last night, Matchi and i didn’t know what or where to go today. the swell was still small so you don’t want to make the 2 hour drive to the wrong side of the island. if you do, you’re screwed. anyway, we just decided to sleep early and meet up at 4:30am. i jumped in his car and since he knows shikoku more than anybody, i left it in his hands. the good thing is Matchi and I love to get barreled so that’s what we went searching for.

we gamble and drive pretty dam far. pull up to the spot and nobody? really? super perfect rights and lefts barrels and nobody out? it was kind of unbelievable. in a daze, we change, head to the beach, and paddle out.

minute by minute, the waves got bigger and bigger. and hollower and hollower. no space to do off the lips, it’s only take off and get the barrel of your life.

absolute perfect rights and lefts barreling all the way. if you look close, you can see Matchi seated into a perfect backside grab rail barrel.

an hour later, still nobody? we exchange wave after wave enjoying every barrel and every moment. then Matchi yells out “I Love Shikoku!” i said “Me Too!” we were 2 of the happiest surfers in the world. surfing with each other at a secret river mouth with nobody around. it’s pretty unbelievable when you think about it.

every single wave i got barreled either right or left. good thing i had my go pro or else this would only be a dream that nobody would believe.

got some really deep barrels too. just taking off on the most perfect wave you can imagine. pulling into a glassy tube, watching the lip go over your head, and getting spit out. a surfers dream come true.
hey Matchi, we scored again! thank you for your expert decision. this is yet another dream session that will go down in our history books of dreams sessions. not the first, and definitely not the last. i gotta go back to hawaii to work but i will definitely be back. we have to do this again and again. thanks again brother. i really appreciate your kindness and motivation to get the best wave on any given day. i think that’s why we’ve been the best of friends for the past 23 years straight. surfing is our life dude. cheers!

This early morning barrel session!
Perfect river mouth.
Nobody out.
Many many perfect barrels.
Fun, sun, laughter.
Lucky or Luckiest?
Dream or Reality?
Please don’t wake me up because I’m in the happiest dream of my life!

ok, yesterday was really good here in shikoku. morning better, but evening still good. super glassy perfect right hand point break as good as it gets. there is no wave in hawaii i can even compare this too. only in japan.

Matchi isn’t just my friend, Matchi shapes my boards. super smart, good shaper, and most important, a great person.

and when your shaper can surf this good, you know you’re going to get a magic board. good ripping Matchi!

Hinako is one of japan’s top girl surfers. she’s moving to australia for the next 2 years to boost her surfing and english skills.

i watched this girl go from a beginner with huge dreams, to a champion.

and if a girl can hit the lip harder than a lot of guys, she’s got game. good job Hinako-chan. wish you the best of luck in australia mate!

Matchi took me into some deep areas on this huge island. places i haven’t been before and places that tourists seldom or never visit. this is deepest japan.

then we pass by this temple that was in a small village. i had to stop to take this photo. this is as deep in japan as you can get. enjoy.