Two Waves of Aloha: Super Girl Mentoring & Kolby Aipa's Legacy
Grab your brew and settle in—there's some serious surf community magic happening right now. Between Oceanside's empowering Super Girl Surf Festival and Huntington Beach's emotional Hall of Fame induction, the stoke is running high. These stories aren't just about waves; they're about the people who make our sport feel like ohana. Let's paddle into both.
Oceanside's Rising Tides: Groms Get Pro Mentorship
Picture this: a dozen wide-eyed young surfers, nervous but buzzing, paddling out beside their idols. That was Friday morning at the Super Girl Surf Festival in Oceanside, where the World Surf League's Rising Tides program connected next-gen shredders with pros like two-time champion Alyssa Spencer. As KPBS detailed, 11-year-old Tate Archambault got real with her mentors: 'Do they always want to be a professional surfer?' The answer? Many knew by her age. Spencer, who once stood in Tate's shoes, called it 'pretty amazing to inspire the next generation'—full-circle stoke that's fueled the festival for 19 years. Now, what began with a handful of athletes has exploded into the world's largest women's surf fest, with 176 competitors plus skating, BMX, and beach volleyball. Free to attend and running through Sunday, it's a love letter to female empowerment in waves.
Huntington's Forever Wave: Kolby Aipa's Aloha Legacy
While Oceanside nurtured future stars, Huntington Beach honored a young legend who left waves too soon. On Thursday evening, the Surfers' Hall of Fame posthumously inducted 20-year-old Kolby Aipa, spreading his ashes near his grandfather Ben Aipa's handprints. As the LA Times captured, father Duke Aipa spoke through tears: 'I'm trying to embrace this as pride and love.' The hashtag #IAmKolby now ripples through the community, celebrating a spirit of aloha that Duke Kahanamoku first planted here a century ago. A paddle-out this Saturday at 9 am by the HB Pier will continue the tribute—proof that while waves may fade, connection endures.
These stories—empowering groms and honoring legacy—show why surfing's heartbeat lives beyond the lineup. Whether you're chasing your next session or capturing perfect barrels, remember: our sport thrives on the moments that connect us. So here's to the mentors, the legends, and the rising tides that carry our aloha forward.