A few Words With Kanoa

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Kanoa Igarashi has done little else but breathe surfing for the greater part of his 18 years on this planet. His father Tom was pushing him into waves at the tender age of 3, and he has been competing since age 6. Safe to say, Kanoa has been on a steady climb before he even hit double digits. So imagine him now, some 15 years later — with a constant rise in his yearly performance levels, it is no surprise he accomplished more in 2015 than any other kid his age in the state, the xcountry, or the world. I’ve been traveling the world with Kanoa since he was 12 and have seen it all unfold until the beginning of this year, when Jake “the Snake” Paterson took up the coach role for him, a move that paid dividends refining Kanoa’s contest act. Hence the amazing results and securing Kanoa’s spot on the World Championship / WSL Tour for 2016 before he even got to Hawaii.

G+J: Kanoa, we know you started the year wanting to qualify or at best get close. What was the turning point in your season where it started looking like it was going to be tangible making the WT?
K+I: Actually, I didn’t have that goal in the beginning of the year. I kind of told myself at one point before the season that I wanted to be a contender, but never really had the goal of qualifying. My mindset completely changed after Ballito and HB; that’s when I told myself I can do it and it’s time to work even harder.

G+J: Give us a rundown of what 2015 looked like for you as far as your competitive success — what did you win, place, accomplish?
K+I: Well, it started at my first event of the year which was the Australian Open of Surfing Pro Junior and I won that. That gave me some confidence for the rest of the year. Then I won a pro junior in Cabo right before Ballito that gave me huge confidence, especially because I found a magic board. I went to Ballito, got my biggest result in a 10,000 event with a quarter final = 5th, into the U.S. Open got a Semi Final = 3rd, right into a win at Virginia Beach for the QS3000. Those two months right there pretty much got me qualified. Then I let off the gas a little too much going into the Europe leg and then got the fire back for Brazil. I got a Quarter Final = 5th at the Florianapolis QS6000, then a win at the next event at Itacare which was also a QS6000. Once I won Itacare, I knew I was qualified for the CT for 2017.

G+J: Word on the street is you’re a bit of an acai snob — where in the OC is the best acai?
K+I: I’m the biggest acai fan there is! That’s probably why I did good in Brazil this year (laughs). My go-to spot for acai in town is definitely Brazilian bites on Main Street! Paulo the owner is a legend and their acai is the same you would get from Brazil, which makes it unique.
G+J: Let’s rewind back to your first surfing experience with your dad — do you remember it? Board, waves, spot?
K+I: The inside at Ala Moana, where people normally stand-up paddle, on a Town and Country yellow longboard I got on my third birthday! I remember wanting to get that board. I don’t remember my first wave, but I’ve seen videos and photos from that day that I’ll never forget.

G+J: What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen in all your world travels, and with who?
K+I: I’ve had some classic moments but I’ve had some big laughs with my friends while trying to communicate with foreign people.
G+J: Who’s your favorite surfer?
K+I: Gabriel for his competitiveness and talent to be able to perform under pressure, and Dusty Payne for his raw talent.
G+J: Huntington is likely more known for tribal tats and inland transplants. What’s your favorite thing about living there?
K+I: My friends I grew up with live here, there’s waves every day. I can do anything I want around here. Train, eat, golf, surf, whatever I feel like doing, really.
G+J: Magic board — make, model, length?
K+I: Channel Islands 5’11 T low modified.
G+J: Will we see the Igarashi fam on tour with you at some stops?
K+I: Yeah, for sure they’re going to be coming to the events that are easy for them to go and places where my brother can have a good time, too. Probably about half. I can’t wait to show them all the cool places I get to go to.
G+J: Besides doing the tour, what else is cracking in 2016 for you?
K+I: I’m going to be traveling a lot. I want to be scoring good waves while there are no contests, too. I’ll be filming for edits and all that stuff!
Thank you, guys, and I hope to represent HB well on tour next year!


