4th Annual Quickblade Jr Pro & Youth SupFiesta Event Recap

This is the official Press Realease of the 4th Annual Quickblade Jr Pro & Youth SupFiesta Event, by Anthony Vela : 

This weekend 72 youth SUP competitors, from 6 different countries, gathered in orange county for the 4th  Annual Quickblade Jr Pro & Youth SupFiesta presented by Infinity SUP.  The SupFiesta Grand Prix racing was about as exciting as it gets.  Athletes competed in two different races, the Flyin’ Mile and the Sup Scramble, and their overall results were based on a combination of the two performances. 

In the 15-17 boys division Noa Hopper (San Diego) and Harry Maskell (Australia) battled it out for the win in the Flying Mile with Noa taking the win and Harry 2nd, respectively.  Max Fleming (Dana Point) was a close third.  In the SUP Scramble Harry Maskell led from start to finish strong, holding off a deep field including Haakon Hoyer Nielson (San Francisco) and Itzel Delgado (Peru).  With a 1st  in the SUP Scramble and a 2nd  in the Flyin Mile Harry would be the overall winner.  Noa Hopper also had a 1st  and 2nd , but being that the Sup Scramble was the tie breaker, favor went to Harry Maskell.  Max Fleming rounded out the podium, with two strong 3rd  place finished.

The 15-17 girls would feature local Shae Foudy putting on a dominating performance winning both races. Kali’a Alexiou (Santa Cruz), finishing second in both, and Japan’s Yuuka Horikoshi finish 3rd  in both races keeping the results consistent through the races.

In the ultra competitive 12-14 boys division local paddler Trevor Bashor, put some distance on second place finisher Trent Carter (Lake Tahoe) who also separated himself from the rest of the pack.  In third Elijah Schoeing showed great form.  Then there was a three-way tie in points for the 4th  spot between Dave De Aromas (Puerto Rico), Gavin Mencinsky (San Diego), and Keaton Rose (Dana Point).  In the end it would be Gavin that would take the 4th  position with his 4th  place in the SUP Scramble.

Boasting the largest field of all 7 divisions, the 12-14 girls division saw some close and very intense finishes.  Lexi Alston would win the Flyin Mile and the SUP Scramble just ahead of Alex Higginson and Jade Howson.  On the last turn of the SUP Scramble while Jade was trying to move from third into second, and Alex trying to make a move for first on Lexi, all three girls ended up falling in the water.  With great poise all three were able to jump back onto their boards and maintain their placings.

In the boys 9-11 division competitors would battle with their 11’ boards in the Mini Flyin Mile and the same SUP Scramble course as the older groups.  Rhys Staples (Utah) would win the division with two 1st  place finishes follow by San Clemente paddler Conrad Rojas, with two 2nd  place finishes.  Third would go to Tripp Boyer (Lake Tahoe) who was one of the new faces to the SupFiesta.

Malaya Ring (Dana Point) powered herself to a victory in the Mini Flyin Mile and the SUP Scramble to win the girls 9-11 division.  Kayla McLaughlin would finish 2 nd  with Shyanne McWilliams in third.

Five inspiring kids 8 & Under would challenge themselves in the SupFiesta Grand Prix.  For the second straight year Trevor Mencinsky (San Diego) championed in the youngest age group of the event.  In second Shane Kiley would finish with two second place finishes and Molly Siverts in third.  With grit and determination on his face as he ran through the finish in 4th  was Logan Cuda.

Thanks to Billy, Kelly, and the entire Newport Aquatic Center staff for helping make the SupFiesta Grand Prix possible.  The evening ended with a delicious taco dinner, Jr Pro autograph signing, and awards.

On Sunday, Day two of competition, anticipation could be felt on the beach as competitors walked onto Bolsa Chica for the sup surfing portion of the 4 th  Annual Quickblade Jr Pro & Youth SupFiesta presented by Infinity SUP. After the athlete briefing, everyone was treated to an acapella version of the National Anthem, sung by Constance and Elise Brown, and followed by a morning blessing by Candice Appleby.

Taking advantage of the glassy conditions, the Jr Pro heats began with high scoring waves and the contest would see exceptional surfing throughout the day.  The consistent waves were in the waist to chest high range, with a few bigger sets, providing plenty of scoring potential.  Twenty-six heats, and 729 total waves later, champions were crowned, but more importantly lasting friendships were formed in and out of the water.

Once the finals began the competition was non stop.  The judges had their work cut out for them with many surfers catching their maximum of 12 waves in the 20 minute finals. The Jr Pro’s were treated to live scoring during their heats where each competitor knew exactly what scores they had, and what they needed.  While the age group competitors focused on surfing their heat, then had to wait eager with anticipation until the awards to know their results.

As the Jr Pro rounds continued through the day we saw some of the closest semi-final heats in the events 4-year history.  In both of the girls’ Jr Pro semi final heats there were several lead changes and the final outcome of both heats was determined in the last few minutes.  The same thing would ring true in the boys’ division.  In the end the four finalists for the girls were Sasha Ka’uhane (Oahu) 4th , Mason Schremmer (Oahu) 3 rd , Skylar Lickle (Maui) 2nd , and Yuuka Horikoshi (Japan) 1st  taking home “El Sombrero”.  The boys’ finalists were Nic Walker (Aus) 4th , Noa Hopper (San Diego) 3rd , Felippe Gaspar (Brazil) 2nd , and Harry Maskell (Aus) 1st.

New to this year was a combined award to the competitor in each age division that placed the highest in the race & surf contest combined.  This year’s overall sup performers were Trevor Mencinsky (8 & Under), Malaya Ring (9-11 Girls), Conrad Rojas (9-11 Boys), Jade Howson (12-14 Girls), Tyler Bashor (12-14 Boys), Yuuka Horikoshi (15-17 Girls), and Itzel Delgado (15-17 Boy). Of those overall performers the two that stood out for the top points were Conrad Rojas and Jade Howson, who both went home with Overall Event Age Group Wins and shiny new Quickblade paddles.

Infinity Sup also came through with the “Paddle Like A Freak” Breakthrough Performer Awards who were given to two incredible athletes who both came from the snowy mountains to turn major heads. One day one Rhys Staples (Park City, Utah), blitz the 9- 11 Boys field in both races and backed it up with a 3rd  place in his age groups for surfing on day 2. On day two Delila Quinn (Lake Tahoe), turned heads as she ripped here was to a strong 2nd  place finish in the 12-14 girls surfing, on her brand new Infinity RNB, finishing ahead of three Junior Pro invitees (Lexi Alston, Annie Reickert and Sasha Kauhane). These two kids truly paddled like freaks to each win a $500 shopping spree at the Infinity Shop in Dana Point, California.