NEW Eddie Product Re-Stocked! Get the most popular styles now because once it's gone it's gone. Remember, we are still offering free shipping* on orders over $49 so take advantage of this money saving offer now >>

Eddie Aikau Boardshorts >>

Eddie Aikau Tees >>

Posted via email from Killer Dana Surf Shop

Tee And Hoodie Blowout! We marked down lots of tees and hoodies just before the holiday season. Get the most popular styles before they run out. Remember, we are still offering free shipping* on orders over $49 so take advantage of this money saving offer now >>

Tee Blowout >>

Hoodie Blowout >>

* Free shipping offer applies to US economy shipping orders. Surfboard shipment receives our spectacular $49 flat rate shipping with no coupon code needed. BTW, we have one of the largest selections of surfboards for sale online.

Posted via email from Killer Dana Surf Shop

KD team rider Nate Yeomans spotted in Hawaii surf spot Banzai, and featured in Rusty video Banzai and Babes! Check it:

Banzai an Babe’s from RUSTY on Vimeo.

Check out more videos like this one on Rusty’s blog!

This Valentino folded leather creation is exactly what we all needed to carry on this season. The bag is rich and refined with worked leather, a  new compact size and a truly unique shape.�

Even the acclaimed team of stylist at Gossip Girl recognized it’s swagger as they too made a place for it on the set this season. Check out the purple Valentino on the right.

This bold bag may be great for the everday, but it is the favorable stud feature that fully enhances it’s fashion effect. Making it the perfect for pairing with a casual look like the denim with blazer on Nikki Hilton. Or an even better option  like Nicole Richie’s sunglasses and a scarf ensemble seen below.

Around here, we got so excited about finding this satchel that we went forward and tried to locate it’s twin. What we got was The Clarissa Purse from O’neill that is actually under $100.

These two must have been seperated at birth because they are pretty much  identical.  All the same features as the Valentino, the same stand out design and both are about the same size.

A look you would normally break the bank for, at about a 1/4 of the price. Thank You Oneill!

-Angelica

Lost at the very end of the road is the little village of Teahupoo: once isolated from the rest of the world, and only known by a few lucky ones, it has now become a new surfing Mecca, attracting hundreds of surfers searching for the barrel & thrill of their lives.

Teahupoo Surf Club member Marurai Igrec charging Teahupo'o (yes, he's good)

But in this small village entrenched between the beautiful ocean & the majestic mountains, you’ll find much more than just a wave.  An unbelievable quality of life, breath taking surroundings and great people awaiting your arrival, smiling, saying hi, and chatting with you on the side of the road (even though they have never met you before). You’ll also get to know its small but genuine surf community and its surf club, the Teahupoo Surf Club (you didn’t see that one coming, did you?).

Run by pro surf photographer, Josh Humbert (featured in Tahiti blog #3), there’s something unique about this club, just as unique as the place where it was created 7 years ago: no contests organized, just the willingness to bring people together, to create a bond between the surfers of the village, to share some good times in and out of the water, and to protect the environment.

The club unloading a pile of tarameas

Josh has made a point to gather the members of the club (mostly young people, all between 16 and 22 years old) several times a year to clean up their local beach and to pick up tarameas, a.k.a crown of thorns starfish, which are not only harmful for human beings (you don’t want to step on them, their thorns are extremely sharp and venomous), but also for the coral reef ecosystem. The second largest sea star in the world, the crown of thorns starfish is mostly known for preying upon coral polyps, consuming up to 65 square feet of living coral reef per year!! With regard to this worrying fact, their recent outbreaks (which is thought to be linked to the increasing quantity of nitrate in the ocean from industrial farming) has become a serious issue since it can lead to widespread reef destruction over time. However, every predator having a role to play in the ecosystem, the purpose of the club and other Eco-friendly associations is not to eradicate these species altogether, more to regulate their proliferation.

Another goal for Josh would be to make surfing more accessible for the kids of the village: not easy, given the price of a surfboard and the fact that their families mostly live from fishing & farming.

“I would like to find a sponsor or even a semi sponsor, who would help me reach this goal by providing soft tops surfboards for beginner and intermediate surfers. The kids here can’t afford to buy surfboards, and those who get one can’t have it replaced when they break it. It is just too expensive for them. Finding a sponsor would be great, more kids will be able to learn the sport and to get better. There are a few promising surfers here, and it would be awesome to see them reach a competitive level”, says Josh.

And I totally agree with him! How rad would it be to see a local grom winning the trials of the Billabong contest and going all the way to the finals (don’t laugh at me, this will happen, sooner or later)???

Lil' Haumana O'Conell pulling in at the beach break (still in Teahupoo -that's where the kids learn to surf. It's funny 'cause you can see the reefbreak from there and picture the kids charging the reef in a few years)

Even though it is not always easy to run a surf club, especially with so little money, Josh still managed to raise enough money last year to take the kids surfing to a (great) secret spot in the Tuamotu islands, which for some was their first time out of Teahupoo.

Another exciting trip will be organized for the total eclipse next July, with the idea of combining surfing, sailing, navigation lessons and cultural exchange. Want to know more about this project you could be a part of??? All the details will be in my next blog, don’t miss it!!

