Keanu Asing
May 30, 1993, Ewa Beach, Hawaii

If there’s one thing that we’re certain of in this crazy world, it’s that Ewa’s own prodigal son, Keanu Asing, has a major future before him in professional surfing. Now, what we’re saying may not be new (hell, he’s not only a past world junior champion, but he’s graced our cover and recently worked as our guest editor a few issues back) but what Keanu accomplished at the Oakley World Pro Junior at Lowers recently furthered his already stratospheric ascent to stardom.

An Inside Look into Bethany

After the highly publicized release of her biopic film Soul Surfer, there’s a good chance that Bethany Hamilton is the most famous surfer alive right now.  As surfers, the story of the shark attack that claimed the arm of one of Kauai’s strongest up-and-coming surfers has been engrained in our collective conscience. We’ve become familiar with Bethany and the moving way she overcame the attack to become one of the top female surfers alive today. We know this story. But now that Hollywood has taken hold of it with the film Soul Surfer, the whole world has become acquainted with Bethany’s inspirational life.

Billabong Team Manager/Mentor to Keanu Asing

Freesurf: What was your life like before you became a team manager?
Rainos Hayes: Well, I grew up on the North Shore pretty much in the same place that I live now, kind of by Sunset Beach. I was a pro for a while and rode for Quiksilver from about 15 to 25 years old and had a limited amount of success.

Kauai’s Next Big Thing Chimes In

FREESURF: Do you feel that women’s surfing is where it should be?
Malia Manuel: Yes. I also think it’s great to be a pro female surfer these days. Our sponsors support us unbelievably well! Prize money is increasing and Nike 6.0 is even making an all-girls’ surf movie called Leave A Message. Just on Kauai alone we have Bethany [Hamilton] and Alana [Blanchard] who I think already own homes before they turned
20! It’s incredible.