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EDITORIAL Editor / Publisher Mike Latronic Photo Director Brian Bielmann Art Director John Weaver Staff Shooters Brent Bielmann, Mike Latronic, Keale Lemos, John Weaver Staff Writer Kaea Latronic Contributing Writers Tor Johnson, Alexandra Kahn, Daniel Ikaika Ito, Nicole Nason, Amanda Blackwell Contributing Photographers Christa Funk, Ryan “Chachi” Craig, Dooma Photos, Dayanidhi Das, Erik Aeder, Mark Rodrigues, Aaron Lynton, Kurt Steinmetz, Mike Ito, Tommy Pierucki, Sean Evans, Stu Soley, Tai Vandyke, Mitch McEwen, Sivar Films, Humanocine, Feistan Rivera, Samuel Rivera Distribution & Advertising Inquiries Mike Latronic mlatronic808@gmail.com Sales & Marketing Randall Paulson randallpaulson@gmail.com

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LUKE TEMA

Pipeline M7 Model by Kerry Tokoro: 6’6” X 18.83” X 2.32” Photo: Freesurf

OAHU • MAUI • KAUAI • BIG ISLAND

STORE L O C AT I O N S

TABLE OF CONTENTS 8

Free Parking

16

Caity Simmers

14 22

44 50 56 62

66

70

Editor's Note Aperture

Nao Clifton

Environment

Beach Buyer's Guide News & Events

Industry Notes Last Look

Town. Photo John Weaver

It's been nearly three decades that I’ve had the privilege to put this magazine together and over that time I've learned that some issues just stack themselves. This is one of them.

Freesurf opens on the cover with Newport’s own, Ty Burgess wielding magic at the Wedge. If you've never seen this place, it's not a wave so much as an orchestration— or maybe an argument. This legendary OC peak takes a SoCal, Pacific swell, bounces it off a jetty at close range and turns it into one of the heaviest, most theatrical slabs on earth; and the spectacle is all within spitting distance of a municipal parking lot. Surfing the Wedge is not for

Lucky to catch Caitlin Simmers, a modern wahine enigma.

She's twenty now, still out of Oceanside, and already the youngest woman to ever win a world title. One could easily argue that her accolades, style and whole approach put her in a class of her own. Yet, bringing her voice to a whole new level, Caity is the outspoken wahine who, live on the Pipe Masters webcast and in front of the entire surfing world, declared, "Pipeline's for the f*cking girls." People call her a "petite powerhouse," but there is indeed a big heart and a big smile on this woman.

ED NOTE

By Mike Latronic

Photo Lorrane Ramos

We also caught up with up-and-comer, young Nao Clifton, for this issue's junior spotlight. He's a first-timer on the Hawai’i Surf Team out of Ewa Beach, working his way up the local ranks. He will have a big playing field to contend with at the ISA Junior Championships in September when he travels with the team in Surf City El Salvador. HST is still fundraising so head over to Hawai’i surf team online it's a good cause!

everyone. Look at lifeguard injury stats, and you’ll see it’s downright impractical for most people. Sure it makes a great shot but for most, beware. Flip to Aperture for the full story in photos.

From impractical, we get practical. Our Beach & Board Buyers Guide is back to help you wade through another season of new gear. There’s a handful of picks and pointers so you're shopping smart instead of guessing at the rack.

And speaking of gear, Kaea Latronic highlights a cool piece on “ghost gear”—the wild afterlife of abandoned fishing nets, and how they’re reborn: everything from boardshorts to surfboard fins. It’ll change how you look at your surf gear.

FSM has a few newsy tid bits and an event or two but on a solemn note the Hawai’i community, and the surfing world lost Jim Blewster. I had the privilege of knowing Jim on and off for the better part of 40 years, and he was a true fixture of this industry back when Gotcha was Gotcha. We celebrate him further inside the mag. RIP— Mike 14

I first caught a glimpse of Caity Simmers years ago, battling it out with the junior girls at Lower Trestles during the USA Championships. She was far from timid in the water, but her demeanor on land was quiet: someone who observes way more than she speaks. Her frame is small enough that early on, she leaned on technique and timing rather than power.

Surfers like Tyler Wright and Carissa Moore came up overpowering their competition; Simmers came up reading it. As she's matured, her power has grown too, but it's the subtle way she uses her rails and timing that magnifies it. You kind of have to see it to believe it.

That approach carried her to a world title in 2024 at age eighteen, making her the youngest woman ever to win it. She's since become one of the sport's most-watched surfers, as much for her progressive style as for her results. Caity is definitely unique. I wouldn’t call her style punk rock but she has this mixed energy. Subtle and reserved yet oozing in potential and revolt once she’s gliding across a wave. I caught up with her a few months back at Punta Roca in El Salvador, where she'd just posted the best heat total of the event, a 16.50, before running into a determined Tyler Wright in the quarters. Here's our conversation.

