Hawaiian South Shore October 2025 Newsletter
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Hawaiian South Shore NewsletterOctober 2025 - Your Source for Surf Culture & Gear |
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🏥 The Danger of Small Cuts When SurfingHere at Hawaiian South Shore, we spend a lot of time talking about the serious injuries surfers can sustain while riding waves—both from acute injuries and long-term overuse injuries—and how we can mitigate them in order to stay in good surfing shape. But one topic that often goes unnoticed is the danger that small cuts pose when surfing. After speaking to a number of people over the past few weeks who have either developed infections or know people who have, I decided to chat with Matt Rode, who has spent the past 25 years traveling the world and surfing in over 80 countries. Below, he shares his experience with the dangers of small cuts and open wounds while surfing. Understanding the RiskHaving surfed all over the place, Matt has found that small, often unnoticed injuries can sometimes lead to serious infections. He spent 15 years living and surfing on an island near the equator, and when he was there, he developed the habit of carefully cleaning every fresh wound—no matter how small—with a strong antiseptic and a brush before going to bed at night. When I was young, I used Clorox bleach! But these days, I typically use rubbing alcohol and an iodine scrub for fine tuning. Some medical professionals will argue that iodine is fine and that we don't need to use caustic substances like rubbing alcohol (and certainly not bleach!), but I don't mind a bit of temporary pain or long-term scarring, especially when the alternative is life-threatening infection. Real-World ConsequencesIt might seem excessive to talk about small cuts as life-threatening, but when you've spent enough time in remote tropical areas, you begin to realize the truth in this. In high school, Matt had a friend whose father got a small cut while on a trip in the Marshall Islands, and he died of a systemic staph infection before the plane could arrive to evacuate him from the island the next day. And while spending a year in Bali three years ago, Matt developed a type III necrotizing staph infection that caused big, painful, multi-chambered boils to pop up every few months for around three years. Meanwhile, his brother had a similar infection from a form of strep that caused a year's worth of boils. Trust me when I say you do not want to experience this! The Best PreventionWhat Matt has found is that cleaning a cut well with antiseptic and giving it a good scrubbing to clean any coral, sea urchin spines, or reef out—before going to bed that night—is the single best way to keep wounds from getting infected. This is true whether you are surfing on the equator in Indonesia or at Ala Moana Bowls (where the water is frequently polluted from runoff from the Ala Wai). Critical Warning Signs: If a wound begins to fester, develop a lot of pus or other signs of infection, or create red streaks on the surrounding skin, it is essential to go straight to the emergency room to get it checked out. Take it from someone who was once a few hours away from losing a finger due to a compartmentalized joint infection that developed on a flight home from the Galapagos Islands—toughing things out just for the sake of it is dumb and dangerous. The most important thing is to take note of any open wounds, no matter how small, and to also be aware of the bacteria and other dangers that live in seawater. Even more importantly, if a wound begins to show signs of infection, don't hesitate to seek medical attention. Stay safe out there, and take care of even the smallest cuts. Your health is worth it. Plenty alo-ha, David |
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🏄 Member Spotlight: Brent Ortiz
This month we're featuring Brent Ortiz, a dedicated surfer from Kailua Bay who embodies the spirit of Hawaiian surfing. From his early days bodysurfing with his grandfather to his current quiver of diverse boards, Brent's journey reflects the pure joy of wave riding. Q: When and why did you first try surfing? "I started surfing when I was maybe 9 or 10 years old in Kailua bay, I guess that was around 1984/85. I used to go to the beach with my grandfather, he would go fishing all the time and would shorecast a couple lines out in the surf. Back then I didn't have the patience for fishing so I would always play in the shore break bodysurfing little barrels. Eventually I worked my way up to riding bodyboards on the outside and eventually riding surfboards." Current Setup & Gear PreferencesQ: What board are you currently riding, and what made you choose it? "Lately I've been riding a MR/Mayhem California twin pin, Lost puddle jumper when the waves are small and weak. When the waves get a little better I'll use a Lost Quiver Killer and a Pyzel Radius Prime when it gets good." Q: Have you tried any new surf gear lately? What difference has it made for your sessions? "I've been using the EN reverse 3/2 fins lately on my twin pin and they feel like I can ride that setup on bigger and better waves than I would normally ride a twin fin on." What Makes His Surfing SpecialQ: What's one thing that has improved your surfing the most? "I think riding different kinds of surfboard designs helps me keep things fresh and appreciate the different design characteristics of each board. I've been riding single fins, twin fins, thrusters, quads, and even a 5 fin bonzer." Q: