Kelis Kaleopaa and Kaniela Stewart have a lot in common – longboarders, from Hawaii, cousins – and now both 2023 Huntington Beach Longboard Classic champs.

The cousins both competed in the Huntington Beach Longboard Classic, where the top longboarders showed their skills off to an excited California crowd. Finally, Kelis Kaleopa’a and Honolua Blomfield went head-to-head in the final, with Kaleopa’a nabbing a 7.83 to overtake Blomfield and hold the lead until the horn sounded.

Kaleopa’a is now starting the season off as no.1, thanks to this win. In the words of Roxy’s surf team page: “Kelis Kaleopa’a is a Hawaiian surfer, born and raised on the island of O’ahu. She has been gliding across waves since she was a baby and over the years her passion and drive for surfing has only gotten stronger. She loves being in the water and all things ocean related!”.

You can watch the final between Kelis and Honolua on the WSL channel here: