Malia Manuel
SURFING
When Hawaiian surfer Malia Manuel won the 2008 U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O'Neill at Huntington Beach last year, the crowd went nuts. This was Malia's second WQS event and her first US Open. A wild card entry, the 15-year-old surfed against seasoned pros -- most whom have been competing on the WQS longer than she has been competing in surfing.
"It was so amazing because the scene at Huntington was just huge. To be able to surf against some of my heroes and make it to the finals was something I would never have dreamed of."
Growing up in Kauai and surfing in conditions similar to the fickle breaks at Huntington, Malia was able to maneuver her way through two lengthy right hand waves earning her solid scores while her opponents struggled to catch waves in the final afternoon heat.
"With the waves at Huntington, anything can happen. I am just lucky a few of them lined up perfectly for me, and that I had really good board." Many rookies would have held back at such a big event, but Malia rose to the occasion. "I didn't need to win or qualify so I just went for it and it all turned out well."
As soon as they announced the winner, Malia came out of the water grinning from ear to ear, looking like a Hawaiian goddess. In true aloha style, she threw out a shaka, and her entire team carried her out on their shoulders. The win not only earned Malia a giant $4,500 check and a brand new jet-ski, but it marked her a spot in the history books as the youngest surfer to ever win the coveted US Open, which regularly draws over 400,000 spectators annually.
Surfing has been engrained in Malia's blood since she was born. As a baby, her parents would take turns watching her on the sand while the other would catch waves on the beaches of Kauai. As soon as she turned three, Malia started surfing with them.
Born and raised in the small lush town of Wailua, Malia has been highly influenced by her culture. Her father is full Hawaiian, her mom is from the mainland, making Malia "hapa hoale", she said laughing. Malia is 100 percent Aloha. She loves poi, dances the hula, creates Polynesian art, is a black belt in Taekwando and is incredibly cheerful and humble. It's rare to see her without a smile on her face or doing something other than creating beauty through her art, dance, or surfing.
Like most teenage kids, she is very into music, her MySpace page, running, playing soccer, chatting on the Internet, Friday night football games and Miley Cyrus. "My friends call me "Miley" because they think I look like her and because I have a big voice and cackle like her when I laugh."
Setting her apart however, is the fact that the 4.0 GPA student has already traveled to Indonesia, Australia, France, and Puerto Rico. She is focused and determined to make surfing her career, and has a "go-with-the-flow" positive attitude that ensures she won't burnout.
Growing up in Hawaii, she has been highly influenced by guys like the Iron brothers, making her style progressive and fluid, yet incredibly graceful and poised. At 15, she has a trophy room full of awards from her wins at the US Open, the 2007 Ripcurl Grom Search, the 2007 NSSA Hawaii Regional's and more.
Her trophy room is also the place where Malia keeps her quiver and her latest artwork. Inscribed on all of her latest her surfboards, Malia has artistically painted the word "KAUNU" in bold Polynesians styled letters. The word, which means "passion" in Hawaiian embodies her happy-go-lucky spirit.
Malia is filled with a stoked passion, striking good looks, and all the natural talent to be best surfer in the world. While she loves competing, she is going to do it at her own pace, with a huge smile on her face and with the grace of a Hawaiian dancer. "True surfers do it to have fun, not for the glory. I just do it because I love it."
2010 Girls Advertising
O’Neill Girls Team Relaxing in Hawaii
Malia Manuel, Sage Erickson, the Partridge twins and Taira Barron enjoying in the tropics.
Malia Manuel & Sage Erickson In Hawaii
Malia Manuel and Sage Erickson put their frontside attack on display. The girls didn't disappoint once they got in the water.
Girls Backdoor Session
Malia Manuel and Sage Erickson rip apart a small day at Backdoor. Photos taken by Freesurf's Tony Heff.
Malia Manuel Wins VQS Hillbilly Stomp
Ian Crane Gets 2nd
O'Neill Rider Malia Manuel takes top honors at the VQS Hill Billy Stomp held this past weekend at Newport's 54th street. She outshined the competition in the fun 3-5' surf by surfing fast, loose, and progressive. She was able to secure the victory in solid fashion by snapping, slicing, and demolishing every wave she rode.
"The event had fun waves and a great atmosphere. I am pretty stoked right now," says winner Malia Manuel.
