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Freeplugs |
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Volume 5, Number 1
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V.5#1
Talk of the Town
SB Surfboards
proudly announces the addition of Alana
Blanchard to their team and owner/shaper Steve Boysen could not be more
excited. “I have been shaping boards for Alana for a while now and it just
seemed right to finally make it official,” says Steve Boysen.
This year’s Mike Morgan Sportsmanship Award goes to Keanu Asing. Congrats!
ANON Optics
signed surfer Tonino Benson. At just
17, Tonino is welcomed as ANON’s youngest global surf athlete with man-sized
power and an arsenal of aerial maneuvers. “I’ve seen him progress so much,
watching him surf Shane Dorian’s grom contests in Kona throughout the years.
Now he’s on a whole other level with his surfing,” says fellow ANON Optics
teammate Benji Weatherley.
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Sunset Showdown: 24th Annual Xcel Pro Presented by No Fear |
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Volume 5, Number 1
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 By Beau Flemister
Event: 24th Annual Xcel Pro Presented by No Fear
4-Star WQS Event
Date: Oct. 29-Nov. 4 & 9, 2007
Location: Sunset Beach, O’ahu
The Xcel Pro is a tough show. Xcel’s tagline for the contest— “A power
surfing event”—couldn’t be closer to the truth. The wave, undeniably
the most consistent swell magnet on the North Shore, is also one of the
Country’s most powerful ones. There are no tricks at this contest; you
surf rail to rail and set up for the notorious inside bowl. Of course,
the competition is another factor to add in. The global assortment of
‘QS rippers and local heroes is a little daunting. Sucks when you get
stuck in a heat with Da Hui’s Makua Rothman, Australian hell-charger
Mark Matthews and ‘QS leader Jordy Smith. But as proven every year,
local knowledge finishes first.
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LIVIN’ THE DREAM: Jordy Smith |
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Volume 5, Number 1
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 BY CHELSEA JOHNS
With the amount of talent and rivalry in competitive surfing today,
surfers often hack it out on the ‘QS for years, sometimes their whole
careers. In the past year, Jordy Smith has experienced more
career-defining moments than most could hope to secure in a decade. It
is hard to determine what the single most fascinating or impressive
fact is about this super surfer. Is it the nail-biting victory at the
Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Narabeen earlier this year
after recovering from a torn meniscus and ACL? Is it the fact that he
won his first WQS event ever entered, the 4-star Hot Tuna Pro at
Soldiers Beach, NSW, surfing an exhausting five heats in one day and
still coming out on top? No, it must be his explosive performance at
the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing last winter where, as a wildcard
entry, he still ultimately took a second place finish behind Parko and
beat out World Champ Andy Irons. All this with ten fresh stitches in
his foot. Or perhaps it was his latest O’Neill Coldwater Classic win,
again as a wildcard, or maybe the more recent ASP Boost Mobile Event at
Lower Trestles where Jordy caused serious upsets by taking out both AI
and Parko early on.
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Talk Story:Kala Alexander |
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Volume 4, Number 12
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 By Tiff Hervey
Kala Alexander is a hybrid Hawaiian. A modern local boy, who is
primitive in nature yet progressive in spirit. He adheres to a
traditional code of ethics while living an extreme lifestyle. He is a
lover and a fighter. He is a father to four beautiful children. He is a
hustler, cashing checks in a variety of realms such as real estate,
fashion, jewelry and Hollywood. His media persona as aggressive and
territorial is a bit exaggerated from what you get when the real thing
is right in front of you— beneath the piercing brown eyes and ripped
exterior is an insightful and pleasant demeanor. But make no mistake,
Kala is 100 percent, organic alpha-male. When he enters the room,
females and males alike become more aware of their animal instincts.
Raised on Kaua‘i by a single mom (a blonde-hair, blue-eyed hippy from
8-Mile, Michigan) with his brother Kamalei, Kala grew up poor,
hitchhiking to get around and even living on the beach in a tent for a
couple years. “We were so poor we couldn’t even pay attention,” Kala
jokes. He didn’t meet his father until he was six or seven years old.
