Summer Surf

Aloha, surfers and beachgoers. Welcome to June! Wow, summer is officially here! Not by the Summer Solstice on June 21 … but by Hawaii’s one and only Local Motion Surf into Summer. It went off over the past Memorial Day weekend. How’s that? We’re in it now … ready or not! Just like the waves … they keep coming, whether or not we’re there to ride them. So no matter how busy you are — get out there and surf … Summer’s only three months short.

There are plenty more great events/contests on the way. Next up is China Uemura’s ninth annual Surfing Classic benefiting the Sex Abuse Treatment Center of Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children … Come on down to Kuhio Beach in Waikiki June 10-12. Be a part of the great vibe and cause. You don’t have to surf, but getting off dry land is always good fun! Either way, China’s contest always feels good.

Girls, Girls, Girls … I’m referring to Surfer Girls, of course. How are “the best’competitors doing around the globe? Well, they’ve finished event No. 5 in Europe … England to be exact. Yes, there is surf in England — honest! The event is called the “Roxy Jam UK.”

Check it out … we’ve got names for our local surf spots … to mention a few: Makapu‘u, Kami’s, Lani’s, Honolua and Hanalei Bay … now just try to imagine a surf spot in Hawaii called Perranporth Beach, Cornwall!

Reigning ASP world champ Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) ripped Perranporth apart to extend her lead in the world ratings. The 21- year-old grabbed $10K for her talents. The detail to note is that this is her third victory in just five events. Now that’s what I call a dominant woman! It’s frankly going to be very hard for Hawaii’s three top 10 ladies — Megan Abubo (fourth), Rochelle Ballard (sixth) and Keala Kennelly (ninth) — to catch the Peruvian. Not impossible, however … so, go for it, girls … We’re cheering for you!

Hey, surfers … ever wonder how many lessons we draw on from surfing and the sea? We get back on dry land and realize how much we can learn besides how to ride a wave … We only need to listen. Example, just last week I pulled an all-day’r at work (honest, I do work) … this day was 16 hours to be exact. Well, there were moments I felt like I was getting pounced on … pulling hair … pulling teeth. Now, I could’ve left it for another day and said to myself: “Why do today what you can put off till tomorrow?” I considered it, but decided not to. I decided to push through the pain. Then suddenly there I was driving home at 9:30 p.m. feeling strangely at peace … almost high! I realized that the post-work high was worth the effort … I was closer to my goals now … my dreams seemed more doable. It’s the same deal with riding waves … everyone’s gotta paddle into position … through the sets … out into lineup … where the waves are breaking. The pummeling happens to all surfers all the time … getting “caught inside” by a set is inevitable in our sport! Give up and turn around, and you won’t get caught by the sets … but you won’t catch any waves either! If you compare your dreams with waves, it’s the same rule. They dare us to persevere at times … to pay our dues … before their ultimate reward! Keep paddling for your dreams … and your waves!

I’ll see you and your friends out in the lineup and back here next weekend! Pray 4 Surf! I’m GQ … dropping in for you!

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