For one day last week, Carissa Moore didn't surf like a boy.

She surfed better.

Moore continued her successful summer of surfing by winning the boys 14-younger division of the Rip Curl GromSearch last weekend at Kewalo Basin.

There was a girls division, but Chris Moore, Carissa's father, said he entered Carissa in the boys division as "a change of pace to give her more experience."

Carissa responded by advancing through three preliminary heats and then winning the final. The contest was held in wave heights of 2 to 4 feet.

"I don't want to make it sound like the girls are not a challenge, because the girls who were there were all very good," Chris Moore said. "But the boys are more aggressive, and I felt like it would be a good test for Carissa."

In July, Carissa became the most decorated surfer in the history of the National Scholastic Surfing Association's National Championships. She won three divisions at that California contest, giving her a record nine NSSA national championships.

Carissa is 13 and a freshman at Punahou School.

The top surfers from last week's contest at Kewalo Basin received invitations to compete in the Rip Curl GromSearch National Finals at Salt Creek, Calif., in November. Carissa will not be able to attend because of scheduling conflicts.

"That's another reason why we did it," Chris Moore said of entering the boys division. "We weren't trying to qualify for anything. We just wanted to see how she would do."

Other division winners were Alessa Quizon (girls 16-younger), Dege O'Connell (boys 16-younger), and Isaiah Moniz (boys 12-younger).

MORE GROMS SUCCESS

Kiron Jabour of the North Shore on O'ahu placed second in the Quiksilver King of the Groms World Final last weekend at Capbreton, France.

Jabour advanced to the final, but was edged by Australia's Dean Bowen, 11.75-11.15. Jabour led for most of the final, but Bowen received a score of 5.6 with less than three minutes left.

John John Florence, also of the North Shore, tied for third place, and Ezekiel Lau of Ho-nolulu tied for ninth place.

The contest was for surfers age 16 and younger. Grom is a surfing slang word for an up-and-coming youth surfer.

BALLARD CAMP SET

The Rochelle Ballard O'Neill Surf Camp will be held tomorrow on Kaua'i, followed by the O'Neill Island Girl Junior Pro Supported By Reef and Nukumoi Surf Co., on Sunday.

Tomorrow's camp will focus on technique and competitive strategy. Registration is limited to 50 participants, and the cost is $35. Transportation from the airport is available.

Tomorrow, the O'Neill Island Girl Junior Pro is at Po'ipu. The contest will be run in an ASP format with ASP judges. The event is limited to 48 surfers between the ages of 8 and 21.

For information, visit www.oneill.com or call (808) 651-6024.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.