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For Immediate
Release:
North Shore, Oahu,
Hawaii
August 13, 2007
SHATTERED DREAMS,
NO PIPELINE CONTEST FOR WOMEN SURFERS.
The City and County
of Honolulu has denied the application for use of Ehukai Beach Park and
Pipeline, the break, for the Womenˇ¦s annual event, The Womenˇ¦sˇ¦ Pipeline
Pro. No answers have been given as to why the decision was made but it is
based on a point system that has been used for many years. City officials
approve applications by established rules and there are only 16 days that
are allowed for competitions during the peak season. The rules were
initiated by community leaders and City personnel to ease the concerns of
local residents and recreational users. The Women were denied along with
other groups.
ˇ§ I can understand
all points of viewˇ¨, said Womanˇ¦s Pipeline Pro Contest Director Betty
Depolito. ˇ§ There are several groups that would like to have an event at
Pipeline, itˇ¦s the most prestigious surf spot in the world and offers a
great viewing arena. Itˇ¦s a really tough blow for the girls that want the
event and for me as an organizer. I spent many hours working on building the
contest and it has seen major growth. As well I was once on the community
committee to establish rules for the community. As a recreational surfer
itˇ¦s already hard to get those good days and any good waves period! So it is
yin and yang for sure.ˇ¨
Although there
is no issued permit the contest directors often work with each other to use
the entire 16 days allowed. There may also be off-season days available.
ˇ§This could be a possibility for the ladiesˇ¨ explained Depolito.ˇ¨ There may
be a day floating around to use for the contest but itˇ¦s a long shot.ˇ¨
There are additional rules regarding ˇ§cooling off periodsˇ¨ and other
considerations involved.
Womenˇ¦s
Professional surfing in Hawaii is definitely hurt by this
situation. The
bigger events hold few spots for local pros to enter and the Pipeline
contest was open to all Women. There is also a body boarding and long
boarding contest built into the waiting period.
ˇ§ I think itˇ¦s a
shame there is no permit.ˇ¨ Said Faith Wenzel, Association of Surfing
Professionals. ˇ§With so few Womenˇ¦s professional surfing events in Hawaii it
hurts to loose any.ˇ¨
Following is a
statement from Bethany Hamilton who has competed in the event since it
started. ˇ§This Pipeline surprise scramble is like knowing you strategize for
a wave in the water, did everything you could to get yourself in shape and
out there only to get cut off. Sure there will be other waves and other days
but not at Pipeline. The crowds donˇ¦t allow women the chance to perform,
train and free surf to really get to know the break. The tiny window of
opportunity of this event allowed us women to enjoy for a moment, all to
ourselves, one of the most special waves in surfing!ˇ¨
ˇ§From the
beginning of the fall surf season in Hawaii I'm always trying to surf the
spots that resemble Pipe in hopes of being ready when the Pipe contest
starts.ˇ¨ Said Alana Blanchard, two-time Pipeline Champion. ˇ§I was hoping
that the Pipeline Pro would become at least a 4 star WQS event for next year
so that more of the touring pros would come to it, which they would. I
really think that with a few more years experience at Pipe the women could
learn to surf it well enough to draw some big name sponsors in to put up the
money to keep it going strong and maybe one day become a 6 star event.ˇ¨ A
six star event has a $30,000.00 prize purse and enough points to make an
impact on the world tour.
Everyone is invited
to sound off on this issue directly to contest organizer Betty Depolito at
banzaib@hawaii.rr.com.
ˇ§I am very concerned about the future of the Womenˇ¦s Event at Pipeline
because the rules are being redesigned and they appear to favor the big
money events. The Women really need a giant company to support them in this
endeavor. There are so many bright new faces surfing Pipeline and they
deserve a spot out there. The new proposed rules are being devised now so
get the letters flowingˇ¨, said Depolito.
There are plans for
establishing another event for Women surfers
at Sunset Beach in
April of 2008. The event permits have not been
approved as yet but
Depolito is hopeful the permit will be approved.
ˇ§ I expect the
paperwork to come any day and I will be trying to secure
sponsors for the
event at Sunset Beach in 2008 and for Pipeline in 2009. Sunset Beach is a
great place for Womenˇ¦s surfing and I am hoping to have many more girls
entered. We will make room for a big longboard event as well as
shortboarding and hope to have both asp ratedˇ¨ said Depolito. ˇ§ In Hawaii
we need more events to get our pros going, we have a huge base of great
surfers to bring up and with the help of the community I hope to build up
Womenˇ¦s Surfing in Hawaii.ˇ¨
For more
information:
Banzaibetty.com,
alohamariela@gmail.com,
banzaib@hawaii.rr.com,
Association of Surfing Professionals
Betty Depolito
Banzai Productions
Contest Director
Women's Pipeline Pro
March 1-14th, 2009
Women's Sunset Pro April 2008
808-781-2535
PO BOX 573
Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712
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