Hamilton rounded out the final.
As we expected the swell hit and we had to move the judges down the beach to a nice double up right where we finished the event.

The Pro-am was super stacked and a lot of good surfers went down before it came down to the last 6 competitors. Evan Valiere who prevailed and took out the field (and $500) with a big frontside air on the lefts. 2004 winner Kamalei Alexander could practically taste the money after winning the semis but came up short getting 2nd to Valiere. Sebastian "sea bass" Ziets got 3rd, but also took home $170 cash in the air show. Keali Chung, Noah Hamilton, and J D Irons filled in the bottom 3 but still qualified for the CRUSTY CHAMPS!
All and all it was another sick day of surfing and fun brought to you by your friends at VOLCOM.   

<--- Sea bass & Evan Valiere

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Hanalei Surf Company
5-5161 Kuhio Hwy
Hanalei, HI    96714
1-808-826-9000
rentals@hanaleisurf.com
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