“Uncle Eddie [Rothman] actually took care of my mom when she was
pregnant with me,” Kala recalls. “Eddie knew my dad and was kinda
pissed that my dad never took any interest in my life. So he called him
up and asked if he wanted to meet me and took me to meet him. I didn’t
stay, but from then on I started visiting my Dad.”
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Meet Carissa Moore |
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Volume 4, Number 12
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 By Alee Thompson
Carissa Kainani Moore
Birthday: 8/27/1992
Home Break: Kewalos
Hometown: Honolulu
Sponsors: ROXY
She loves Hannah Montana, she knows the words to “Fergalicious” and she
has a tendency to giggle. Noteworthy? No, not if we were describing
your average 15-year-old girl. But we’re not. We’re describing Carissa
Kainani Moore, a future world champion.
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Super-Grom: Kealamakia Naihe |
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Volume 4, Number 12
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 By Chelsea Johns
A few years ago, you might have thought “Kealamakia. Who?” Well, after
sweeping the 2007 NSSA Nationals and Regionals, Kealamakia Naihe’s name
is on the lips of peers, sponsors and surf-enthusiasts wondering why
they hadn’t taken notice sooner. They might also be wondering what sort
of Surf Comp Boot Camp these Big Island groms are going through to take
the top spot at almost every event they enter. From Tonino Benson to
Lahiki Minamishin to Keala, there’s no slowing down the new breed of
Kailua-Kona super-surfers. FSM is pleased to introduce you to
Kealamakia Naihe.
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Free Plugs – December ‘07 |
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Volume 4, Number 12
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Talkin’ Soup
Surf Prescriptions
is pleased to announce their newest team member, Kona ripper Casey Brown. Kalani David now rides for the masters
of style and sound, RVCA.
Nathen Rex, from Kilauea, was on fire for the NSSA Sweet 16 specialty event,
which ran in conjunction with the WQS 2-Star rated No Fear Mexican Surf Fiesta
at San Miguel in Ensenada, Mexico. The special event showcased 16 of the top
NSSA surfers from America competing for prize money and one wild card slot into
the pro event. With excellent conditions— 3- to 5-foot rights and light
offshores— Rex annihilated the competition and the surf to land himself in
Round 32 of the main event. Two other young surfers hailing from Hawai‘i, Kiron Jabour (who placed second in the
Sweet 16 event) and Alex Smith,
surfed through to Round 64 of the main event.
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Cover Story – Best of the Best: Jordy Smith |
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Volume 4, Number 12
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 When Jordy Smith arrived on the North Shore last month, the
industry’s buzz that had been following him around the world on his maiden WQS
voyage caught up with FSM. The
natural-foot teenage phenomenon was no longer just on our radar, but in our
surf-crazed grasp.
Jordy’s performance in 2007 has been nothing short of “best
of”, and he has amassed a resume chock full of accomplishments befitting that
of a future world champion: World Junior Champion, WQS Champion with four ‘QS
event victories and an elite spot on the Foster’s ASP World Tour, which he
secured in June. What makes this young superstar’s virgin professional
performance all the more mind-blowing is that he accomplished all this in one
year! And it’s not even over yet.
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Dustin Cuizon Makes It Two In A Row At The Macy’s E-Series Final Event |
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Volume 4, Number 12
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 Event: Macy’s E-Series Event 4 Presented by Quiksilver
Date: Oct. 6, 2007
Location: Kewalos
Conditions: 1 to 3 feet
While the conditions may not have been epic, the shoulder-high peaks at
Kewalos offered up mini-ramp rights and little bowly lefts for the
local pros to destroy. “Everyone is talking about how it’s a bummer the
waves aren’t bigger,” said WQS surfer Daniel Jones, “but the conditions
today are better than any wave I’ve surfed the last three months on the
‘QS. This is probably the best spot on the island today.”
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Fit for Surf: Cross training |
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Volume 4, Number 12
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BY ALEE THOMPSON
Surfing is advancing at a remarkable pace. Each year the drops get
bigger, the airs fatter and the power and agility of surfers more
impressive. With the level of performance increasing, and with surfing
at its most competitive point ever, many of today’s surfers are taking
extra steps to stay at the top of their game.
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