Billy Kemper on Surfline

Here is a link to a great article on the HIC sunset pro with Billy Kemper. http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/billy-kemper-wins-hic-pro---maui-charger-takes-4-star-at-wild-sunset-beach_49703/

Billy Kemper wins the 2010 Hic Sunset Pro

Billy Kemper, 20 years old from Paia Maui wins the 2010 HIC Sunset pro and $12,000.00. Billy also secures a spot in the Triple Crown that starts this week.

Chaz Kinoshita and Joaomarco Maffini score perfect Jaws

Chaz Kinoshita and JoaoMarco Maffini score perfect Jaws on the 1st swell of the season.

When we arrived at Maliko Tuesday morning, the entire bay was closing out and it looked almost impossible to launch. We decided it was worth the risk and launched between sets, Chaz and JoaoMarco did a great job getting clear of the ramp but we still damaged the trailor and one of the skis. Only about 6 ski's managed to launch so it was the least crowded we have seen Jaws in years. We towed for over 4 hours and the kids got some of the best rides of their lives.

Thanks to Mike Neal for the awesome pictures. Check out the whole collection at www.mneal.net

Ian Walsh Fiji Times article

Kazuma student Ian Walsh gets interviewed in Fiji Times after the last huge swell featured on Surfline.com. Read it here: http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=158186

Nakoa Decoite's monster Moana Kali

Noah, Nakoa and Chaz with Nakoa's monster Moana Kali. Nakoa shot this beauty in super rough waters today at about 50'. Nakoa was resting on the bottom waiting for the perfect shot when the Moana made a turn in front of him, Nakoa stoned him with the perfect head shot.

Kimberley Bennett wins the Melanesia Cup, New Celadonia.

This is 27 y/o Kimberly Bennett from Hilo Hawaii at the Malanesia cup in New Caladonia. Kim took 1st place representing team Fiji. Kim is riding a 5'11" x 18.5" x 2.31' Milkman.

Leo-Paul Etienne, Kazuma super grom in Guadeloupe-Caribbean

This is Leo-Paul Etienne, Kazuma super grom in Guadeloupe-Caribbean. Surfing is a special sport and is the same no matter where you go in the world, the stoke you see on the kids faces is priceless. Watching the groms brings me back to when I was that age and reminds me of what surfing is all about. Click the video link and you can see what I mean. http://www.vimeo.com/10334314

Kaimana Kinimaka wins the Volcom Pufferfish contest

Kaimana Kinimaka and Matt Kinoshita

Dusty Payne Freesurf cover

Dusty Payne has been making his mark in the surfing world. Dusty is a product of the Kazuma training program. At 10 years old, Dusty was the young grom on the Kazuma team with Ian Walsh, Ola Eleogram and Hank Gaskell showing him the way.

Pat Fukuda's 9'6" x 29" x 4" Magic SUP

Here is Pat Fukuda with his new 9'6" x 29" x 4" SUP model. The Pat Fukuda model is a scaled up version of his performance longboard and features a deep vee-double concave in the tail for drive off the bottom and killer speed when surfed of the tail. Up front there is Pat's special deep nose concave for easy noseriding. This nose concave also helps get into waves easier and cuts through the chop. The full outline has a beautiful curve that is ultra stabile, paddles well, noserides insane and helps promote a smooth, polished surfing style. I think this graceful style is missing from most stand up boards so I am really excited to add this board to the Kazuma model lineup. We make these in any length and dimension but Pat recommends riding them a little over sized.

Billy Kemper at the U.S. Open

Kazuma rider Billy Kemper's heat is on at the U.S. Open.

Professor Luis Heredia and Matt Kinoshita at the famous Maui Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Matt Kazuma Kinoshita studies Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under professor Luis Heredia at the famous Maui Jiu-Jitsu Academy on Maui, Hawaii. Matt is one of the lucky few that gets to train and study under his friend and teacher, Professor Luis.

In Matt's words:

"It is an honor and privilege to learn the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from one of the true masters of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, it is a gift and I am a lucky person to have this opportunity"

http://www.mauijiujitsu.com/

Kazuma's "Magic" Pat Fukuda SUP model

Here is a picture of the Pat Fukuda model SUP board. Pat is one of the best longboarders in the world and we got together to design an easy to ride SUP board that compliments his beautiful surfing style. The Pat model has his special rocker and tail concaves for high performance surfing off the tail. Pat's special blend of nose concave and entry rocker makes this board ultra stable and makes for effortless noseriding. Pat is a master in the surf and won't accept anything less than a 'Magic' board. This model is super versatile and can be ordered any size. Pat rides a 9'6"x29"x4" Come by the factory showroom and see what the future of SUP surfing looks like.

"Squirrelfish" The next generation kazuma fish

Everyone is asking me what a "Squirrelfish" is and why I used that name for my new magic fish model. The explanation is below. Remember, the Kazuma model names don't really make sense. I never wanted the board model names to be a macho sales pitch and I want the performance of my boards to speak for itself, hence the search for oddball model names.

'Ala'ihi (Hawaiian Squirrelfish)

The Hawaiian squirrelfish is found nowhere else in the world except the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island. It is the only endemic squirrelfish among roughly 20 different species of squirrelfishes and soldierfishes known to inhabit Hawaiian reefs.

My new undercover Squirrelfish model has been working Magic. It fits the Kazuma lineup in between the Piglet and the Shibi models. The Squirrelfish has the proven Piglet rocker and triple barrel concave but has a fuller outline up front. This fuller front end works better for front foot surfers that normally overpower and bury the rails on narrower nosed boards. The fuller front also gives the Squirrelfish much better paddling than the Piglet. This model works well 2-3 inches shorter than your normal shortboard and 1 to 1.5" wider.