What qualities do you look for in a good surf spot? "Uncrowded, punchy, and hollow sections." Q: What's your go-to post-surf spot for food or drinks? "I usually like to hit up different food trucks for street tacos, plate lunches, or burgers." Q: Besides surfing, what other water or outdoor activities do you enjoy? "Mountain biking, 4 wheeling" Q: What's one surf skill or spot you're excited to try next? "I'd like to be able to do a surf trip to the mentawais or Australia" Q: What's the most memorable surfing experience you've had in Hawaii? "Getting to surf Pohoiki before the lava covered it up." Q: What do you value most about your local surf shop experience? "Being friendly, knowledgeable, and having quality gear in stock" Q: Is there anything you wish more surf shops would offer or do? "It would be cool if the shops were more of a hangout maybe have some food or coffee shop built in." Mahalo for being part of our ohana! |
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🏄 Product Feature: NEW Firewire Spaceship
The board that's been turning heads from Lowers to Indo just landed at Hawaiian South Shore. This is Kelly Slater's go-to shape for quality waves—the same board he unveiled during his memorable March 2024 sessions at Kirra. 11x World Champion's ChoiceBuilt with a decade of R&D alongside master shaper Mike Woo, the Spaceship delivers exceptional hold in tubes and precise turns on rail. The I-Bolic 2.0 Technology features engineered carbon strip inlay with I-beam core construction for enhanced strength and performance that serious surfers demand. "Built with the DNA of a Bali-tube-shooter, the Spaceship features a rounded pintail that provides incredible control in critical sections. This shape truly comes to life in tubes over reef passes, delivers precise turns on rail at point breaks, and maintains exceptional hold in perfect beach breaks from Canggu to Coolangatta." Perfect For You If:
Maximize Your Performance
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⚡ New Colors: Vektor Fins
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👕 Outerknown Hightide Collection
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🌺 HSS Exclusive: JPN Collection
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🩴 Sandals CollectionKLLY Sandals
Scott Hawaii Sandals
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🌊 How to Surf Better Part 4 of 9: Riding the Wave
Once you get to your feet and are actually surfing the wave, that's when the fun really starts. But there's a difference between riding a wave and riding a wave well—and the better you get at surfing, the more you will be able to do and the more fun you will have. The Thrill of Surfing: Beyond Just Riding the WaveA lot of people try to start ripping as soon as they start surfing—but that's a lot like trying to learn to run before you can walk. Without learning the basic fundamentals of surfing, you will never develop proper technique and your maneuvers won't be efficient or stylish. Surfing Fundamentals: The Building BlocksThe Problem: Sizing down your boards too soon tricks you into thinking you're doing maneuvers when you're not using proper technique. The Solution: Ride bigger boards first. They force you to use proper body mechanics and rail work, creating a foundation that pays dividends when you graduate to smaller boards. Body Mechanics and PumpingThe biggest mistake most beginners make when generating speed is hopping or bouncing instead of pumping. To correctly pump down the line, the board is surfed up and down the face without ever breaking contact with the water. This generates speed two ways: using gravity as you climb and descend the wave wall, and tapping into the wave's own energy. Advanced Surfing: Staying in the PocketOnce you become good at generating speed, you'll find that you begin to outrun sections. This is good if you're taking off behind a section or driving through a deep barrel, but frustrating if you get out in front of the section. We want to be in the pocket, where all the energy is! The Roundhouse Cutback: A Classic ManeuverOne of the most classic, stylish, fun, and efficient ways to return to the power source is through the roundhouse cutback. In addition to getting you back into the pocket, the roundhouse also serves as the foundation of virtually all other maneuvers you will learn to do on a surfboard. "Good surfing is a combination of hundreds of small movements that all come together for the perfect ride. Start with the basics like pumping and staying in the pocket. Once perfected, you'll be well on your way to a lifetime of shredding!" |
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📸 October - Customer GalleryThank you for choosing Hawaiian South Shore! 🌊 We truly appreciate your support and trust in us for all your surfing needs. Whether it's finding the perfect board, upgrading your gear, or simply being part of our ohana, your loyalty means the world to us. Mahalo for riding this journey with us — we couldn't do it without you! 🤙
Want to be featured in next month's gallery? Tag us @hwnsouthshore on your next surf adventure! |
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Thank you for reading our October Newsletter!Visit Hawaiian South Shore for more surf stories, gear reviews, and community updates. See you in the water, 🤙 Need Help? Our experienced team is here to help you find the perfect gear. 📞 Call: 808-597-9055 📧 Email: sales@hawaiiansouthshore.com 📱 DM: @hwnsouthshore |
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