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1211, 2020

Gender Equality in Surfing on the North Shore for the First Time Ever?

By |November 12th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Certainly, here’s the content optimized for the phrase “gender equity in surfing”:

COVID-19 catalyzed a pivotal moment for the World Surf League (WSL), driving it to proactively embrace gender equity on its World Championship Tour events hosted in Hawaii. Historically, the women’s segment of the tour traditionally concluded with the Maui event, known as the Maui Pro presented by Roxy. However, in an unprecedented move, this event will now inaugurate the tour. Similarly, on the men’s side, the Billabong Pipe Masters, traditionally held on the North Shore of Oahu, will also mark the commencement of the 2021 season, instead of concluding it. The groundbreaking development, however, lies in the WSL’s decision to elevate its Sunset Open event to World Championship status while introducing a women’s division.

As if these changes weren’t remarkable enough, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing has transitioned into the digital realm for the first time. Eligible competitors can now submit videos featuring their two best waves from Sunset, Haleiwa, and Pipeline for judging consideration. Even more groundbreaking is the inclusion of both men’s and women’s divisions in this digital Triple Crown of Surfing, marking the first time a women’s division has been featured since 2010.

While these changes are […]

609, 2020

Best Surf Lessons On Oahu

By |September 6th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

There are a number of things you should make sure your surf school has to make sure you are getting the best surf lessons on Oahu.

Number 1. read customer reviews on Google and Trip Advisor.

Ten year old Pua learning to surf on her birthday.

Number 2. Make sure the State of Hawaii licenses your surf school. When booking the surf lesson, ask to see a copy of your surf school license. All surf schools in Hawaii are required by law to be licensed.

Number 3. Find out what kind of equipment your surf school uses. If you want to make sure you get the best surf lessons on Oahu, you want to make sure your surf school uses the best surf equipment. Surftech boards are state of the art and should always be on hand.

Number 4. How well trained our the surf instructors? Beyond surfboards and legal requirements, an essential requirement in getting the best surf lessons on Oahu is how well prepared are your surf instructors. The best surf schools will have a training program that includes a land lesson, how to paddle, water safety, controlling the surfboard, how to pop up, and paddling back out […]

209, 2020

Red Bull Queen of the Bay 2020 Announces Event Cancellation

By |September 2nd, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Red Bull Queen of the Bay big wave contest planned for October is canceled with an interim virtual big-wave video contest in development for the winter.

Haleiwa, HI – (September 1, 2020) – Red Bull and Banzai Productions made the decision today to cancel the 2020 Red Bull Queen of the Bay big-wave contest in following current state and local event guidelines. The first-ever women-only big-wave competition to take place in Hawaii’s historic Waimea Bay was scheduled to begin its contest waiting period on October 1, 2020.

Waimea Big Wave Rider Raquel Heckart drops in on a big one on the North Shore of Oahu

Now, Red Bull looks forward to 2021 to bring the esteemed event back to Hawaii and, in the interim, producing a Hawaii-focused big-wave video contest this winter in the spirit of providing opportunity.

“We’ve been closely monitoring health updates globally and–while we had hoped to be able to bring Red Bull Queen of The Bay to life this year, 2020 had other plans for us,” Betty Depolito, contest director, said about the cancellation. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to bring the original vision of Red Bull Queen of The Bay–giving the top women’s big-wave surfers a […]

3006, 2020

Equality in Professional Surfing – Will Women Get Back Their Triple Crown of Surfing on The North Shore?

By |June 30th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

According to Wikipedia. The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is second only to the World Surf League’s World Title in terms of prestige and difficulty. It is the ultimate test of a surfer’s ability to master the large and consequential waves in surfing’s most legendary arena, among the most talented field of competitors in the sport.

The Triple Crown of Surfing was starting in 1983 and has been held annually since then. The series consists of 3 professional surfing events for men and intermittently women on the North Shore of Oahu in November and December. Having run annually since 1983, it first included a women’s division 14-years later in 1997; however, 3-years later, it was suspended off and on until 2010. A list of the Women’s Triple Crown Winners is listed below.

Women’s Triple Crown of Surfing Champions 1997 – Layne Beachley 1998 – Layne Beachley 1999 – Layne Beachley 2000 – No Women’s Division 2001 – No Women’s Division 2002 – No Women’s Division 2003 – Keala Kennelly 2004 – No Women’s Division 2005 – Chelsea Hedges 2006 – No Women’s Division 2007 – Megan Abubo […]

1905, 2020

Falling in Love with Surfing Again

By |May 19th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

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, it seemed a dream. Sunburnt skin and salty hair was 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 traveled 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 […]

705, 2020

Best Shave Ice on the North Shore of Oahu After a Surf Lesson

By |May 7th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Shave Ice almost goes as well with the North Shore as surfing. It’s a must-do after a surfing lesson, especially on a hot summer day. The North Shore Oahu is famous for its shave ice, especially Matsumoto’s Shave Ice, located in the Shops At Haleiwa. To find Matusmotos Shave Ice, drive through the middle of Haleiwa town and look for the long line of people lined up in the courtyard of Haleiwa’s newest town center. If the line is too long, walk across the street to Aoki’s Shave Ice, which is just as good. If you’re a shave ice coinsure, then head to Island X Hawaii in the old Waialua Sugar Mill for real fruit and natural flavors. So after a thirsty surf lesson, check out my favorite shave ice shops on the North Shore.

Matsumoto’s Shave Ice

Aloha General Store Hawaii’s Best Shaved Ice

Island X Hawaii Shave Ice 

605, 2020

Mother Earth is Winning and I Want to Be on Her Team

By |May 6th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

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 […]

2904, 2020

Day 39ish of Hawaii COVID-19 Surf Sessions.

By |April 29th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

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 […]

2704, 2020

How to Train for Surfing

By |April 27th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Surfing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. While having a surf instructor at your side pushing you into waves can make it seem easy to do, the reality is that the more fit you are, the easier it is to surf. There are three types of surf fitness you need to develop; cardio or breath, flexibility, and strength. As with all exercise programs, you should, of course, consult your doctor to ensure you don’t have any underlying health issues. For my cardio workout, I like to run sprints in the sand. Since not all beaches are flat, I run sprints straight to the water and then back up the coast to the vegetation line. Sprinting when developing cardio is the best way to go. For my flexibility, I do a yoga routine twice a day. It’s pretty short, consisting of a sun salutation and a downward dog on both sides. For my strength work out, I use light weights. If you are following a daily surf training program when you come to take surf lessons, you will learn a lot faster and have more fun.

1804, 2020

I Never Really Wanted a Job Anyway.

By |April 18th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

I never really wanted to work anyway. So when I got an email from the state saying that they had suspended my surf school license indefinitely, It felt like a mixed blessing. I should start by saying being a surf instructor never felt like working anyway. I get to go into the ocean every day, still people out by sharing the magic of surfing with them. The only downside is that I wasn’t free surfing enough. Free surfing is when you surf for yourself; for me, it also means not getting paid to surf. Going back to the title of this article, “I never really wanted a job anyway.” And now I when I wake up in the morning, I take my time getting out of bed, Check surf line from my cell phone, call up my best friend, Jenn Marr, To say if she’s up for a morning session. Either way, I still have to decide which bikini I’m going to wear under my sun protection gear. If I’m lucky, my man will make me a fresh cup of coffee; sometimes, I have to make my own or go to the Coffee Gallery. I fill up my […]