The Twenty Sixth Annual Quiksilver-Kama'aina Motors Big Island Pro-Am Surfing Trials kicked off this past Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010 with a large swell out of the northeast, bringing in surf big enough to hold the event. Months after the initial waiting period, Stan Lawrence, contest director, made the call and with only two days notice, all contestants were at Honoli'i Beach Park ready to compete at sunrise. An optimal tide pattern, lots of four to six foot surf from the short period wind swell and perfect early morning conditions at "Honoli'i Point," combined with some of the Big Island's best wave-riders, brought the crowd to an uproar before the coffee even kicked in.

As you made your way through the crowded street and approached the judge's stand, there was a large shrine with photos adorned with thick maile leis and flowers commemorating the recent loss of Andy Irons, one of Hawaii's best surfers of all time. His talent and athleticism will continue to inspire surfers around the globe for many years to come.

Sunny skies with off-and-on torrential showers kept things exciting for everyone at the event, and brought out clever places to hide from the Hilo rain. The rain did, however keep the conditions glassy for most of the day and glassy means happy surfers. Six-person heats were run one after another and wave scores were all coming in on the upper end of the ten-point scale.

Divisions included Open Men's Short Board, Women's Open, Bodyboard Open and Longboard Open. "This event is a spring board over to Oahu's north shore," explained Stan Lawrence, owner of Orchidland Surf Shop. Gleaming out to the powerful Pacific, he and others agreed that they really had to earn the win today and rightfully so, as Oahu's north shore, where today's finalist will soon be surfing, will be big and powerful.

Halfway through the day, the competition's youngest competitor, Kahana Delovio, age 12, looked upon the big surf. She was focused and fearless as she was about to surf against women twice her age and ride waves five times her height. The highly anticipated Men's Open division was quite the episode with the young talent from all over the island showing their dominance and drive to win. Stacked heats and high power surfing kept the adrenaline pumping for hours on end.

Two-time defending Men's Open Champion Soleil Farnsworth did his best to fend off the competition, but a tight heat with everyone jockeying for position, kept Farnsworth from the top three seats in the heat and made way for a new champ early on in the day.

Although everyone surfed well, the competition slowly dwindled down to the final six in each division. The top four men will be qualified with a paid round trip ticket and entry for the Sponsor Me Pro at Sunset Beach. The top two women will get the same for the Betty Depolito Women's Banzai Pipeline surf contest in the spring. The top two bodyboarders will gain entry and airfare to the Pipeline Trials and the top two longboarders will have a choice of an Oahu Pro-Am event with paid entry and airfare as well.

Don't forget to be there next year to see all of the action first hand. A big mahalo goes out to all of the sponsors for making this event possible and helping fulfill the dreams of the Big Island's best wave riders.