Hello and welcome to the first instalment of “The Shaka”, a bi-weekly newsletter about surfing’s happenings and non-happenings, complete with videos that will keep you entertained at home and stories that will make you think.
It’s Sunday: sit down, relax and enjoy some quality surf content.
First things first though: why the “Shaka”?
The shaka sign, sometimes known as “hang loose” and in South Africa as “tjovitjo”, is a gesture of friendly intent often associated with Hawaii and surf culture. It consists of extending the thumb and smallest finger while holding the three middle fingers curled, and gesturing in salutation while presenting the front or back of the hand; the hand may be rotated back and forth for emphasis. - Wikipedia
Also, these days, it’s the safest alternative to shaking hands or hugging: the shaka is going to conquer the world! Long live the shaka!
And now, on with the actual content:
SURFER OF THE WEEK: MASON HO IS PURE FUN
Name us one surfer that’s more entertaining than Mason Ho. PROOF:
- Mason often surfs extremely weird waves – case in point, this video shot in Fernando de Noronha, Brasil 👆
- He gives unarguably the most amazing interviews – post Pipe Masters heat interview, Mason’s dream wave;
- He absolutely rips in all conditions – 2019 highlights, “Red Monkey, Full Moon” with Mick Fanning.
STORY OF THE WEEK: WHAT’S GOING ON IN TARKWA BAY, NIGERIA
Surfers Dylan Graves and Dane Gudauskas explored an exciting and new surfing community in Tarkwa Bay, Lagos (Nigeria) in the episode of “Weird Waves”.
The video is cool, the waves are fun and the good vibes are infectious; it really reminds us of some super stoked surfing communities we met while traveling in Indonesia (one in particular on the island of Java, we hope one day we will take you there with us).
Unfortunately capitalism sucks and Tarkwa Bay’s locals had their world turned upside down:
The beachside community of Tarkwa Bay in Lagos was destroyed when the Nigerian Navy evicted thousands of residents and tore down their homes. […] The operation has been slammed by human rights organizations on the ground who say the evictions have been carried out with brazen disregard for the law and are a direct violation of the Nigerian constitution.
[…] “It seems there is an underlying interest for prime property development by local authorities,” our source added. “The military recently snatched a few plots and most likely there is a plan to take over the whole island.” – full article on Surfer Mag
Can we help? Yes. How?
- Help Rebuild The Tarkwa Bay Surf Club – you have time until today to donate!
- No Wahala – a beautiful 56 pages book documenting “/the experiences we shared with the boys of Tarkwa Bay/”; all profits will go to the Tarkwa Bay community and the nonprofit foundation Positive Vibe Warriors.
IG OF THE WEEK: JOB WINS WAVE OF THE WINTER
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
So folks, that’s all for today. Stay safe, stay home, and see you in two weeks (or next Sunday, you never know 👀).