Posted by: ghetto juiceghetto juice at: 16 Jan 2016 01:03




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Kanoa Igarashi has done little else but breathe surfing for the greater part of his 18 years on this planet. His father Tom was pushing him into waves at the tender age of 3, and he has been competing since age 6. Safe to say, Kanoa has been on a steady climb before he even hit double digits. So imagine him now, some 15 years later — with a constant rise in his yearly performance levels, it is no surprise he accomplished more in 2015 than any other kid his age in the state, the xcountry, or the world. I’ve been traveling the world with Kanoa since he was 12 and have seen it all unfold until the beginning of this year, when Jake “the Snake” Paterson took up the coach role for him, a move that paid dividends refining Kanoa’s contest act. Hence the amazing results and securing Kanoa’s spot on the World Championship / WSL Tour for 2016 before he even got to Hawaii.

G+J: Kanoa, we know you started the year wanting to qualify or at best get close. What was the turning point in your season where it started looking like it was going to be tangible making the WT?
K+I: Actually, I didn’t have that goal in the beginning of the year. I kind of told myself at one point before the season that I wanted to be a contender, but never really had the goal of qualifying. My mindset completely changed after Ballito and HB; that’s when I told myself I can do it and it’s time to work even harder.

G+J: Give us a rundown of what 2015 looked like for you as far as your competitive success — what did you win, place, accomplish?
K+I: Well, it started at my first event of the year which was the Australian Open of Surfing Pro Junior and I won that. That gave me some confidence for the rest of the year. Then I won a pro junior in Cabo right before Ballito that gave me huge confidence, especially because I found a magic board. I went to Ballito, got my biggest result in a 10,000 event with a quarter final = 5th, into the U.S. Open got a Semi Final = 3rd, right into a win at Virginia Beach for the QS3000. Those two months right there pretty much got me qualified. Then I let off the gas a little too much going into the Europe leg and then got the fire back for Brazil. I got a Quarter Final = 5th at the Florianapolis QS6000, then a win at the next event at Itacare which was also a QS6000. Once I won Itacare, I knew I was qualified for the CT for 2017.

G+J: Word on the street is you’re a bit of an acai snob — where in the OC is the best acai?
K+I: I’m the biggest acai fan there is! That’s probably why I did good in Brazil this year (laughs). My go-to spot for acai in town is definitely Brazilian bites on Main Street! Paulo the owner is a legend and their acai is the same you would get from Brazil, which makes it unique.
G+J: Let’s rewind back to your first surfing experience with your dad — do you remember it? Board, waves, spot?
K+I: The inside at Ala Moana, where people normally stand-up paddle, on a Town and Country yellow longboard I got on my third birthday! I remember wanting to get that board. I don’t remember my first wave, but I’ve seen videos and photos from that day that I’ll never forget.

G+J: What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen in all your world travels, and with who?
K+I: I’ve had some classic moments but I’ve had some big laughs with my friends while trying to communicate with foreign people.
G+J: Who’s your favorite surfer?
K+I: Gabriel for his competitiveness and talent to be able to perform under pressure, and Dusty Payne for his raw talent.
G+J: Huntington is likely more known for tribal tats and inland transplants. What’s your favorite thing about living there?
K+I: My friends I grew up with live here, there’s waves every day. I can do anything I want around here. Train, eat, golf, surf, whatever I feel like doing, really.
G+J: Magic board — make, model, length?
K+I: Channel Islands 5’11 T low modified.
G+J: Will we see the Igarashi fam on tour with you at some stops?
K+I: Yeah, for sure they’re going to be coming to the events that are easy for them to go and places where my brother can have a good time, too. Probably about half. I can’t wait to show them all the cool places I get to go to.
G+J: Besides doing the tour, what else is cracking in 2016 for you?
K+I: I’m going to be traveling a lot. I want to be scoring good waves while there are no contests, too. I’ll be filming for edits and all that stuff!
Thank you, guys, and I hope to represent HB well on tour next year!

Image konoa_sq.jpg