The major surfing magazine publications do not owe me any kind of apology for their content and focus, but as a surfer that is on his tenth passport, I feel my following bitch session is legit. I can no longer digest stories of surf safaris in the Mags written by sponsored ($$$) surfers that are flown in just for the occasion and report on their "3 day 4 night" package club med adventure. The outline for each story is the same:
- Sponsored surfers fly to a locale arriving at different times.
- Article begins with the writer giving an account of the history of the area which is taken straight out of a textbook.
- Article dives into the sponsored surfers "hunt" for waves and how after three days of searching some of the sponsored surfers have grown weary and have decided to fly back home.
- Article ends with the standard: "It was magic for all of us."

What happened to hopping freighters bound for Angola with only two-hundreds bucks in the pocket, a surfboard, and a notebook with pen? Are there no more Craig Petersons and Kevin Naughtons in this world? What about Chile? Supposedly Chile has the largest surfable waves in the world. I would even imagine that people have not only found the largest wave spot in Chile but they are surfing the place. Of course, until Kelly Slater and Co. are offered a sponsored trip down there we average surfers will never read about it. This leaves one conclusion: The hunt is ours, the waves are ours, and never shall this be taken away from us. Surfing belongs to the average Joe and therein lies the beauty of surfing. - tbone

From: rodmm@ax.apc.org
Subject: Re: urgent: SHAKA - definition wanted

>> >As far as I know, in windsurfing/surfing circles the shaka is where you hold >> >up your hand with the thumb and little finger extended. >> >Is this correct? What does it mean? Is it polite? Is it culturally acceptable? >> >I ask because I did a search (Alta Vista) and found that it is basically an >> >African term, I am thinking of naming a shopping area in my new web site the >> >SHAKA SHACk >It's basically a greeting. A way to say hello/goodbye. It's used a lot >in Hawaii.>Mike

Here in Brasil it's also a greeting. But exists a surfwear company that uses it as a trademark.

From: "Gary Ropert"
Newsgroups: alt.surfing
Subject: Re: SHAKA - > >

According to one story here on Oahu, there was an old man near Waimanalo that used to sit on his front porch every day and wave at the passing cars. However he was missing several fingers, producing the "shaka" sign. He > became a fixture to the passing motorists. The shaka became associated with the "hang loose brah". Never heard of why they called it shaka other than > that is probably "pidgin" for shake the hand. > Gary Ropert Haleiwa, Hawaii