Aloha Friday: The CJ Nelson Chameleon & This Week's Gear at Hawaiian South Shore

The CJ Nelson Chameleon

Most longboards make you pick a side. A classic log is smooth and graceful but slow to turn. A high-performance longboard turns hard but feels stiff when you just want to glide. The CJ Nelson Chameleon, designed by CJ Nelson and shaper Ryan Engle, refuses to choose. It is a hybrid that does both jobs at a level most longboards can't reach.

Here's what that means in plain terms. The board has firmer rails (the edges) and a tuned rocker (the curve from nose to tail), so it holds speed through the flat parts of a wave and grips when you turn. A wide nose gives you lift, so when you walk to the front of the board it locks in cleanly instead of sinking. And a blended bottom shape with a hard tail edge lets it slice through turns rather than just spinning in place. In short: it adapts from mellow, glassy mornings to steeper, punchier waves without you ever changing boards.

It runs a 2+1 fin setup (Futures box), which is a fancy way of saying you can ride it as a single fin for that classic, drawn-out feel, or add two smaller side fins for extra grip and drive. CJ Nelson himself calls it “quite possibly the most user-friendly longboard in the world today.” From small and mellow to overhead and serious, it just works.

In stock now

Thunderbolt Red: 9'1, 9'5, and 10'0 (Volan). Thunderbolt Black: 9'1 and 9'5 (Volan). Every one is hand-built by Thunderbolt — lighter and tougher than a traditional foam board.

Two More Thunderbolt Longboards, Back in Stock

If the Chameleon isn't quite your shape, two proven Harley Ingleby models just came back into stock, both also built by Thunderbolt.

Harley Ingleby HI4

A do-it-all performance longboard in a 4+1 fin setup. In stock in 9'1 and 9'5, in Orange and Candy/White.

Harley Ingleby HIHP Speed

The higher-performance option when you want more response and drive. In stock in 9'1, in Maroon and Candy White.

Mesh Knit Board Bags — Now With a Zipper

A board sock keeps your board safe from dings and sun without the bulk of a hard travel bag. Ours is made from a breathable, ballistic-nylon mesh that is lightweight, washable, and genuinely tough. It's designed and developed right here at Hawaiian South Shore, so you won't find this exact one anywhere else.

The big news is the longboard version now has a long, adjustable zipper. If you've ever wrestled a longboard with a big single fin into a knit sock, you know the problem — the fin catches every time. The zipper finally solves that. Slide the board in, zip it up, done.

It comes in three sizes so there's one for almost any board in your quiver:

• Longboard (with the new zipper) — fits boards up to 9'8"
• Funboard — fits boards from 7'0" to 8'6"
• Shortboard — fits boards up to 6'6"

FCS Crosby Colapinto Fins & Traction

New this week: the FCS II Crosby Colapinto thruster set in Performance Core, in a clean black and blue, available in small through large. Pair it with the matching Colapinto deck pad for grip that keeps your back foot planted. Simple upgrade, big difference in how a board feels underfoot.

RSC: All-Natural, Reef-Safe Sun Protection

Hawaii's sun is no joke, and neither are the reefs. RSC (Real Sun Cover) is our exclusive, all-natural sunscreen made in the USA. It uses 25% non-nano zinc oxide to build a physical barrier on your skin — that's the kind of protection that sits on top of your skin and reflects the sun, blocking 97% of UVA and UVB rays.

What's not in it matters just as much. There's no oxybenzone and no octinoxate — the chemicals linked to reef damage. The rest of the formula is short and clean: organic zinc oxide, certified organic coconut oil, certified organic cocoa powder, and certified organic beeswax. That's it.

• Reef safe and baby safe
• Non-greasy and water resistant for 80 minutes
• Works for all skin types, face and body, adults and kids

It comes in Vanilla and Cocoa tints, so you can pick the shade that blends best with your skin.

Sharkbanz 2: Shark Safety You Can Wear

The Sharkbanz 2 is a simple band you wear on your ankle or wrist, and it uses patented magnetic technology to help keep sharks and rays away. Sharks have a special sixth sense — they read tiny electrical signals in the water. The magnet in a Sharkbanz overwhelms that sense at close range, a bit like a bright light suddenly shining in a dark room. It's uncomfortable for the shark, so it turns away — without harming it.

It's not magic, and no product can promise 100% safety, but the research is real. Studies from the University of Western Australia and the University of Miami found it can reduce the likelihood of a shark encounter by up to 60%. A few things that make it easy to actually use:

• Always on — no batteries, no charging, ever
• Fits everyone (ages 5 and up), with soft neoprene padding and a molded Velcro strap
• Depth rated to 100m / 330ft, so it works for surfing, diving, and more

We have it in the Parks Project edition and the Bethany Hamilton pink.

The Hybrid Wet/Rash: Beyond the Rashguard

Most days in Hawaii, a full wetsuit is too much and a thin rashguard is not quite enough. Our Hybrid Wet/Rash splits the difference. It puts 1.5mm Super Stretch neoprene on the chest and back — where you want a little warmth and paddle protection — and lighter, UPF 50 rashguard material on the sides, where you want to move freely. The result is just enough warmth for year-round water, with zero stiffness.

The details are where it really wins:

• No-chafe design: there's no seam under the arms, and the armpit seams are raised and stitched with a soft, hose-like material so nothing pinches or rubs, even on long sessions.
• Stays put: a neck loop plus a reinforced connector to your boardshorts keeps the top from riding up when you paddle hard or duck under waves.
• Smart storage: a new back pocket holds a car key or a bar of wax.
• Easy on and off: an extended back zipper runs halfway up.
• All-day sun protection: the UPF 50 material blocks harmful UV from dawn patrol to sunset.

And new this week: a Women's Hybrid Wet/RashGuard Ltd. in Black, available in sizes Small through XL.

New Outerknown Apparel

Rounding out the week, two new pieces from Outerknown: the Cool Water Sonoran Stripe shirt and the Hightide Crew sweater in Heather Nirvana, both in sizes Small through XL. Easy, well-made layers for when you're done surfing for the day.