Wingspan Magazine
Pueo Surfers Blaze New Trails
Boys and Girls Surfing squads participate in first-ever scholastic world championships
Since 2014, the Maui Interscholastic League has offered the only high school-sanctioned surfing competition in the country. Before the sport was officially sanctioned in the MIL, it was organized as a club sport and coordinated by Kim Ball, long-time Lahainaluna wrestling coach and owner of Hi-Tech Maui Surf Sports. Ball spent countless hours lobbying for the sport’s approval at the prep level before a number of state boards, committees, legislature and government officials.
At first, all the surfers competed in one division regardless of ability. In 2022, the format was changed to reflect
the increased interest and participation in high school surfing. Each school ranked their surfers No. 1 through No. 5, with each division pitting the ranked surfers against each other. The results of the first four meets of each season determined the team championship with all surfers competing in one division at the last meet for the individual MIL championship title. The new format encouraged the team aspect that is usually not found in competitive surfing.
the increased interest and participation in high school surfing. Each school ranked their surfers No. 1 through No. 5, with each division pitting the ranked surfers against each other. The results of the first four meets of each season determined the team championship with all surfers competing in one division at the last meet for the individual MIL championship title. The new format encouraged the team aspect that is usually not found in competitive surfing.
The depth of talent on the Valley Isle has made for some competitive surf seasons as the surfers compete as a team, as well as for individual honors. Since its inception, Maui Prep girls have claimed four team titles (2015, 2017, 2019 and 2024) and boys won their lone title in 2023. In addition, Maui Prep surfers have won eight individual championships.
Maui Prep’s recent depth and dominance in the MIL earned them an invitation to the Honua Finals: The World Cup of Interscholastic Surfing, held July 9-10 at the Ala Moana Bowls in Waikiki. The event opened with a mixer at Wai Kai, a surf pool in Ewa Beach. There, the high school students mingled with their international counterparts and tried out the wave pool. The brainchild of Oahu’s Kazama family, the competition brought together more than 120 surfers, representing the top high school surf teams from New Zealand, California and Hawai'i. Along with the Pueo, Maui was represented by surfers from Baldwin and King Kekaulike High Schools. The event attracted the attention of Nike Swim, who hosted the event, along with sponsors Duke’s Waikīkī, Wai Kai, HiLife Clothing, Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation and others.
The two day competition featured girl and boy shortboard, longboard and bodyboard heats. MIL champion Zolten Poulsen ‘26 advanced to the finals of shortboard, pitting him against surfers he usually encounters at national competitions on the mainland. Ezra Offergeld ‘25 (shortboard) and Pierce Armstrong ‘24 (longboard and bodyboard) were entries for the Pueo as well.
On the girls side, Imani Caserta ‘25 (longboard), Sloane Jucker ‘26 (shortboard), Layla Merrill ‘26 (longboard), Sadie Stafford ‘26 (bodyboard), Zoey Offergeld ‘27 (shortboard), and Scout Smith ‘27 (shortboard) enjoyed the head high waves at the storied surf spot outside the harbor in Waikiki. The weeklong trip, organized and chaperoned by Pueo surf coaches Lyndee Sprenger, Leslie Hainsworth, and Eric and Lisa Poulsen, served as a training trip for the surfers. The Maui Prep surf team extends deep gratitude to the Maui Prep administration, Maui Prep Booster Club and 808 Boards, owned by the Mitchell family, for their support and sponsorship for this experience.
(Photos courtesy of Lindsey Masterson)
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