Take me back to the beginning. How did you get into surfing?

I remember surfing on the nose of my dad's board when I was five or six. My parents always loved the beach, so I was just always around the ocean.

I actually fell out of love with it for a couple of years. I think I was just cold, and didn't love the sand. In that stretch I did BMX, skating, scootering, dance, baseball. I was always into being active and competitive.

I became obsessed with surfing around age ten.

I don't remember one specific moment. I just remember my first surf contest, being so excited about the whole process, the anticipation, the nerves, and then winning. I've always loved winning, and I think that's what made me fall in love with competing. Combine that with surfing being this exciting, unpredictable thing that just felt natural to me, and I fell in love with it. I feel so much joy doing it, and in my own beliefs, that's kind of what you're meant to do. Whatever brings you the most joy.

That's always felt like my calling.

STILL WATER

CAITY SIMMERS

By Mike Latronic

Photo Ryan "Chachi" Craig

CAITY SIMMERS How would you describe your style, and how it's evolved?

For me it's about picking what I want to do on a wave and sticking to that. I've been trying to surf with more power, changing little things. That's the fun part, honestly, because I never want to stay stagnant in my surfing or my style. I try not to think about whether people are going to like the direction I take. I just think about how I want to surf, and that's where I'll always move.

At the same time, I do have a competitive side that wants to surf to the WSL criteria. I'm always going to want to finish a wave with a big turn that scores well. That's the competitive side talking. Then there's the side that just loves surfing and feels the joy of it. When I'm at my best in competition, those two things mold together perfectly.

You came onto tour going up against surfers like Tyler Wright and Carissa Moore — surfers built on power. Did people underestimate you?

Growing up, I always watched Dane Reynolds and Stephanie Gilmore, two surfers who read the ocean their own way rather than just conforming to a scoring criteria.

That's always been more of an inspiration to me than being a competitive machine. So when people said I didn't have as much power as other girls when I got on tour, I actually think having a different element to my surfing was an

WSL Champion Caitlin Simmers surfs in Heat 8 of Round Two at the Surf City El Salvador Pro. Photo Oscar Jimenez/WSL

advantage- being able to go beyond the criteria and surf how I wanted. I view competition as a stage to show my surfing. If I can surf how I want in front of a big audience, that's the goal.

Where do you think your competitive streak comes from?

My mom played tennis competitively when she was younger, and she's a pretty competitive person. My dad's more laid back. I also have a younger brother, about a year and a half younger, and we always had the same interests and were always trying to one-up each other at everything. That probably contributed. But honestly, I think it's just who I am. I've always felt like competing was a way to prove something to myself. It's not something I have to interpret or guess at. I got first in that contest, that means I'm doing well. I think that's why I fell in love with it.

Did you do the traditional high school thing, or did surfing take over?

I was homeschooled through all of high school. I went to school in-person through elementary and a bit of middle

CAITY SIMMERS

Photo Thiago Diz/WSL

that and remember you're surrounded by good people in a cool place, it helps. If you're fortunate enough to just be in the ocean, you're already doing well— there are a lot of people in this world working just to survive.

school, but it was mostly online after that. I was already surfing competitively and traveling by middle school, so I missed out on some of the social side of that age. But it also brought me opportunities to meet people all over the world, which gave me a different perspective than a lot of my friends who did the normal middle school and high school path. Not a good or bad thing, just an interesting way to grow up. I'm grateful for it.

How's it feeling being back in El Salvador?

Waves are pumping, the weather's warm, it's a perfect right-hand point break. Good vibes all around. I don't know if you can ask for much more.

How do you keep perspective when the waves or the results aren't going your way?

I get a lot of my happiness from surfing, and surfing happens in the ocean, so it can become a negative if you put too much of your happiness on whether the waves are good or not. Especially now that surfing is my job, it's hard not to get emotionally attached to how a contest goes.

So I try to focus on the other things that bring me joy. My relationships, the places surfing has brought me, the people I love. That's something I think more surfers could get better at, because it's easy to get stuck in the moment on a bad surf trip or after a bad heat. If you can pull yourself out of

How are you feeling about this year?

I'm feeling good, feeling confident, more confident in myself, in my surfing, feeling stronger. Not as much has changed for me other than that confidence and really believing in myself. It's been a great start to the year. I'm looking forward to the events we've still got left. This one hasn't even finished yet, and I'm already excited to get back in the water and surf some more perfect waves. I'm living my dream every day. I'm really grateful for what I'm living and what I'm doing. It's a good life. I can't complain.

