Ikaika Kawai Wins Sayulita SUP Classic

Punta Sayulita, Mexico — Focus™ Surfboards congratulates team rider 26 year old Ikaika Kawai in his first pro win at the Punta Sayulita Longboard & Stand-Up Paddle Classic, held April 17-18th in beautiful Sayulita, Mexico.  A relative newcomer to competitive SUP events, the Punta Sayulita Classic is Kawai’s first win and only his second major SUP contest. “I’m really excited, it was fun,” says Kawai.  “I’ve only been competing since last summer and this was my first contest with my new Focus ™ gear, the 10’0 Pro board and paddle.”  But even with new gear, winning wasn’t easy.  Kawai first had to out-paddle SUP legends Chuck Patterson, Ekolu Kalama and other talented surfers.

Said Focus Surfboards owner, Jacob Benvzi, “This is a great moment for the SUP sport. We’ve always known that our riders and equipment are top notch, and competitive with the best in the world.  Today, Ikaika proved it.  I’m sure all the boys back in Maui are anxious to see him and celebrate.  This is a tremendous achievement.” Thankful for the support he’s received from his girlfriend Mikioi Javier, his family, friends and Cove Park Bros, he dedicated his win to the wife of friend Mike Kessler, Barb, who recently passed away.  When asked what’s next for this rising talent, Kawai replied, “Next, I’m going to France in May to try out for the SUP World Tour.”

Proceeds from the Classic were donated to the local Sayulita chapter of the Reef Check Foundation and The Punta Sayulita Foundation.  For more information, and a complete list of winners, please visit http://puntasayulitasurfclassic.com/ Focus™ Surfboards is a Hawaii-based, premium-quality Stand-up Paddleboard and surfboard company.  Offering one of the largest and most advanced ranges of Stand-up Paddleboards, surfboards and accessories, Focus™ products are suitable for all levels of experience and activity. We keep things simple with boards categorized as cruisers, intermediate, performance, or race boards.  Focus ™ is dedicated to the essence of wave riding, surfing and paddle boarding for all types of riders.

Life-long wave riding and surfing passion inspired the beginning of Focus™ Surf Boards. With over 25 yrs of surfing experience each, business partners Jacob Benzvi, Nitzan Benhaim and Tal Meirovitch have been part of surfing culture for well-over half their lives.  Their combined passion propelled the company to develop the Focus™ surf & stand-up paddleboards range.  These boards have exclusive board shapes and designs.  From its initial start as a great idea to now, an international wave riding presence, Focus(tm) Surf Boards is a brand created by wave riders for wave riders.

The approach is simple. Focus™ Surfboards designs, manufactures, and sells quality boards at retailers around the world.  Look out for the new Focus™ Store, located in Osaka, Japan, opening in May 2010. Focus™ designs, carves and shapes boards to their exclusive specifications reaching the surfing market with a small, dedicated team of sales reps and retailers. Focus™ Surfboards are distributed in Hawaii, Mainland USA, Japan, Israel and soon to be fully operating in Europe.