Come into Hi-Tech, Hawaiian South Shore or the Kazuma Factory shop to take a look at the new Squirrelfish model.

Check out the new Ian Walsh short video

Check out Ian Walsh's video clip http://innersection.tv/video/157 The footage was filmed by Justin Clarke and shows how good Ian's smaller wave surfing is. The footage is sick.

Maui boys take over the surfing world

Past Kazuma riders Clay Marzo, Dusty Payne and Kai Barger are making a huge impact in the surfing world. Following in the footsteps of Ian Walsh, these young superstars are setting the standard for futuristic surfing moves and have been the headline stars in all the latest magazines. In fact, Clay has the cover of Surfer mag this month. It is awesome to see an entire generation of Kazuma kids make it big and I am proud to say they were my students.

ImaiKalani Devault 2nd place in the Surfing America Championships

Imai in blue takes 2nd place in the 14 and under boys division at the Surfing America championships at Trestles beach California. Pat Devault photos.

Fins 101

Summer is the best time to tune up your fin setup and get the most performance out of your board. Surfing your best may come down to changing a single fin or fin set, here is a Freesurf article that will help get your mind on the right track.

http://www.freesurfmagazine.com/Volume-5-Number-8/fin-fetish-demystifying-the-ideal-summer-fin-set-up.html

Yoshiyasu and Naoko receive their new custom Kazuma's in Japan.

Yoshiyasu and Naoko receive their new custom Kazuma's in Japan. These one-of-a kind custom Kazuma's were shaped special for Naoko and Yoshiyasu and both have custom colors and graphics. Naoko's is a 7'1"x20"x2.625" mini model and has her special pink fabric inlay which makes this board the only one in the world like it. Yoshiyasu's is a 9'4"x23"x3" classic model also has a custom fabric inlay design and color. I added a bit more tail rocker and a harder edge in the tail to give the board the most lively, exciting turning possible. Of course it will still noseride and glide forever like you would expect from the Kazuma Classic.

Chaz Kinoshita Hookipa training day on his 5'5"x19"x2.125" Piglet

        

Chaz Kinoshita doing his daily training this morning at Pavils.  Chaz has been riding his 5'5"x19"x2.125" Piglet and has been killing it.  I know the board sounds huge but it is so fast and loose that he can do just about anything on the wave.  The pictures show how easy it is to break the tail out. Most of the team has new Piglet boards and all agree that it makes small wave surfing easy.

Secret spot on the east side of Maui today

Baker Grant, Chaz Kinoshita and Joao marco Maffini scored a sick secret spot today on the East side of Maui. The boys surfed it all alone and pulled some of the sickest turns.  Baker Grant was amazing (and crazy), he would go for air to reverses on the shallow reef shelf and pull almost everything he tried.  I have to say, Baker is one of Maui's hidden talents and I think he might be only 16 yrs old which is simply amazing.  I am glad that I brought my camera to document the session.  Lucky we live on Maui.

Matt Kinoshita

Baker Grant throwing tail

Baker Grant backdooring a thick one

Baker Grant air to reverse

Baker grant on an unmakable one

Joao Marco Maffini cutback

Chaz Kinoshita cutting out before the rocks

                                        

Dusty Payne Surfline article

I found a cool article of Dusty Payne featured on the Surfline site. I don't remember ever seeing this before. http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/jet-setting-around-the-world-with-mauis-next-big-thing-rising-star-dusty-payne_6883/photos/1/

Imai Devault at the Hana Games contest Saturday

Photo: Pat Devault

Imai placed third in boys 13-15 and fourth in junior mens. Keep in mind, Imai is only 12 but with moves like this he can easily compete with the "big boys"

New batch of Superbrand surfboards custom shaped for Function Surf on Oahu

Double Dipping At The Bay

Twin brothers Kiva and Tide Rivers share a gaping double barrel at Honolua Bay on Maui.

Check http://surf.transworld.net/1000101698/photos/double-dipping-at-the-bay/

Meet Cody Young from Maui

This is Cody Young, one of the next generation Kazuma superstars. Cody reminds me of Dusty Payne when he was a grom, same style, same natural surfing talent. Read a little about Cody through the link bellow.
http://www.mauiwindcam.com/blog/2010/04/01/young-water-man-cody-young-making-waves/

Hana Surf Girls movie

Check out the Hana Surf Girls movie trailer, it is awesome. Kazuma Girls Monyca Byrne Wickey and Lipoa Kahaleuahi are the featured girls in the story of the girls life in Hana Maui.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-DGB_C9uYM

Maui boy Conan Gentil takes 3rd at the 2010 Irons Brothers Pine Trees Classic

Maui Boy Conan Gentil takes 3rd place at the 2010 Irons Brothers Pine trees classic. Conan is one of the up and coming Maui Groms. This is an awesome result as the Irons Bros contest attracts Hawaii's best talent. Conan rides a 5'0" x 17.5" x 1.875" piglet.

Day off for Craig Drinkward, sander and fin guy at the Kazuma Factory.

Monday 2-22-10



This is Craig Drinkward, one of the board sanders and fin guy for Kazuma Surfboards. All the guys that build Kazuma Surfboards surf and Craig is always one of the standout surfers in the lineup. Craig has been building Kazuma surfboards for 15 years and has been part of the team for 20. Craig is riding his 6'0" x 20" x 2.5" Shibi.