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TIMMY REYES Photo Owen Beim

THE

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There's nothing normal about the Wedge. Tucked into the very end of the Balboa Peninsula in Orange County, this legendary left-hand peak takes open-ocean swell and slams it against a jetty at an angle, stacking incoming and reflected waves on top of each other until the ocean stands up, thick and vertical, in water barely deep enough to stand in. The result is one of the gnarliest, most photogenic shorebreaks on the planet . It’s a wave that builds almost out of nothing and then unloads just yards from the sand.

Bodysurfers, bodyboarders, and a small, committed crew of standup surfers have made a religion out of riding it, backwash and all, for decades. On a recent big swell, a crew of talented photographers and equally talented water people posted up to capture the Wedge doing what it does best. Enjoy.

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SAGE BURKE Photo Owen Beim

MASON HO Photo Kalani Cummings JAMIE O'BRIEN Photo Owen Beim

BOBBY OKVIST Photo Kalani Cummings

TOMMY CANTRELL Photo Kalani Cummings

JP KALEOPA'A

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Photos Brian Bielmann

Just off the sands of Waikīkī sits Queens—the soul of modern longboarding and a crown jewel of Hawaiian surf culture.Named in honor of Queen Liliʻuokalani, who held a seaside home nearby, this legendary break produces silky, peeling right-handers over gentle reef that seem tailored for high-nose rides and effortless style.

MICHAEL VAN HOHENSTEIN

PUAMAKAMAE DESOTO ...and her little sisters all drove out from the west side to surf at Queens and got some really great waves. Brent Bielmann is shooting her with his super slow-mo camera.

RON JOHNSON AND S'MORES 34

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Sitting right at the mouth of the Ala Wai Canal, Ala Moana Bowls is the crown jewel of Oahu’s South Shore.

Renowned for its fast, pitching lefts, this legendary reef break transforms solid summer south swells into heavy, hollow barrels sectioning over shallow coral reef.

When a big swell hits, Bowls serves up a world-class high-performance wave that draws the island’s most skilled chargers. It remains an absolute icon of Town surf culture, requiring sharp instincts, precise timing, and deep respect.

SKAI SUITT

KUIO YOUNG

KEONI YOUNG Heavy backside bottom turns all session

EDRICK BALDWIN

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MOANA JONES WONG She can find a barrel anywhere she surfs Pipeline or Ala Moana . Or anywhere on earth for that matter.

RISING TIDE

NAO CLIFTON

Story and photos by Mike Latronic

Sixteen-year-old Nao Clifton just put his name on the map. Clifton recently took first in the Explorer Junior division at the NSSA Nationals in Huntington Beach, with a clutch 8.5 ride on his last wave! That result capped a breakout year, one which also saw him make the elite squad for the Hawai’i Surf Team and earn a spot representing Hawai’i at the ISA World Junior Championships. Sponsored by Local Motion/Tokoro Surfboards, Sister Betsy Surf Wax, and, first and foremost, his parents, Clifton has spent the last few years metamorphosizing from a bodyboard grom into a genuine junior contender.

We caught up with him to talk about the path from his first wave at Ewa Beach to the win in Huntington Beach.

NAO CLIFTON How did it feel making the Hawai’i Surf Team?

I feel very grateful I made the team, but I understand I have to put in the work and win. I'm excited to surf somewhere across the world and compete against very good surfers, representing Hawai’i.

next day, on a glassy, perfect morning at Ewa Beach, I rode it for the first time and couldn't believe how fun surfing was. I told myself right there — this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. What keeps me coming back is the freedom, the levels I still want to reach, and the adrenaline.

Take us back to your first wave.

I was the kid on the bodyboard always trying to stand up and turn. When I was around seven, I watched my friend get barreled at Chun's and pull these sick turns, and I told myself that's what I wanted to do. I begged my mom and dad for a surfboard, and my dad took me to Used Surfboards Hawai’i to get one I'll always remember. The

Any standout amateur highlights?

Qualifying for USA Champs and Nationals in California was a big one. It was a big contest and gave me a lot of nerves, but I did the stretches and training [that] my coach taught me and felt ready. I made it through a few tough heats before falling in the semis — disappointing, but I learned from the mistakes and came back better for it.

What are your strengths, and what are you still working on?

Turns and bigger waves are my strengths — training at Kahea Hart's gym has really boosted my power and comfort out there. What I'm still working on is staying calm under pressure. In a heat, staying relaxed helps me make better decisions.

Tell us about your equipment.

My board is shaped by Wade and Kerry Tokoro at Local Motion — they've shaped every one of my favorites, big waves to small. My go-to is the Tokoro 5+; it works at pretty much every spot in Hawai’i. I run FCS fins, usually

the Mick Fanning Large for the drive and power, Sister Betsy wax for the grip, and Tokoro, FCS, or Creatures of Leisure traction pads for foot placement.

