Mauians move on at Haleiwa Challenger | News, Sports, Jobs

Maui’s Nora Liotta surfs
World Surf League / Tony Heff photo

Maui’s Nora Liotta surfs in the opening round of the Haleiwa Challenger on Tuesday on Oahu’s North Shore. The contest — the final event of the World Surf League’s Challenger Series that will determine the final spots on the 2022 Championship Tour — kicked off in surf of 6-8 feet, with a couple of Valley Isle surfers moving on. Liotta posted a total of 8.67 and advanced with her second-place finish in the third women’s heat of the day in the round of 48. In the men’s round of 80, Eli Hanneman posted an 8.60 en route to a second-place finish in his heat with a total of 14.93. Among those eliminated Tuesday were Billy Kemper, Jackson Bunch and Summer Macedo. Still to surf in the men’s round of 64 are Maui’s Ian Gentil and Imaikalani deVault, who are both in contention to earn one of seven Championship Tour spots still up for grabs at Haleiwa. Gentil enters the event at No. 2 among contenders who have yet to clinch, while deVault — trying to requalify — is at No. 19.