Many “Waves of Pain” stories are about merciless thrashing handed out by the ocean when it’s in an angry mood. Not all. Some come from a wholly different kind of pain. I remember thinking, oh… what a load of bullshit, the first time I heard the expression “sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” To me, an emotional beating has always been way worse … [Read more...]
Smashed at Gas Chambers
The ocean often plays the role of a trickster as two young women who tried their luck at the Hawaiian North Shore “experts only” surfing spot, Gas Chambers, found out. Cara and Ana paddled out a two person surf kayak at this shallow-breaking, reef-bottomed barrel generator with the gruesome name on what they thought was one of the North Shore’s mild and manageable days. The … [Read more...]
Rabbit killer – a master takes a caning at pipeline!
Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew is sitting on the beach at Pipeline and is staring out to sea. The waves are fifteen feet and the sets are even bigger. It is 1988. “Rabbit” has been coming here each winter for well over ten years... since he was a skinny little kid, in fact... and now he figures he knows the wave like the back of his hand. That’s why he is staring out to sea. Smart … [Read more...]
The ocean is a trickster… especially Hawaii’s North Shore – Gas chambers bites the unwary!
The ocean often plays the role of a trickster as two young women who tried their luck at the Hawaiian North Shore “experts only” surfing spot, Gas Chambers, found out. Cara and Ana paddled out a two-person surf kayak at this shallow-breaking, reef-bottomed barrel generator with the gruesome name on what they thought was one of the North Shore’s mild and manageable days. The … [Read more...]