How do you stay in shape for competition?

I hit Kahea Hart's gym twice a week for weight and foundation training — it's been a game changer. Beyond that, I'm surfing five-plus times a week, and every session keeps me sharp.

NAO CLIFTON

Any hobbies outside of surfing?

I love to fish, dive, and bike. They're a good outlet when the waves are flat — a way to get up in the mountains or pull food from the ocean, and just another way to connect with nature while bringing something home for family and friends.

What about school?

Keeping straight A's is important to me — it opens up more doors down the line. I'm strongest in math, and I've got a real interest in finance and business.

Any favorite surfers?

Gabriel Medina, for his mentality — the way he stays composed and finds the scores he needs in the hardest situations. And John John Florence, for the best carves in the game and the strategy he brings to a heat.

Anything else you want to say?

Big thank you to my mom, dad, my coaches, and my sponsors. I wouldn't be here without them — they've taught me lessons I'll carry for life. And thank you to Jason Shibata for putting on such a great event and giving Hawai’i's surfers a chance to represent around the world.

Photo: Freesurf

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ENVIRONMENT

GHOST GEAR

FROM PHANTOM SNARE TO OCEAN WEAR

by K. Latronic

Abandoned fishing gear does not rest. Unmoored from human hands, a lost net becomes a severed extension of the fleet—a phantom limb drifting through the world's waters, trapped in the repetition of an act... one it was never equipped to complete alone.

"Ghost gear" is not a metaphor, but an apt description of a presence haunting our oceans. Synthetic lines, forged from polymers that refuse to decay, slink around pelagic depths and shallow reefs alike. They are a parody of their former purpose: structures without operator or intention, causing destruction.

What remains is an aimless, self-perpetuating haunting. Suspended in marine currents, a phantom net drifts through the water up, down, left, right: a spectre collecting a haul that is never harvested by human hands. Once accidentally captured organisms accumulate, the dead weight overpowers any buoyancy the net has, pulling the web down to the ocean floor.

There, scavengers strip the dead organisms while bacteria clears away whatever remains. Once more unburdened, the net regains buoyancy, rising back into the currents to drift and tangle. When these heavy nets sweep across living reef systems during strong tides, the trash thrashes against the seabed: snapping branches and grinding down centuries of delicate reef architecture. It will indiscriminately entangle fish, sea turtles, and sharks alike.

Ending their wandering requires intercepting these nets long before they can reach the shallows. Programs like Bureo revolutionize that dynamic by partnering directly with commercial fleets through vessel-of-opportunity initiatives: compensating active fishers to locate, track, and haul stray gear out of the water. Spanning North and South America, physical collection hubs posted at fishing ports allow retired nets to be deposited directly in exchange for compensation or local infrastructure funding, halting the ghastly reincarnation before the gear can sink and scour the seabed again.

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STUFF WE LIKE: Eco Minded

ENVIRONMENT / GHOST GEAR

K. Latronic

Built to break in rather than break down, Rainbow Sandals keeps footwear out of landfills. Their Repair • Reuse • Recycle program refurbishes gently worn pairs for donation, while end-of-life scraps are reclaimed into brand-new sandals with incredible arch support.

Skipping mass production, SMKFLWR creates smallbatch minimalist streetwear that minimizes textile waste. From geometric aloha shirts to graphic tees and lounge wear, their polished, eco-conscious pieces use soft organic fabrics crafted specifically for sun-drenched, laid-back living.

Salty Crew engineers high-performance waterwear using REPREVE® fibers made from upcycled coconut husks and recycled plastic bottles. Their quickdrying, UPF 50+ boardshorts and sun hoodies deliver friction-free durability, proving ocean conservation and heavy saltwater utility can go hand-in-hand.

Shaped and glassed right on island, Quality Surfboards HI builds boards with a serious structural backbone. By utilizing bio-based epoxy resins and eco-conscious blanks, they reduce petroleum reliance while crafting durable boards meant for heavy sessions, season after season.

Brought to shore as a salt-crusted, bio-fouled mass of mixed polymers, lead sinkers, and hard metal fittings, they must be stripped of non-plastic hardware, washed clean, and sorted by condition and chemical makeup to determine how they will be reanimated. The most complete and regenerative reanimation occurs when high-grade nylon nets are cleaned, melted, and re-spun into new thread. This recycled material goes right back into the water truly revived.

Two primary programs drive the high-grade textile processing: ECONYL® and NetPlus®. ECONYL® recycles nylon waste from ocean cleanup debris alongside terrestrial waste like carpet fluff and fabric scraps. NetPlus® converts recovered port and ocean lines into purified plastic resin pellets and technical yarn.

