By relaxing in the waves at Point Panic, Honolulu's Pedro Refuerzo emerged as the grand champion of the Redwings Memorial World Championships of Handboarding last weekend.

The two-day contest was run in traditional wave-heights of 2 to 3 feet at Point Panic.

Refuerzo often bodysurfs at Point Panic, and said his familiarity with the waves helped him.

"I'm there almost every weekend, so I'm comfortable there," said Refuerzo, 42. "Toward the end of my last heat, I could feel my legs cramping up, so I knew I had to relax and pick the right waves."

Handboarding is basically bodysurfing with the aid of a single handboard (the handboard helps the bodysurfer glide along the wave).

Refuerzo won the masters division, thus earning a spot in the Grand Championship final (the top two finishers in each division got to compete for the Grand Championship).

Kai Santos placed first in the senior men's division and second to Refuerzo in the Grand Championship. Wyatt Tillotson won the professional division and placed third in the Grand Championship.

Claude Higa won the Royal Richard Memorial World Championships of Paepo Boarding, which was held in conjunction with the handboarding contest.

HANDBOARDING

Grand Championship: 1, Pedro Refuerzo. 2, Kai Santos. 3, Wyatt Tillotson. 4, Kaneali'i Wilcox. 5, Mealoha Hooten. 6, Pili Lehano. 7, Michael Kliks. 8, Larry Russo. Professional: 1, Wyatt Tillotson. 2, Kai Santos. 3, Pedro Refuerzo. Women: 1, Mealoha Hooten. 2, Katie Min. Junior men: 1, Kaneali'i Wilcox. 2, Pili Lehano. 3, Tai Chong. Senior men: 1, Kai Santos. 2, Wyatt Tillotson. 3, Jarrett Liu. 4, Andy Stenger. Masters: 1, Pedro Refuerzo. 2, Larry Russo. 3, Richard Min. 4, Wayne Takamine. 5, Alec Cooke. Dugongs: 1, Nigel Robertson. 2, Michael Kliks. 3, Tom Masterson. 4, Mike McManaman. 5, Wayne Ho.

PAEPO BOARDING

Open: 1, Claude Higa. 2, Jarrett Liu. 3, Gene Lehano. 4, Mike Wong. 5, Katie Min.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.