Recently in North Shore Category

First and foremost, a huge congratulations goes out to Maya Gaberia, who last night received the Billabong Girl's Best Overall Performance Award at the Billabong XXL Awards. After her harrowing session at Teahupoo last November it's safe to say she earned it. Now that that's out of the way, after going to these big-wave hootenannies for the better part of 10 years think I’ve finally figured out how to safely navigate this night with a bit of dignity.

Check out photographic evidence of Menehunes causing mayhem

The conditions were prime, and the weather was perfect in typical Maui fashion this past Saturday at the Fifth Annual Ian Walsh Menehune Mayhem Surf Event at Ho’okipa Beach Park, in Maui, Hawaii.  Ian, with the help of his apparel sponsor O’Neill, put on an event to remember for the local kids of Hawaii.  Instead of the normal amateur contest breakdown of six man, 15 minute heats, the finals were divided into four man, 15 minute heats.  “This gives the kids a different type of contest,” said Walsh.  “I want them to get a feel for the competitions they will be involved in if they go pro.”    

It's hard to believe it's been seven years since Andy and Bruce Irons threw their first kids contest down at Pine Trees, but come Saturday, April 5, 2008, they'll be celebrating the 7th Annual Irons Brother's Pine Trees Classic on the North Shore of Kauai. I guess we're just all getting older. Regardless of our age, keeping in mind all that surfing's given them, when the idea came up to hold their own contest all those years ago they figured spreading the love was only the right thing to do. Bigger and better than ever, Andy and  Bruce can't wait for Saturday. Stay tuned for exclusive photos and coverage of the extravaganza. 

For the most part all the world sees in regards to the North Shore happens between the months of November and December. Other than that, come Christmas, the rock quiets down considerably. But that doesn't mean that the surf stops. Oh no, quite the contrary. Here's the dirty secret: It gets better. The swells shift to a more favorable window, the trades stabilize, all the sand that spent the summer building up on the Banzai reef is gone, and yes, the waves are good and relatively empty. Jamie O'Brien probably wouldn't tell you any of this. He lives right on the beach at Pipe and likes it that way, but when this photo came across the wi-fi lines the other day, we could help but show what fun he's having.