These re-spun fibers form the base of a lot of technical ocean wear, brands you may be wearing right now. Florence Marine X weaves the thread into lightweight ripstop fabrics for weather barriers. Patagonia, Quiksilver, Speedo, and Outerknown integrate the yarn into boardshorts, rashguards, and chlorine-resistant swimwear. Berlook- a newer, ecoconscious, minimalist swimwear brand founded in 2020makes activewear and beachwear engineered for comfort and inclusive sizing.

Beyond textiles, shredded net pellets provide the raw material for injection-molded hardware. In surfing, Futures Fins blends

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Board Certified Neurosurgeon Pioneering Treatments in Disc Replacements, Motion Preservation, and Minimally Invasive/Complex Spine Surgery.

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ENVIRONMENT / GHOST GEAR

the net resin with carbon fiber to mold surfboard thruster, twin, and quad fin sets. Fourth Element uses regenerated nylon for heavy-duty technical dive webbing, harnesses, weight belts, and exposure undergarments.

Above the waterline, the reclaimed material is used as eyewear frames for Costa Del Mar, hat brim stiffeners for Patagonia and YETI, water bottle cages for Trek, and protective gear cases or coolers for brands like NANUK, Blue Coolers, LifeProof, and OtterBox. Ghost gear also finds new purpose in land-based shelter and heavy equipment covers. Sea to Summit weaves recovered net yarn and post-consumer waste into ripstop nylon for waterproof expedition shelters.

Marine debris that's too battered or weathered to reuse as fiber is funneled toward civil engineering. Combined directly into asphalt mixtures for experimental roadpaving trials, the high tensile strength that once snagged and snapped coral reefs stays entombed beneath highway traffic. Alternatively, the unusable nets are incinerated under controlled, high heat and processed in specialized waste-to-energy facilities, generating electricity for local power grids.

The exact traits that made the debris such a hazard: extreme strength, resistance to saltwater, and refusal to decay, are born again for surfers, divers, and mariners.

Whether woven into a rashguard, bathing suit, or pressed into surfboard fins, the spirit of the objects returns to the sea not as a specter, but as functional gear for the community enjoying the ocean, while helping keep the ocean free of harmful entities.

EcoClean Hawaii

BEACH BUYER'S GUIDE

Welcome to the 2026 Freesurf Beach and Board Buyer’s Guide, your ultimate lineup of ocean gear for life in the sun. Discover premium beach essentials curated for surfers and ocean lovers across Hawai'i and beyond.

THE SURF N SEA × YETI COLLECTION

The Surf N Sea × YETI Collection pairs YETI’s legendary performance with Surf N Sea’s exclusive design, showcasing the iconic Haleʻiwa Rainbow Bridge alongside their famous Surfer X-ing sign. Available in a variety of tumblers, bottles, mugs, jugs, and coolers, each piece is built to keep drinks at the perfect temperature for every adventure, from dawn patrol to sunset. Whether it’s your daily coffee or an ice-cold drink after the beach, every use brings back memories of time spent on Oʻahu’s North Shore. Available exclusively at Surf N Sea in Haleʻiwa. surfnsea.com

THE NO. 6 JACOB ROMERO SIGNATURE BODYBOARD

Engineered for explosive, high-performance riding, the No.6 Jacob Romero Signature Bodyboard delivers incredible drive and lightning-fast reactivity.

Featuring a rigid Imperial Polypropylene core, mesh recoil layering, and a single Fiber-Flex stringer, it maximizes snap for massive aerial projection. Complete with a Surlyn slick and contoured deck, it offers ultimate high-speed control. theno6.com

Over Under The Explorer Set Explore underwater safely and comfortably with this stylish, ergonomic swim mask. Featuring a 180° panoramic view, it makes snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming effortless and fun.

A soft silicone socket and nose piece ensure a dry, leak-proof seal for adults, while the shatter-resistant, anti-fog tempered glass lens provides clear vision and sun protection. High-grade, easily adjustable silicone straps offer a comfortable fit without snagging your hair. Available in eight stylish colors, it makes a great gift for making unforgettable water memories. overunder.fun 56

HI-TECH SURF DONALD TAKAYAMA In The Pink

Ultimate high performance noserider! This is definitely the most loved and sought after model in Donalds range. Able to surf anything from one foot slop to overhead barrels, the In The Pink is definitely THE one longboard you must own.

Perfect for the rider looking to own one longboard, or someone who is looking to become more accustomed to the nose, the In The Pink will have you loving your surfing again.

LOCAL MOTION QUICK-DRY BEACH TOWEL A beach essential featuring a piece of Local Motion history.