-Vainui

For more information about the Teahupoo Surf Club, its actions & projects, you can email Josh at teahupoosurfclub@yahoo.com

The Eddie Is On! Check out the Eddie at Quiksilver.com and pick up the official Eddie apparel at Killer Dana. Killer Dana is proud to be the official Eddie Aikau surf apparel retailer. And remember, we are still offering free shipping* on orders over $49 so take advantage of this money saving offer now >>

* Free shipping offer applies to US economy shipping orders. Surfboard shipment receives our spectacular $49 flat rate shipping with no coupon code needed. BTW, we have one of the largest selections of surfboards for sale online.

3. Anti Hero Stranger Boob Model $49.99 w/ Mob Grip
Let us hook you up this Holiday season with a sick deck from Anti Hero (freshy fresh grip tape included!). Customized by each team member, Anti Hero Skateboards will allow you to do some amazing things.

If you’re looking for some easy gift ideas for that special guy who surfs… look no further!  Here’s 10 gifts that will get Timmy on his tippy toes this Holiday Season!

1. Ocean & Earth 6′0 Leash- $17.50

2. Eddie Aikau Tee- $20.00 (tons of other colors n’ designs)

3. Killer Dana Rasta Trunks- $24.95 was $34.oo

4. Killer Dana Fleece- $29.95 was $32.50

5. Xcel Rashgaurd- $30.00

6. O’Neill Freak Sneak Bootie- $44.95

7. Rusty Arcane Backpack- $69.50

8. Dakine Double Board Bag- $95.00 was $190.00

9. O’Neill PsychoFreak Wetsuit- $399.96 was $499.95

10. Super Brand (Toy Model) 5′10- $605.00

This year has been unbelievable in terms of swell size and wave quality: in 15 years of surfing, I haven’t seen so many big swells hitting our reefs so many times… nearly one every other week, if not every week for the last 6 months!

If you’ve surfed big waves on a reef break, you know what it feels like: lots of water moving, lots of energy rising, and lots of butterflies flying (in your belly). To me, going out on big days is a challenge, and I have to admit that those sessions are not my favorites. On big days I feel all this energy surrounding me, and I notice the sharp reef underneath my board (“Huh, pretty shallow today!”). I’m always on guard wishing that I won’t get caught inside by the BIG sets (of course the kind of stuff that happens to me ALL THE TIME), even tho I mostly paddle for the medium waves; the boys can have the bigger ones, it’s all good with me!

And last weekend, guess what? It was big again! I parked my car in front of the break, and saw those 7 to 9 footers coming through. I stayed there for 20 long minutes, trying to make a decision: “Oh no, it is big… Should I try though? I don’t know. Maybe not. I’m tired of getting pounded all the time. Plus I’ll have to paddle 1 mile to get there… to finally end up getting worked. I’m not doing this”. I was about to leave when a friend of mine showed up in his 4WD, ready to put his jet ski in the water.

“Hey Vainui, I give you a lift, come surfing with me”, my buddy said.

I thought: “crap, can’t use the “I don’t want to paddle” excuse anymore, there’s a ski right there!”  And I tried to find any other possible excuse not to go: “I don’t know, I’m a bit tired, and it looks like there’s lots of current; plus it’s far from being perfect. I’m not really in the mood for this. And it looks big… and I have a brand new board, I don’t want to break it the first day.” (yes, really, any possible excuse).

My friend looked at me with a smile (definitely meaning: “I know what you’re trying to do”), looked at the waves for a few minutes and told me:

“Ok you’re right, it’s big, there’s lots of current and it’s far from being perfect. For sure we are going to get worked. But there are waves. So put your bikini on and hop on the ski. I’ll keep an eye on you.“

Eeekkk, I don’t know…

“Hurry, I’m not going to wait for you forever, grab your stuff and come.”

I reluctantly grabbed my board and jumped on the ski, thinking “What am I doing? I’m out of my mind… for sure I am the silliest person I know.”

As my friend was attaching his jet ski to the buoy, I kept my eyes on the waves: “Yes, it’s big, really… there’s some smaller waves, but when it gets big, it is BIG…”

It was too late to turn around; I waxed my brand new 6’3” (just for your information, the guy decided to ride his 7’0”) and jumped in the water.

Just after a few minutes one wave came. My friend told me: “Ok Vai, this one’s for you!”

Huh, this one? For me? Hhhhaaaaaa, no, I don’t want it!!!!

“Go, go, go, you’re in the right spot, just paddle and DON’T stop paddling. Go!!”

I stopped thinking and just paddled as fast as I could, I didn’t want to take off late on this one. I remember paddling with so much strength and all of a sudden feeling all the power and the energy of the waves pushing me. It was big and powerful, and I could feel it in my whole body. And even though I had lots of speed it felt like time was slowing down. Such a weird feeling… such an adrenaline rush… and such a relief to make it!!!

I caught a few more, surfed every wave, but decided to go back in before getting hurt. I was still nervous, and this was not a very good sign; I had caught my waves, and that was enough for that day.

My friend joined me about 30 minutes later:

“See? You did it, you overcame your fears. Good job.”

Yes, I made it, without getting caught inside. And it felt good. I felt like I was able to go beyond what I thought were my limits, at least once in my life.

As I was walking back to my car in the dark, my friend Petero who owns the surf lodge right in front of the break called me to share a few drinks with him.

I walked all the way to his place, took a hot shower and joined him on his veranda facing the break; he had everything ready for me: snacks and cocktail (I looove my buddies). I sat down, feeling so happy, content, excited, and proud of what I had just done…

Then Petero sat down next to me and said: “You’re crazy to go surfing these waves!”

And I just smiled, feeling even better…

-Vainui