GETTING TO KNOW BRETT   This spring, we are getting to know Hawaiian South Shore manager Brett Martin a little better through monthly conversations about the priorities and life decisions that led to him joining the family here at HSS. This month, Brett tells us about his early experiences surfing in Hawaii, and what surf spots on Oahu have become his favorite.  What was your first surfing experience in Hawaii and what were the conditions?  My first surfing experience in Hawaii was at Canoes, surfing a 9’0” longboard with a 2+1 setup that I borrowed from my brother. My older brother Brandon took me there the day after I arrived in Hawaii. He knew Canoes was a pretty mellow wave, so it was a good introductory wave for me here in Hawaii. Plus, it was a personal favorite of his. I’m super glad he took me there, because I had the fearful impression that every break in Hawaii was like Pipeline: super big, powerful and shallow. It was pretty nice to see Canoes first—a break that looked more like a playful water park than anything else. I was amazed at how clear and glassy the water was. It almost seemed like I...

OUR MEET AND GREET EVENT WAS A BIG HIT!   A big THANK YOU goes out to Rainbow Drive-In for all the Ono food they made for our Meet and Greet event last month. We had a lot of local pros show up and the shop was packed the entire time from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM.   This is the first time in the last 21 years, experiencing something like this. Yu San, the man that is behind the technology for Thunderbolt is a former pro surfer. He’s known CJ Nelson since he was 14 years old. Yu San is all about making boards that surf better and bounces his ideas off of CJ Nelson, Harley Ingleby and Ben Skinner. I watched and listened to these guys for a whole week during our big event and they collaborate well together. They offer each other advice on board designs and performance. It’s really amazing to see these guys helping each other out and I’m honored to be a part of a company that supports us back. This has been an experience like no other. They shared so much information about what they have going on with their boards and they’re working...