Created in collaboration with premium towel brand SLOWTIDE, this quick-dry beach towel features Local Motion’s iconic original logo from 1977—the year Hawaiian surf brand was founded. The bold, full-surface print brings a classic piece with a fresh, modern look.

Lightweight, absorbent, and fast-drying, it’s perfect for beach days, surf sessions, poolside lounging, and travel. localmotionhawaii.com

MAUI VERA

We love the view from here!

Sunshine and the perfect pre and post sun sun care.

Take Maui Vera wherever you adventure! mauivera.com

fs BEACH BUYER'S GUIDE DESIGNED BY SURFERS. WORN BY ATHLETES. Founded in 2009 by professional surfer Jeremy Flores, MOSKOVA creates premium performance underwear inspired by surfing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Today, Olympic Champion Kauli Vaast carries that same performance-driven spirit as a proud member of the MOSKOVA team. The iconic M2 Boxer, available in premium cotton or recycled polyamide, delivers exceptional comfort, lasting support, and unmatched durability-from the lineup to everyday life. www.moskova.com

POKE FOR THE PEOPLE

Experience the vibrant, laid-back spirit of Haleiwa at Poke For The People! Serving premium fresh ahi, customizable poke bowls, and house-made sauces daily, every order delivers authentic island flavor with true aloha. Stop by Oahu's North Shore for generous portions, local hospitality, and poke crafted just for you. pokeforthepeople.com

HAWAIIAN ISLAND CREATIONS Z-GLIDE Shaper: Steve Morgan 7’2” x 21.25” x 3”

WAI KAI NIGHT MARKET

Held every Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, the Wai Kai Thursday Night Market brings together over 50 local vendors offering delicious food truck eats, sweet treats, and handmade gifts. This family- and pet-friendly outdoor gathering features a free 7:00 PM surf show alongside Pau Hana food and drink specials. waikai.com

This mid-size board is a great compromise between a fun board and a performance shortboard.

The Z-Glide offers a moderate rocker to drop in without going over the handlebars, but still has enough surface area to ride in less than optimal conditions. The classic Vee bottom keeps the board lively and maneuverable in the pocket of the wave. This model can be built as a thruster, twin or 2+1. Available from 6'6" to 8'0" as a round tail.

Available at HIC Kailua and Ala Moana Center stores. www.HICsurf.com hicsurf.com

Ride the Wave to

fs BEACH BUYER'S GUIDE RAINBOWS SANDALS LIMITED EDITION MEN'S DOUBLE LAYER LEATHER SANDALS Crafted for maximum comfort and durability, Rainbow's Limited Edition Men's Double Layer Leather Sandals feature a top sole of soft premier nubuck leather with custom color accents. Built with double-layered arch support, a sturdy 1" strap, and triple-glued construction, they mold to your feet for a custom, lasting fit. rainbowsandals.com

HI-TECH SURF SPORTS X TAG ALOHA EXCLUSIVE PAREO Thoughtfully designed, this limited-edition piece is crafted from a soft lightweight rayon weave—Measuring 67" x 43", it offers endless styling options such as a post-surf cover-up or lounging on the beach. $49.00 surfmaui.com

QUALITY SURFBOARDS HI

6'6" Pyzel Mini Padillac

The 6’6” Pyzel Mini Padillac is a high-performance step-up surfboard designed for effortless paddling and early wave entry. Downsized from the iconic Padillac gun, it packs generous chest volume, thinned rails, a 5-fin setup. qualitysurfboardshawaii.com

SALTY CREW APEX HOODED RASHGUARD Engineered for long, high-sun sessions, the Salty Crew Apex Hood Surf Rashguard in Recon Camo offers UPF 50+ protection in a lightweight, 4-way stretch fabric. Featuring a form-fitting design with flatlock seams, a fitted hood with an EVA visor, and moisture-wicking anti-microbial material, it delivers ultimate comfort and coverage. salty-crew.com

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MOKU rider Samuel Hutting Photo: Ollie Grayson / Sky Control Productions

RENTALS • LESSONS • SALES Now four convenient locations... Waikiki, Hale’iwa, Long Beach NY, Playa Jobos, Isabela, PR www.mokuhawaii.surf

Mentawai Islands Spots open for 2026 season!

11 nights $2000 john@odsc1.com wa 17606590867 oceandreamssurfcharters.com

WEST SIDE SWELLS SHOWCASE TRADITION AT THE 2026 HO'OMA'A WA'A INVITATIONAL

Photos John Weaver

MĀʻILI POINT, OʻAHU — High-energy ocean action filled Oʻahu’s West Side as the Hoʻomaʻa Foundation hosted the 3rd Annual Hoʻomaʻa Waʻa Invitational at iconic Māʻili Point. The single-day competition brought together elite four-person outrigger crews from across the islands to showcase the skill, style, and heritage of traditional Hawaiian waʻa surfing.

