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Thoughts On Surfing The North Shore

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Falling in Love with Surfing Again

I remember my first winter surfing on the North Shore. It was so exciting! Waking up each morning to a horizon stacked with waves for days, seemed like a dream. Sunburnt skin and salty hair were the only price I paid, or so I thought. Not realizing it, I was falling in love, deeply in love with the ocean and her children, the waves. I was faithful to my love for many years. I travelled to Bali each summer for five years in a row to ward off the summer blues of no waves on the North Shore. (Note there are excellent beginner surf lesson waves in the summer on the North Shore) During the winter months, I faithfully rode Pipeline every time she broke. I slept like a baby and lived off of ramen noodles to save money. Life was simple. My only care was to surf.

Sadly, as it can happen in love, I was distracted. Politics called my name, and I threw my heart and soul into the game. Campaigning is all-consuming; shaking hands, kissing babies, and posting yard signs soon caused me to forget to surf. I swapped […]

By |May 19th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Best Shave Ice on the North Shore of Oahu After a Surf Lesson

Shave Ice is as synonymous with the North Shore as surfing itself. There’s no better way to cool down after a sun-soaked surf lesson than with a bowl of this Hawaiian specialty. The North Shore of Oahu is renowned for its shave ice offerings, with places like Matsumoto’s Shave Ice leading the pack. Situated in the bustling Shops At Haleiwa, Matsumoto’s is a landmark destination for both locals and visitors. To find it, simply drive through Haleiwa town and look for the crowd eagerly lined up in the courtyard of the town’s newest center (more details at Matsumoto’s Shave Ice).

If you encounter a lengthy queue at Matsumoto’s, a worthy alternative awaits just across the street. Aoki’s Shave Ice matches up in quality and taste, providing another excellent option for those seeking a sweet, icy treat. This spot is just as beloved and offers a similar range of flavors and combinations to satisfy any palate (discover more at Aoki’s Shave Ice).

For the shave ice connoisseur, a trip to Island X Hawaii at the old Waialua Sugar Mill is a must. Known for their commitment to real fruit and natural flavors, they offer an authentic and unique shave ice experience that stands […]

By |May 7th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Mother Earth is Winning and I Want to Be on Her Team

COVID-19 has forced me to slow down and appreciate the world around me in ways unexpected. The smell of the ocean air as the trade winds blow is fresher and cleaner than ever. The sky is a new shade of blue, which reflects on the ocean creating even more unique shades of blue. Mt. Kala looks crisper and greener than ever. Even the Sun seems to be smiling as she fuels the Earth from above. Mother Earth is winning, and I want to be on her team.

It feels like our mother has forced us to take a “time out,” giving us a once in a lifetime opportunity to reset our lives. During this “time out,” we are experiencing a cleaner world. The most dramatic improvement is the freshness of the air, especially here in Hawaii. Fresh air is vital to human health. The World Health Organization estimates that 3.9 million people die each year from air pollution. While COVID-19 could eventually kill millions before it’s over, sheltering in place has caused air quality to improve by over 50% in cities around the world. If sustained, this will save millions of lives every year. The overall quality of life […]

By |May 6th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Day 39ish of Hawaii COVID-19 Surf Sessions.

In January 2020, I remember hearing about China quarantining millions of people and looking out my window, thinking, “I guess I could isolate here. Little did I know that mere weeks later, I would be under some of the strictest quarantine laws in the nation, except for surfing. Hawaii allowed surfing, fishing, and all water sports categorized as essential activities, a testimony to our elected leaders being in touch with the reality of living on an island. The rest of the life in paradise was locked down hard with Kauai leading the way and having a nightly 9:00 PM curfew and mandatory 14-day isolation for all airport arrivals. So with little to do but surf and shop for food, life became pretty simple, fast! With a series of seemingly endless west swells forecast, a daily surf mission with my best friend was the ticket. Dawn patrol started sometime around 8:30 AM after coffee gets consumed and hot water bottles filled for after surf rinsing. Boards and gear tossed into the back on my Nissan surf school truck, and away we went. It was hard passing perfect Pipe each day.  Lucky for us secret right-hander we had designated as our goto […]

By |April 29th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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How to Train for a Surfing Lesson

1. Improve Your Swimming Skills

Confidence in Water: Ensure you’re comfortable swimming in the ocean, as surfing requires being at ease in open water.Endurance Swimming: Increase your stamina with regular swimming sessions, focusing on both distance and speed.

