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When people think of surfing, they often envision a cruisy beach scene where everyone is hanging loose, sharing waves, and getting along great. The reality, however, is that waves are scarce resources, and are often competed over fiercely—especially in crowded areas. Tempers can flare, especially when someone “steals” someone else’s wave, or gets in the way and ruins a ride. To help avoid this uncomfortable situation, it is good to understand how a wave breaks and to paddle out in the safest and most efficient way possible. There are three basic types of waves—point breaks, beach breaks, and reefs. Point breaks are typically long and user-friendly, and...

Introducing Ben “Skindog” Skinner Once in awhile, top-level athletes and influencers sneak under the radar, whether due to their geographical location, a lack of desire for self-promotion, or any number of other factors. But it is only a matter of time until talent and style catch up with them, and eventually, the world knows who they are. Early Life and Rise to Fame Ben “Skindog” Skinner is one such athlete. A surfer and shaper from Cornwall, England, Skinner originally grew up on the island of Jersey, located between England and France. Not a lot of people know where that is,...

Hawaiian South Shore September 2020 Newsletter  All about Surfing, Surfing Accessories and many more

  FCS II Firewire Tri Fins by Dan Mann FCS II Rob Machado Tri Keel Fins     We just got the NEW FCS II Fins, The Firewire Tri Fins, and The Rob Machado Tri Keel Fins.  The Firewire Tri Fins designed by Dan Mann are Suited to most Firewire models, the full-bodied XL side fins produce exceptional hold and drive off the bottom, the smaller center fin and unique tip design offer the projection of a twin and a surprising amount of release through turns. Supercharged and very exciting to ride. The Firewire TriFins is made on the AirCore Technology. Fins with...

Most of us have seen Guy Hagi on the news, giving us the weekly weather forecast and the daily surf report. Guy also hosts Hawaii News Now’s ocean-themed spot Pacific Pulse, which features interviews and stories from surfers and other ocean-going folk. The show is a natural fit, since Guy himself is a passionate surfer, often seen in the various lineups here in Town. He also has experience in the surf industry, haven’t worked as a rep for Rip Curl and other surf brands for 20 years! Guy stopped by Hawaiian South Shore this past week to chat with us for...

  FCS has been a leader in the removable fin industry for decades, and each year they find new ways to evolve their lineup of products. Here at Hawaiian South Shore we have a large stock of FCS fins, including the four different FCS families: Performer, Carver, Reactor, and Accelerator. Each of these families of fins is designed for different styles of surfing, different types of waves, and different types of boards. The Performer Family is a series of great, all-around fins that have an inside foil for a bit more squirt through turns and pumps. Meanwhile, The Carver Family...

Here’s one for those of us who have been missing competitive surfing. It has been seven months since the last world tour event when the Pipe Masters finished off the season and Italo Ferreira was crowned world champ. The entire 2020 season was subsequently canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that no one can travel anywhere, which means no pro surfers in jerseys and no contests for fans to watch. But that all changed on Sunday, August 9, when the World Surf League ran an invitational contest at the Surf Ranch called the Rumble At the Ranch....

 SHOP NOW The surf media has written thousands of pages on the various attributes of surfboard design, but much less attention has been given to the part of the surfboard that actually steers it. Fins are an essential part of what makes surfboards work, but we have only recently begun to explore their potential, in terms of design, materials, and other features. For the most part, the fins on today’s surfboards are pretty much exactly the same as the fins that were on boards 30 years ago—whether you are riding single-fin longboards, retro twin fins, thrusters, or quads. That’s all...

NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2020  SURF ETIQUETTE As most of us know, the complexities of surf etiquette can seem pretty overwhelming at times. But for those who understand how lineups work, there really shouldn’t be any confusion—so if someone is breaking etiquette, they are probably either ignorant or selfish. Let’s address ignorance first, and selfishness second. Nearly all waves break in a specific direction—either left or right. (An obviousexception would be Canoes in Waikiki, which is essentially a straight hander, and that’s why you often see 20 people on the same wave and they are all getting along great.) A-frame peaks like...

Competitive Surfing is Back to the Ranch! I know you miss seeing these guys competing and now they are back and competing this coming Sunday, August 9 at Surf Ranch. Watch it Live on WSL. Let's see the line up: Photo Credit to worldsurfleague.com World 16-best surfers names we're pulled out at random by WSL's Pat O'Connell and Jessi Miley-Dyer, and the teams have been selected for the Rumble at the Ranch competition!  I can't wait to see the Hawaii pro's doing their best. Get the full details of the competition here. Best of luck to you guys!     

How the Surf World Dealt Withthe COVID-19 Quarantine It has been a rough couple of months for the world, with COVID-19 infecting millions and effectively shutting down the economy. And although our troubles might pale in comparison to those who have lost family members and friends to this pandemic, it’s been a pretty rough couple of months for the world’s surfers. Here in Hawaii, we were allowed to surf through the quarantine, but in most areas of the world, lineups have been empty, due to government bans on surfing. As you can imagine, people have been going a little stir crazy....

NEWSLETTER JULY 2020 Staying Safe in the Sun   Understanding the UV Index and How to Stay Safe in the Sun   I was chatting with FCS rep Keoni Watson the other day, and he mentioned that the UV index was going to be super high this weekend—pushing as high as 11. That sounded pretty gnarly to me, but I realized that I didn’t really know what the UV index meant, or where it even came from, so I decided to do some research. I found an online guideline from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and discovered some really interesting...

Robert Schmidt—Saving Hawaii’s Oceans Through Reel Aloha Life Robert Schmidt has been in the surf industry for a long time. Over the years, he has served as a designer and creative with OP, creative manager with both Quiksilver and Rusty, sales associate with T&C, and owner/manager of Katin. But around five years ago, he decided he was tired of being involved in the corporate side of surfing. His own personal wave count was way down, and he just didn’t feel like he was doing the things he was truly passionate about. He sold Katin, got back in the water, started...

Reintroducing Ben Aipa – Honolulu Surfing Legend

Daniel "Tomo" Thomson the man behind the greatest Surfboards.

NEWSLETTER JUNE 2020 The History and Science of Surf Reporting and Forecasting on Oahu All of those who surf and live in Hawaii have become accustomed to daily surf reports and forecasts, but many of us are unaware of the science and history that go into those reports. This information is not only interesting for us from a cultural perspective, but also useful in better understanding the ocean and swells, which in turn makes us better watermen and women. The original surf reports were anecdotal observations from surfers and other coastal people. In 1968, a man named Larry Goddard began...

A Central NSW Shaping Staple for 50 years Billy Tolhurst epitomizes Australia’s blue-collar ethos. A surfboard shaper from Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, Tolhurst shaped his first board in 1964 when he was 12, and by the time he was 15 he had his own surfboard label. His board design eventually took a backseat to jobs in surveying and civil earthworks, but throughout the 1970s and ’80s, he continued to refine boards at night and on the weekend. By the time he went back into production mode in the 1990s, Tolhurst was a master craftsman, with Tolhurst Surfboards quickly...

  It might seem like the simplest of questions, but the reality is that many surfers don’t actually know where their waves come from. And little wonder. In an age of computer-guided swell models and customized spot forecasts, it’s easy to live from surf reports to surf reports rather than understanding the science ourselves. But 20 years ago the idea of an online swell model didn’t even exist, and 20 years before that the only surf reports in existence were word of mouth from the guy who got to the beach earlier than you. Go back a couple of hundred...

Dan Mann Talks Us Through the Twice Baked