Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 4, 1 April 2000 — Villa surf victory [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Villa surf victory

Keli'i "Wiki" Villa, 16, the youngest member of the United States Surf Federation Team, won first plaee in the junior men's division of the Dominican Republic surf tournament in Puerto Plaza in February. "He surfs with total commitment, is very powerful, and confident," said U.S.S.F. competition director Paul West. "I believe Wiki will definitely be one of the top in the world in the professional level within the next three to five years." Villa

attributes his success to his eoaeh, Kevin Grondin, and to Kalani Robb and Wade Tokoro who designed his board. "He really is a fine human being. Wiki exemplifies the Hawaiian spirit, carries himself truly as a king of the

sport and is without a doubt an outstanding role model," West concluded.

Surf ehamp "Wiki" Villa