2. Build Your Physical Fitness

Core Strength: Surfing demands a strong core for balance and stability on the board. Incorporate exercises like planks and Russian twists into your routine.Upper Body Strength: Paddling requires arm, shoulder, and back strength. Include push-ups, pull-ups, and paddling exercises in your training.Leg Strength: Squats, lunges, and plyometric exercises will help improve your leg strength for better control and maneuverability on the board.Flexibility: Stretch regularly to improve flexibility, focusing on your legs, back, and shoulders to prevent injuries and enhance your surfing performance.

3. Practice Balance

Balance Exercises: Use a balance board or a Bosu ball to improve your balance and stability, which are crucial for standing up on a surfboard.Skateboarding: Skateboarding can help mimic the balance and movements required in surfing.

4. Learn Surfing Fundamentals

Surf Etiquette: Understand the rules of surfing, including right of way, to ensure safety and respect among surfers.Wave Reading: Start learning how to read waves. This knowledge will help you select the best waves to surf and understand when […]

By |April 27th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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I Never Really Wanted to Work Anyway

In the heart of Oahu’s North Shore, where the waves are a language of their own, I found an unexpected turn in my journey. The email from the state, declaring my surf school license suspended indefinitely, struck a chord. Initially mixed, my feelings soon aligned with the rhythm of the ocean—a blessing in disguise. Surfing has never been just a job for me; it’s a passion, a way of life that merges work with the sheer joy of connecting with the ocean’s spirit.

The North Shore, renowned for its majestic waves and vibrant surfing community, has been my playground and office. Here, teaching the art of surfing felt less like work and more like sharing a piece of magic with eager souls. Yet, amidst the lessons, my heart yearned for something simpler—free surfing. The pure essence of surfing for myself, with no obligations, just me and the sea.

“I never really wanted to work anyway,” echoes the sentiment of my newfound freedom. Mornings now begin at my own pace, a luxury once foreign to me. Checking the surf conditions on my phone, I often find myself reaching out to Jenn Marr, my steadfast surfing companion, to see if she’s keen on catching […]

By |April 18th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Life on the North Shore of Oahu During the Corona Virus Pandemic

Amazing life on the North Shore in some ways is better than ever. We are allowed to surf, but there is no traffic. It feels like I’m living back in the 1970s when one car and hour would drive down lonely Kamehameha Hwy. North Shore surfers once again rule the Laniakea parking lot as there are no visitors allowed on the island.


A DRIVE ON THE NORTH SHORE WHEN THE COVID-19 QUARANTINE FIRST STARTED

Along with no traffic, there is almost no economy. Most businesses have shuttered their doors, even Matsumomoto’s famous shave ice stand closed. The outlook is dire as current projections have Hawaii not being open to visitors for up to 18 months.

Still, if you’re a hardcore surfer, life could not be better. We may have to go back to living off packaged noodles, but the waves keep crashing, at least for now. Summer is just around the corner, and the thought of enduring months of super small waves and long hot days has me a little depressed.

North Shore Surf Girls Surf Student having fun at Chun’s Reef

One odd part of the quarantine is that you can’t sit on the beach and rest. You always have to be moving, […]

By |April 11th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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North Shore Surf Girl’s to Sponsor Pipeline Women’s Pro in Memory of Don & Josie Over March 21 – April 3, 2019

Competitor check is at March 21, 2019, 4-5:00 PM at the Volcom House.

By |March 20th, 2019|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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North Shore Surf Girls to Sponsor World Championship of Women’s Bodyboarding in Memory of Don & Josie Over March 21 – April 3, 2019

This is a special retro contest to bring back some of the soul to women’s bodyboarding…. entry form below….more details coming soon.

We have room for 50 women to compete. Entry is being excepted on a first come first serve basis. Below is the entry form. Competitors should download and email it to the address enclosed.

Pipe-2019 entry formDownload

QuoteCarol Philips

By |January 20th, 2019|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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How to check the surf in Hawaii

The best way to check the surf in Hawaii is to wake up very early in the morning and look at it in person. If you can’t look at the ocean physically, the next best option is to go online and visit either Surfline or Surf News Network to look at  their surf cams and forcast. I like the Surfline surf cams better, but the surf forecast and report from Surf News Network is more accurate. So your best bet is to check them both.

When you check online, you also get information on tides and winds. For the North Shore, you want to avoid winds over 25 knots and those with a westerly direction. Tides are usually not that important unless the waves are super small, 1 foot or less, or if they are super big, over 15 ft., in both cases, you want to avoid the King tides.

By |December 12th, 2018|How To Do Things Related to Surfing|0 Comments
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