The 23rd Annual Shane Dorian Keiki Classic at Banyans last Saturday 1/20/18

Diego Ferri tearing Banyans up for a victory. Image: Keiki Classic

It’s 2018 and The BIG Island’s surfing youth are in good hands with Shane Dorian, Friends & Sponsors along with this close knit community. It started over 2 decades ago by a Surfing Legend who goes by Uncle Shane. Perfect. Who could more inspire our kids to live large and in charge yet stay down to earth and keeping it community?

It’s free…no entry fee…just bring some food for donations. 🙂

Support also comes in great brands like Billabong, GoPro, Slater Designs, Firewire, Reef and Mokulele Airlines…they know something good when they see it…have for a long long time. Before many of these rippers where even born.

The Hawaiian Lifeguard Assoc. jumps in with some CPR and life saving tips and instruction…and much more fun and games.

Oh and did we mention how hard the youth rip?!!! Check it out…

This will make you wanna go diving after you surf…

“Luke Heflin won the Sayre Award, which is a sportsmanship award. Kelly surprised Luke with an invitation to the Surf Ranch this summer as a prize. Couldn’t happen to a better kid. It was definitely a standout moment in the last 23 years of our Keiki Classic event.” Dorian

Another Legend named Kelly has some positive words to offer as well…and maybe more!

“I just want to throw a shout-out to Shane for supporting education and the young surfers and skaters all throughout Hawaii in their quest to be the best versions of themselves they can be!” wrote Kelly Slater on Instagram. “This event is the culmination of decades of travel all over the globe being turned into a family event that Shane and his friends and sponsors have curated year after year. It’s been awesome to watch the talent that has grown up surfing this event and to see them now passing the torch on what they learned growing up at Banyan’s surfing the Keiki Classic…”

“Now we gotta figure out how to sneak this kid, Luke Heflin, into Surf Ranch ‘cause I didn’t clear it with my partners yet! He can just wear a bald cap and ride my board or Shane’s, I suppose.”

“We had a few kids from Oahu come over for the Keiki Classic. Diego Ferri was looking strong from his first heat and ended up with the win in the 13 & under division.”

Final Results

Sayre Sportsmanship Award:

Luke Heflin

Most Improved Awards:

Kane Tulrade, John Heflin

Boys 13 and Under:

1. Diego Ferri
2. Kai Martin
3. Diesel Storm Butts
4. Jackson Dorian

Junior Boys, 14-17:

1. Trae Tanoai
2. Kaiden Lieto
3. Ocean Donaldson
4. Jackson Miles

Girls 13 and Under:

1. Sophia Carlucci
2. Chrislyn Simpson-Kane
3. Dani Sale
4. Shavanie Urubio

Junior Girls, 14-17: