Enter a world of magic and mystery, in my own head, where surfing and snowboarding are considered real jobs! Amazing feats of daring and skill are performed every day - and that's just getting the footage onto film!
Media anarchist, film guru, surf addict and web video blogger!
Frank "Frog" Solomon and Josh "Vanilla Guerrilla" Redman discuss life and stare in each other's eyes on the bike path. (Photo: Spex)
The "Late" Season starts and already the Pacific Ocean has obliged with one great North Shore swell pumping through over the weekend. There to greet it are a pack of Saffas (South African Surfers) living on the North Shore for the next 2 months chasing waves, photos, results and respect. What really makes me super stoked about it, is that they are some of my best buds! Enter the crew of Sacha "Spex" Specker, Frank "Frog" Solomon, Josh "Vani G" Redman, Andrew "Roosta" Lange, Grant "Twig" Baker and Ant Fox. These guys are there to ride and document the North Shore, surf some competition and ride the dream.
Over the next few weeks they and other other South Africans will join Spex on my radio show to fill us in on what has been going down. All the stories, the drama and the results! So keep an eye on this here blog and the Monday Radio show on 2 Oceans Vibe. In the meantime here are 2 videos of week 1 on the Shore!
Past winner, Grant "Twig" Baker, will be charging for the Saffers at Mavericks.
A long range perfect swell is charging towards California and the organizers of the Maverick's Invitational have called the event on for Sunday, January 20th. Surfline, the official forecaster reckon the swell may have some lulls, but will be big and perfect when they come through the peak at Mavs. South Africa has 2 previous winners in Twig and defending champion, Chris Bertish, who won in 2010, the last time the event was run. Frank Solomon is on the alternate list after spending time in California the last few seasons. Great to see legend, Jeff Clarke, back in charge and running his contest again!
First show back in the studio and I will be honest it was a little nerve racking after so much time away. I definately had one or two glitches, but having said that it was a great show. Started out with Glen from 4 Elements Gaming as we caught up on all the gaming news in SA and abroad. Then possibly my most famous surf guest yet, John John Florence and his entire travel family were in studio. His Mom, Alex, Brothers, Nathan and Ivan, friend and fellow Pro, Kiron Jabour, as well as camera crew and local tour guide, friend, Frank Solomon. Video man, Blake, had possibly the funniest intro on the show ever. Crack a listen, its worth it.
Commentating Billabong SA Champs over the weekend.
The show this week was all about surfing and the Billabong SA Champs that went down over the weekend in Cape Town. I was joined by finalists Dan Redman, Open Mens and Tarryn Chudleigh, Open Woman, as well as Under 20 Boys Winner, Mikey February. Big Wave surfer, Frank Solomon, joined us just to add some "drama", in the form of his chirping with Dan. Great music, good talk and awesome times...
Download Captain Kai's World - Podcast Show 34
(Right Click and save as.)
Next week we will chat about the Volcom Fiji Pro and much, much more.
Frank Solomon, Anthony Raynard & Jadyson Costa - Champion line up!
This show was so packed with Action Sports Athletes, I almost did not know who to ask what. First off we dedicated the show and 2 tracks to David, who died tragically last week in a shark attack. We also discussed the current shark debate with all the guests. First up were Jadyson Costa, the current welterweight EFC Africa Champion, Anthony Raynard, SA MX Champion and Frank Solomon, big wave surfer. All three were of the opinion that the other three were more hardcore and this led to some good laughs. Anthony came to promote the SA National Motorcross champs this weekend in Melkbos. Later Frank and I were joined by free surfer, Andrew "Roosta" Lange and we ended off the show with Roosta and his partner in music, Craig, as the "Non-violent fisherman" played us out with a great Led Zeppelin cover. Enjoy the show!
Download the Podcast here - Podcast Show 31
(Right Click and Save as.)
I have to say, the &Union Beers definitely added to the humor on last night's show. Thanks to big wave charger and very funny guy, Frank Solomon, for bringing a case to the show. Myself and Tyrone Rawlins were getting pretty lubricated and having a great laugh at Frank's stories from California, being Gerard Butler's stunt double and all the antics from the North Shore winter. We also brought you the latest from the European Winter XGames, Downhill Mountain Biking World Cup and all the news from the ASP World Tour.
The Bomb Surf Mag did an interview with me yesterday, check it out here - The Bomb Surf Interview
Download the Podcast for Show 28 - Show 28 Podcast
(Right Click & Save as, if you want to download.)
Brandon Jackson decided to give the North Shore of Hawaii a good go this year and spent an extended amount of time there proving himself at Backdoor, Pipeline and the Food Land check outs. You will notice Josh Redman, Frank Solomon and Twig making cameos in the video as they also dedicated a lot of time to chasing the Shore this winter. Pretty short video, but I liked the edit and some good surfing from Jacko.
Today, Thursday August 11th 2011, the best big wave riders in the world will compete at the Billabong Pico Alto 2011, presented by Sony, the second event of the 2011 Big Wave World Tour (BWWT) held at the famous surf spot in Pico Alto, Punta Hermosa beach, about 43 km south of Lima.
Billabong Peru BWWT Tour Director Gary Linden, Sean Collins, and Surfline.com, official forecaster of the BWWT, monitored the weather and made the final call. The conditions look optimal and the swell is expected to produce solid 30 foot face waves with some larger sets possible.
Legendary shaper and Big Wave World Tour Director Gary Linden said:
“With a long period swell on the way with great direction and light winds, Pico Alto will provide some excellent waves for this year’s event. While not quite as big as last year, the quality looks to be better and we can expect a very high level of big wave performance surfing.”
The best big wave surfers on the planet will be arriving this week in Peru. Last year’s winner and current Big Wave World Champ Jamie Sterling will defend his title against personalities like Greg Long (USA), former World Champ Carlos Burle (Brazil), XXL award winners Danilo Couto (Brazil) and Grant “Twiggy” Baker (South Africa), as well as locals legends like Alvaro Malpartida, Rafael Velarde, Gabriel Villarán, Sebastian de Romaña and more.
Gabriel Villarán, the highest ranked Peruvian, currently 3rd in the world, has the opportunity to surpass current BWWT leader Marcos Monteiro (Brazil).
The Billabong Pico Alto is one of the most intense waves of the Big Wave World Tour, giving athletes the opportunity to compete for $12,000 USD prize purse and leading into the third event, the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic 2011 to be held this Fall/Winter in Oregon, USA.