She should be stoked because with her win she earned a boat load of prizes and $4,000.00 US dollars and the title as the Champion of Mountain Mommas! This is another big victory after last year's US Open win and will prove to be a nice confidence builder before the NSSA Nationals coming up in June.
Coming in second was Lauren Sweeny who also put on a solid display of power hacks and lip bashes that was good for $1,500.00, and following up was fellow team mate and Newport Beach resident and PacSun USASurf team member Kaleigh Gilchrist who finished 3rd. It was a powerful finish for O'Neill in the women's division, in fact it was Hill Billy domination.
Other big results were newest team member Ian Crane's 2nd place in the 16 and under division where he collected $2,000.00 big bucks and prizes equal to it. He was on point all event posting big scores in every heat and really applied some great rail surfing to achieve this big result.
In the honorable mention category Maui Surfer Matt Meola placed fourth in the Airshow and hucked the biggest backside air reverse and the crowd went nuts! Unfortunately the judges deemed that he didn't ride through it. But none-the-less he was still awarded the "Move of The Day" for an air he landed the prior day and he had the crowd stoked on his performance through out the event.
Congratulations to all competitors!
Mountain Mommas (Girls)
1. Malia Manuel
2. Lauren Sweeney
3. Kaleigh Gilchrist
4. Demi Boelsterli
Porch Babies (Groms)
1. Ezekiel Lau
2. Ian Crane
3. Ian Gentil
4. Kolohe Andino
Grasshoppers (Air Show)
1. Torrey Meister
2. Killian Garland
3. Gavin Beschen
4. Matt Meola
Electric Bolt Thrower Move Of The Day Award:
Matt Meola
Malia Manuel and Tanner Gudauskas win the US Open by O'Neill
Victorious at the US Open by O'Neill
This year saw one of the most exciting US Open’s in history. The waves and the weather cooperated most of the time with a series of tropical pulses and southern hemi swells that kept waves rolling towards the Huntington Pier the entire event.
The 2008 Winner of the Honda US Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill is Nathaniel Curran who has achieved what most consider as the biggest win on the WQS tour. He put on an amazing display of lightning fast surfing to impress the fans and judges to beat French surfer Tim Boal.
Kauaiian prodigy Malia Manuel's performance in the US Open Women’s Pro is truly an incredible feat which puts her mark on history as the “youngest competitor ever” to win the event at 14-years-old.
The competition was stiff throughout the event and she had to tackle some giants, namely former World Champion Sofia Mulanovich and Sally Fitzgibbons to achieve the ultimate prize.
There wasn’t a person on the beach that wasn’t inspired and in awe of her accomplishment.
San Clemente’s Tanner Gudauskas win in the Pro Junior final was nothing short of spectacular. He fended off Australian Julian Wilson’s early onslaught with dogged determination, great wave selection, and pedal to the metal surfing.
Tanner threw caution to the wind by executing 180-air rotation air, huge fins free gouges and backside vertical surfing, which had big cheers coming from the packed house of fans on the beach.
When Tanner was behind late in the final he never lost sight of his goal. With minutes remaining on the clock he posted 8.25 with a series of powerful and wicked frontside tail free snaps which ultimately turned the tide in his favor for a great victory.
1. Most embarrassing moment?
Some one said something really funny while I was drinking root beer, and I spit it all over my bestfriend.
2. Favorite quote?
"To get what we've never had, we must do what we've never done."
3. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate
4. Glass on fins or fin systems? Why?
Future Fins; high tech&easier for traveling
5. Favorite surf destination and wave?
My homebreak.
6. Favorite maneuver?
Anything progressive
7. Celebrity crush?
Never had one.
8. What's in your traveling quiver?
A few different boards
9. Status (Married, single, whatever?)
Whatever.
10. Favorite website?
Oneill.com & Surfline.com
11. Sounds?
I like it all! Keali'i Reichel, India Arie, Rihanna, Lil Wayne and lots more.
12. Biggest influence in your life?
People who are considerate and have dignity.
13. Favorite Surfers?
Kaua'i boys.
14. What traits in the opposite sex are most attractive?
A healthy, non-partier.
15. Worst wipeout?
Still have that scar from Hanalei Bay.
16. Words to live by?
Don't let your ego get in the way of growth.
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world
- year: 2008
- title: U.S. Open Champion
- description: Malia Manuel (Wailua, HI), the youngest champion ever of the US Open at 14, has claimed the Women’s Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill.
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