Air Force makes big waves at annual surfing invitational

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mark Munsey
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) --  Under picture-perfect tropical skies, more than 70 surfers from all five branches of the armed services competed for bragging rights in the third annual Military Surfing Invitational at Oahu’s Kewalo Basin on June 26 and 27.

The Air Force team took second place in the overall “Best of Branch” competition, with several team competitors winning or placing in individual events.

Dee Marquez took second in both the women’s short- and long-board competitions.

Ollney Ho’opai and Buster Kellum dominated the retiree division, taking first and second place, respectively, in the short-board competition and second and third place, respectively, in the long-board competition.

In addition, Kellum garnered second place in the Department of Defense long-board competition.

Ho’opai and Kellum work as civilians on base.

While this may be the latest round of dual surfing recognition for the duo, it is far from the first. Along with invitational coordinator Shorty Simonson, the three began boarding in island-surfing competitions more than 35 years ago, Kellum said.

“Shorty was the Armed Forces Surf Club president in 1968 and competed in the inaugural Hawaii Armed Forces Championship that year,” Kellum said. “Shorty was the contest director when I became the first Air Force surfer to win the competition in 1970, and Ollney and I took turns winning the competition through 1974.

“It’s great to come back year after year and see the same old faces, though some of our faces are older than others,” he said.

Among the younger faces was the Air Force’s Makani McDonald, who shares a birth year with the inaugural competition.

McDonald had a great day on the waves himself June 27, winning the “Best of Armed Forces” long-board event and two second-place finishes, in the “Best of Armed Forces” and “World” short-board competitions.

This year’s “Best of Branch” winner was the Navy, with the Army coming in third, followed by the Coast Guard and Marines.