Sports
A Pacifica Surf Contest for the Ages, and the Aged
Pacifica's Kahuna Kupuna Benefit Surf Contest is the world's only amateur event geared for 40-and-over surfers.
Gary Silberstein can describe the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells with the best of them. But can he still master the science of avoiding some of the Pacific Coast's dreaded impact zones?
Hide Minami can poke away that stubborn knot in your lower back, but can he still tuck his way through a barrel?
And does ageless wonder Vince Pando have any “Akaw!” howls left in him?
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Those are some of the burning questions heading into Saturday's 13th Annual Kahuna Kupuna Benefit Surf Contest, the world’s only amateur event geared for 40-and-over surfers.
Silberstein, a 70-year-old retired UC Santa Cruz biology professor, Minami, a 52-year-old acupuncturist and reigning Japanese long board champion, and Pando, 77, are some of the more intriguing surfers expected to compete in the contest.
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Pando’s status for the contest was not known as of earlier this week.
“Vince is a total character and a great guy,” contest organizer Roy Earnest said. “All the surfers involved in the contest are characters in their own way, some more so than others, of course.”
The Kahuna Kupuna, one of the Bay Area’s most unique surfing contents, is expected to draw between 60 to 80 competitors. The contest will be held at Linda Mar Beach from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The contest is an outgrowth of “Surfing for Life,” a documentary released in 1999 Earnest co-produced with San Francisco filmmaker David L. Brown.
The film, which features a then 90-year-old surfer (Doc Ball), has appeared on PBS stations throughout the nation including KQED.
“David and I approached the entire film as a metaphor for the human potential of later life,” Earnest said.
Saturday’s contest will feature entries from all ages, with an intergenerational division featuring one under-20 surfer (or as close to that age as possible) and another over 55.
The other age divisions are 40-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60- 64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80-and-over, with separate men’s and women’s short board and long board competitions.
Waves up to five feet and light winds are forecast.
Prizes will be raffled off throughout the day.
Earnest said last-minute entrants can sign up for all 40-and-over divisions up until 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. For more information, contact Roy Earnest at kahunakupuna@comcast.net or call him at 650-438-6378.
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