Battling through 17-minute elimination heats, crews read shifting swells to lock into rolling waves and execute controlled turns. Judges evaluated entry timing, maneuvering, and overall execution, awarding bonus points for traditional "Buffalo tricks"—holding dynamic tandem balance stunts inside the waʻa for at least three seconds.

Safety remained paramount, with dedicated jet ski marshals assisting through heavy sets. To earn official scores, all four paddlers had to stay inside the canoe through the wave's completion, placing a premium on team synchronization.

Beyond the competition, the non-profit event served as a vibrant cultural gathering celebrating Hawaiʻi’s rich ocean traditions. Official standings and detailed scorecards tracking wave scores, bonuses, and bracket progression are available at hoomaa.org/results. Ultimately, the 2026 edition stood as a memorable showcase of aloha, athletic prowess, and deep respect for the ocean.

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Maldives

Pacifc Islands

Indo

and more!

Handpicked surf adventures since 1997 Reservation Specialist

Sean Walker sean@worldsurfaris.com (877) 617-1328

www.worldsurfaris.com

NEWS & EVENTS

RIP CURL GROMSEARCH RETURNS TO O'AHU WITH STANDOUT PERFORMANCES AT KEWALO BASIN Photos Willi Edwards

Rip Curl's Latest Film Sketchy Premieres at HIC Surf Before Top Junior Surfers Battle for National Final Qualification The week launched with a premiere event at HIC Surf featuring film screenings of Sketchy, Unexcused Absence, and Caveheart II, along with an athlete Q&A with Sheldon Paishon and Merrik Mochkatel.

Over the weekend, young athletes competed for spots in the Rip Curl GromSearch National Final, scheduled for October 8 at Atlantic Park Surf in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Top four finishers from each division earned qualification, while division champions each received a $500 prize check from Rip Curl.

The tour now moves to Ocean City, New Jersey, before heading to the National Final in Virginia Beach.

NATIONAL FINAL QUALIFIERS U14 Girls: Manalani Cazimero, Sophia Gannon, Mia Blaxland, Teagan Meza U14 Boys: Keahi Lee, Henry Mullen, Ian Moody, Pohaku Lambeth U16 Girls: Kiki Takako Oshiro-Kaneshiro, Brenice Alama, Ocean Lipstein, Teagan Meza U16 Boys: Hayden Flores, Matias Banto, Merrik Mochkatel, Finn Castle

Come see us for Pain Management & Bone Marrow Stem Cell/PRP Therapy With over 25 years of experience Dr. Rubin is one of the top interventional pain management specialists in the nation. While providing a minimally invasive approach towards the treatment of spine and joints without narcotics or surgical intervention.

www.spineoi.com

CA: 949.933.7012 NV: 725.666.5872

Sonny Rubin, M.D Interventional Pain Management Specialist

INDUSTRY NOTES

Photo Tommy Pierucki/WSL

Photo Tommy Pierucki/WSL

JAKE MARSHALL TRIUMPHS AT THE LEXUS U.S. OPEN OF SURFING Encinitas surfer Jake Marshall achieved a major career milestone at Huntington Beach, securing his maiden World Surf League (WSL) victory at the 2026 Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing. Navigating heavy, hurricane-fueled swell, Marshall defeated two-time event champion and local favorite Kanoa Igarashi in an all-Southern California final. Marshall sealed the emotional win with a late 8.00 ride, claiming his biggest career victory and taking the No. 1 spot on the Challenger Series rankings.

SIERRA KERR COMPLETES EMOTIONAL COMEBACK WIN IN HUNTINGTON BEACH Australian prodigy Sierra Kerr staged a storybook comeback by claiming victory in the women’s division at the Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing. The triumph came just months after Kerr faced a grueling battle with severe Lyme disease, which resulted in hospitalization and left her competitive future uncertain. Kerr out-surfed fellow Australian Isla Huppatz in the final minutes, locking in a late score to seal one of the most emotional returns in recent surfing history.

Photo Kenny Morris / WSL

AVALON GALL AND WILDCARD TOMMY COLEMAN SWEEP WSL LONGBOARD TOUR The WSL Longboard Tour produced incredible action at Huntington Beach, culminating in victories for Avalon Gall and wildcard Tommy Coleman. Gall displayed exceptional nose-riding and rail work to capture back-to-back U.S. Open titles and reclaim the World No. 1 spot. Meanwhile, local wildcard Coleman stunned the fleet with a dream run, taking down top-ranked longboarders to win the men’s crown in his very first appearance on the WSL Longboard Tour.

