I surfed with a super positive and happy guy this morning.  It is Kasashima-san’s first time to Hawaii.  He just came yesterday so today was his very first time in the ocean.  From the time we got in the water, he was smiling and smiling.

If you want to ride 25 waves in a session, a longboard is the way to go.  He kept on going, going, and going!  

Really good results from Boot Camp this morning.  Progressing each and every wave.

Kasashima-san told me about 15 times today, “I’m so happy!”  Look at his smile.  So cool!  

I pulled up to Big Rights yesterday and couldn’t believe how good it was.  On big days like this, there aren’t too many surfers out because it’s pretty hard to make it out past the waves.  It was just a couple of my friends sharing big perfect blue barrels.  Thanks boys!

Top Gun all day!

Good morning 3:35am.
Ala Moana head high and coming down.
Contest at Bowls ON at 8am.
Diamond Head overhead and bumpy.
Trade winds at 20mph.
Sunny and warm.
Going to surf.
Have a wonderful day!

This lucky man and I paddled out to maxing out Rockpiles this morning.  Of course nobody was out because it was too big and dangerous, but we somehow made it to the lineup dodging the double overhead sets.  I saw the biggest set and yelled to him, “GO!”  He turned around and started paddling for the wave.  He took off in the perfect place, turned down the wave, and rode the biggest and best wave of his life!  And just like that, today became a special day.  A day when you paddle out scared with no expectations, and paddle in like you won the lottery.  All it took was one special wave to change a life.  I had to shake the mans hand after witnessing that!

Paddling out in big surf is the easy part.  Finding and catching the rare perfect wave is the hard part.  On this particular Rockpile bomb, I barely made the drop and raced down the line as fast as I could.  It feels like you’re running away from a monster that is right behind chasing you.  You better focus!

Round 2:  Big and epic Big Rights.  When it gets this big and barreling, it for experts only.  You have to know how to duck dive under huge barreling waves, you have to know how to get out of peoples way, and you have to know locals out there or you won’t get waves.  The lineup is small, and the barrels are big.

I surfed for 2 hours and got 5 big blue barrels.

I’ve traveled the world chasing barrels but it doesn’t get any better than finding them right in your backyard.  I love summer in Hawaii, especially this one!