Over the past decade, Ian Walsh’s Menehune Mayhem has grown to be the biggest amateur surf event on Maui. Held yearly at his homebreak of Ho’okipa, this year the one-day event drew over 120 competitors; 46 heats were surfed and more surf schwag was given away than the kids could carry. Talk about ushering in Spring Break.
“The year that I started, there were not too many events out here for the kids,” remembers Walsh. “I started it when I was 19, a bit smaller than this. It’s snowballed into this crazy event.”
Always one for a good time, Walsh made sure the barbeque was smoking all day long, the Red Bull was flowing, and Nocturnal Sound Krew DJ was flown over from Oahu to add some beats to the tropical airwaves. All the while the Wings Girls - also imported from Oahu - added to the scenery, made sure everybody had a cold beverage in their hand at all times, and even stepped in as surrogate aunties for the groms.
“All the kids who are the best new talent at Jaws started surfing at this contest.” -Ian
But beyond all the revelry and ripping, Ian’s Menehune Mayhem has a more serious side. This contest awards academics, good sportsmanship and is a tribute to Ian's departed friends: Steve Cooney, Eric Diaz, Andy Irons, and Sion Milosky.
“We have two GPA awards, for a boy and a girl, who get a crazy prize bag," said Walsh, a former valedictorian himself. “There are memorial awards for my friends that have passed away and those go to best sportsmanship.”
And then there’s the surf itself. Ho’okipa can be a challenging wave, a fact that has served many a Maui up-and-comer well. Given the kind of waves he likes to ride, this is a fact not lost on Ian.
“All the kids who are the best new talent at Jaws started surfing at this contest,” says Ian. “Now we are seeing all these kids - there are like 20 or 30 that are under nine years old in the contest today. It’s just crazy to see so many young kids who are so into surfing.”
“This break is good because almost every day of the year there is surf. I benefitted from learning here because there is a different variety of waves all the time; it’s not the same every day.”
All told, Ian Walsh’s 8th annual Menehune Mayhem was a resounding success. “I can’t wait for next year,” Walsh joked at the end of the day.
8th Annual Menehune Mayhem Results
Boys 9-under: 1) Cole Alves; 2) Eli Hanneman; 3) Ty Ty Kirby; 4) Kai Tenkins
Boys 10+11: 1) Marco Rista; 2) Josh Budroe; 3) Payce Duryea; 4) Tosh Kalawe
Girls 11-under: 1) Daize Kinoshita; 2) Kayla McCarthy; 3) Lehiva Devavlt; 4) Kaya Ackers
Boys 12+13: 1) Cody Young; 2) Monte Grant; 3) Ean Kimmel; 4) Justin Ringrey
Girls 12-14: 1) Kailee Mccarthy; 2) Sierra Larson; 3) Kawaii Devalilt; 4) Hilei Anilan
Boys 14-15: 1) Raimana Kinimaka; 2) Justice Patao; 3) Joao Marco Muffici; 4) Miles Serafica
Girls 15-17: 1) Ariel Martin; 2) Shelby Schweitzer; 3) Serene Gunnison; 4) Tasha Jahrmarkt
Boys 16-17: 1) Dylan Aoki Walsh; 2) Kain Daly; 3) Tehei Spencer; 4) Koby Kerbox
GPA - Boy: Makama Johnson 4.0; Girl: Ariel Martin 4.1
Sion Memorial: Seth Beard
Eric Diaz Memorial: Sal Lagattuta
Steve Cooney Memorial: Ean Duryea
Sportsmanship Award: Tosh Kalawe
Ripping Award: Kayla McCarthy
For more from Ian, follow him on Twitter, and follow @redbull for the latest news and info from Red Bull.
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