Photo Brent Bielmann

TATIANA WESTON-WEBB RETURNS TO CT COMPETITION AS MOTHERHOOD WILDCARD Top international competitor Tatiana Weston-Webb made a emotional return to the WSL Championship Tour at the VIVO Rio Pro. Competing as an event wildcard just months after giving birth to her daughter Bia, the Brazilian-Hawaiian powerhouse shared that becoming a mother provided a fresh, grounded perspective. Her return marked one of the most celebrated personal comebacks on tour this season.

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FIND YOUR PLACE WITH OAHU’S RECORD-BREAKING REALTOR *

®

SEAN YANO (RA) RS-61434 808.386.4487 SEAN@YANOGROUP.COM

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.

All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. *Highest recorded sales within Haiku Plantation and Village Park, according to Oahu MLS, sourced April 1, 2024.

808-667-6161 www.minitmed.com Urgent Care located in Kahului, Kihei and Lahaina, HI

EINWECHTER & HYATT Strategic Representation

Serving the North Shore of Oahu and Southern California communities with a practice focused on:

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Athlete and Influencer Endorsements and Sponsorship Name, Image and Likeness Contracts and Collectives Business Governance and Succession Planning Trust Law, Estate Planning, and Wealth Protection

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Real Estate Transactions and Litigation Civil and Criminal Litigation Divorce, Custody and Family Law

Call for a free consultation Hawai'i: 808-452-1390 California: (714) 604-4380 www.eandhlegal.com A Limited Liability Law Partnership

JIM BLEWSTER In Memoriam

We lost a good one. I’ve known Jim Blewster for the better part of 40 years and had the pleasure of interacting with him, sometimes at great length, for the last 20 of those. Along with a lot of family and friends we all wish we had 20 more.

Back in the “hey day” of surfing's growth and exponential cultural and commercial expansion of the 80’s and 90’s, Jim was the super rep for Gotcha, and Gotcha brand was one of the big players. The Gotcha Pro at Sandy Beach with that massive bikini contest was a new spectacle for Hawaii and Big Blewster helped make it happen. Blew was weaving together radio, television, print, and live events in a way I don't think anyone in this industry had quite done before him. I'm still not sure exactly how he pulled it off. But he was pioneering. BIG time Blew. Jim had his stumbles, like anyone does over a life this full. But ask around and you'll hear the same words over and over: kind, gregarious, cheerful. He was sharp, too, and he genuinely loved to talk about almost anything, with almost anyone, for as long as you'd let him. His faith mattered deeply to him; I didn't know the details of his life at church, but I knew it was a real anchor for him.

Jim was a big supporter of this magazine. He helped bring mags to some of the military bases for a time. Even in years when he didn't have a brand advertising with us, he'd still call just to check in, to pat me on the back, and to put in a good word with his friends and family in the industry. That's a rare thing, and I want to thank him for it here. Rest easy, Big Jim. -Mike Latronic

INDUSTRY NOTES

SURF COUTURE Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2027 menswear collection, designed by Pharrell Williams, featured a massive 26-foot artificial wave runway in Paris. Merging surf culture with luxury fashion, the show highlighted weathered denim, wetsuit tailoring, and ocean-inspired apparel. While praised for its artistic ambition, the event sparked debate among surfers and critics over cultural appropriation, sustainability, and extreme local heat.

NOAA CONFIRMS STRENGTHENING EL NIÑO FOR HISTORIC PACIFIC SEASON A forecast update from NOAA confirmed that a powerful El Niño event is continuing to gather strength across the equatorial Pacific. With a 97% probability of persisting into early 2027, the climate pattern is fueling an abnormally active tropical cyclone season. Surfers across Hawaii, California, and Central America are gearing up for what forecasters predict could be one of the most intense winter and tropical swell periods seen in over fifty years.

INDEPENDENT SHAPERS SEE SURGE IN SUSTAINABLE RESIN DEMAND A shifts in consumer habits hit surfboard manufacturing, with suppliers like Resin Services reporting record demand for bio-derived epoxies and eco-friendly blanks. Driven by both elite CT athletes and everyday surfers, board builders are rapidly moving away from traditional toxic materials, reflecting a broader eco-conscious business pivot across the core surfboard industry.

LAST LOOK "I took a heavy hit from the reef on a wave that went completely square. Tried to doggy-door a closeout, got caught behind the curtain, and went face-first straight into the bottom. 🩸 Ended up biting through my tongue, needing plastic surgery, and coming away with 50+ stitches across my lip, chin, tongue, and inside my mouth.

Fast forward two weeks: the surgeon did an amazing job, and I finally got back in the water yesterday. So beyond grateful to walk away from this—if I had been knocked out, things could have gone very differently. Thank you, Jesus, for keeping me safe." - Steve Roberson Photo Leonardo Neves

TEHOTU WONG

ER MEAUVRHOIN ODIE LIT