Oxbow presents the Watermen Experience. This thrilling new movie captures our Watermen’s amazing and unforgettable winter season of 2009/10 in Maui, Hawaii. Follow Laird Hamilton and his team mates exploring new and exciting ways to ride the most intensely challenging waves in the world.
Laird Hamilton is THE ultimate legend in the boardsports world, and widely acclaimed as one of the most talented and accomplished athletes in surf culture’s rich history.
A sensational Waterman, a genius inventor, a glowing and charismatic personality, Laird has pioneered countless new ways of riding nature’s energy, from tow-in to the hydro-foil to the SUP. Along the way Laird has surfed the biggest, scariest and most beautiful waves on the planet, constantly pushing the limits of the extreme sports.
Born in February 1964 in San Francisco, California, Laird moved with his mother, Joann (also a surfer) to the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, when he was aged 2. Here Laird became the adopted son of the 1960’s surf legend Bill Hamilton. Laird made his first steps on a surfboard at the age of 3 and rapidly fell in love with the sea. The family soon moved onto the stunning and remote island of Kauai. At the age of 8, Bill took his surrogate son to the 60-foot cliff at Waimea Falls. Laird looked down, looked back at Bill, and jumped. “He’s been bold since day one,” says Bill, “And hell-bent on living life to the extreme.”
At 6’3” and 215 pounds Laird appears indestructible, invincible and almost bionic. Laird is the perfect incarnation of the Waterman. His groundbreaking sessions at some of the most intense waves in the world, such as Teahupoo and Jaws, have been followed in awe and amazement in all corners of the globe. Former Surfer magazine editor Sam George, in the magazine’s ‘Most powerful people in surfing’ wrote: “Laird is flat out surfing’s biggest, boldest and bravest. He is the sport’s most complete surfer, displaying almost unnerving expertise in a multitude of disciplines: Tow-surfing, Bodysurfing, Longboarding, Paddling, Sailboarding and Kitesurfing.” Laird is THE legend.
Laird and OXBOW have both benefited from a long relationship together and for several years have combined their exceptional experience in the development of the technically superior LAIRD line.
Jason was born in Torquay, southeast Australia, where he became a local motocross star then multiple Australian Junior Champion. “After many injuries my parents decided to stop me riding bikes and took me to the beach where I saw waves for the first time,” says Jason. “I started surfing and then saw some windsurfers one day jumping the waves and decided that that was what I wanted to do. It reminded me of motocross. So I began my journey of learning how to windsurf in a small bay inside the reef where I was protected by the waves – a place called Cossy Corner. As I got better I went outside the reef to where the waves were and started to ride and jump.”
At the age of 14, Jason took his first trip to Hawaii, riding the incredible waves on the famous Hookipa beach. He quickly made his mark in competition, entering the World Cup Tour in 1989 at the age of 18 alongside legendary riders and heroes Robby Naish and Dave Kalama.
100% Hawaiian, Duane DeSoto is an astonishing Waterman and one of the greatest longboarders in the world. He lives on the island of Oahu in front of the legendary surf spot of Makaha, where he started surfing at the age of 4 with his father and uncle. As an ambassador of the Hawaiian culture, Duane is strongly committed to his traditions as well as to the environmental protection of the ocean. In order to spread this commitment to the younger generation. Duane runs an incredible non-profit awareness program called NA KAMA KAI.
Duane is one of the finest competitors on both the Longboard and SUP World Tour. He also journeys with OXBOW on discovery trips all around the globe. Duane’s search for cultural exchange and sharing reflect his personal values that demand complete harmony with nature. “The most rewarding part of surfing is being able to share its history and foundation, which is deeply rooted in Hawaii and the Pacific, with the world and most importantly with my family,” says Duane. “Surfing has come full circle in my life. When I was 4 I won my first surfing contest, and recently my 3 year old won the same contest (the Rell Sunn Menehune Surfing Classic) at Makaha Beach. My career is validated in the spirit of my family, who all carry on the surfing legacy of our ancestors.”
Duane and OXBOW have kept an exclusive relationship for nearly 20 years. Both have crossed the globe together in order to develop the technical product line and to promote the Waterman identity of the brand, and mostly importantly, to respect and embrace the ALOHA spirit.
American Levi Siver is one of the most stylish windsurfers in his generation, striving for perfection through a constant osmosis between the ocean and his equipment.
Levi started his windsurf career at the age of 8. Levi explains, “When the ski season was over my parents spent their days windsurfing while me and my brother, Luke, sat on the beach. Then Luke and I sampled a kid’s rig one day in George River, Oregon and really enjoyed it. From that point on we were travelling a lot across America, but eventually decided to reside in Maui, Hawaii in 1992. Once I discovered this new dynamic called wave sailing, I fell in love with the style and speed and pursued a professional career with my brother.”
Levi was known as a child prodigy in the windsurf community. He is now one of the most skilled and silky riders ever and still constantly impresses with his performances at worldwide spots. Levi is so committed and involved with his discipline he has made his own film, The Windsurfing Movie. It is considered one of the most revolutionary and beautiful windsurf films ever. And the sequel is on its way.
In the Hawaiian language “Kai” means “Ocean”. This name seems to have shaped the destiny of our young Waterman. Kai Lenny’s enthusiasm and passion for the ocean is without any limits. Born on the island of Maui, Kai was naturally gifted in all kinds of board sports, excelling in Windsurfing, SUP, Kitesurfing, Surfing, Longboarding and Tow-in. At only 17, Kai has already earned the respect of Laird Hamilton.
Kai is an outstanding waterman who lives according to the rhythm of the ocean, using different boards each day. He simply cannot resist spending time in the ocean to play with the waves, adapting his equipment to the day's particular conditions. Kai explains, "I wake up at 5:15 in the morning to go surfing until 7:30, I study from 8 to 12:30, then I go windsurfing or kiting, whichever is better. Then I go surfing or stand up in the late afternoon. I have a great life. I love to go to bed early."
Last winter Kai rode the biggest waves of his life in the Bay of Peahi, towed in by Laird Hamilton. This was an unforgettable experience for a young waterman, and the session will also stick in your memories after watching breathtaking The Oxbow Waterman Experience movie.