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"Riding a Wave Storm is the highest form of surfing. When all preconceived notion's of surfing are sidelined the spirit is released and creativity flows like the Nile Delta. This is not a sport or another one of life's activities. This is a philosophy and 'Wave Storming' is the meditation."- Tom Ruttkay
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"I was just finishing work, teaching at Waimea Canyon Middle School, and went to check the surf after picking up my son from preschool. The waves were firing. I surfed during my lunch break and it was fun, but not quite the size of the wave pictured. Having my son in the car, I handed him my iPhone and let him play games while I went to catch a few. In Hawaiʻi we don't need to worry about crazy things happening to our keiki. I was out there for a little while and tried to turn and burn on one when I saw a short boarder miss it. I tried to go and ate shit! I paddled back out and felt crunched for time because my son was in the car cruising. I waited for the next sets to roll in and it wasn't the right direction. I passed those up and then a freak set went wide away from the normal spot. I paddled into what was a 3-4 foot wave (Hawaiian style) and stalled for the barrel with a hand drag. Then once I came out of that section, I noticed the wave start to grow on the sandbar. That's when I started to shit my pants and really just wanted to make it out of there. My friend, Rochelle Ballard was paddling out cheering me on as I was running for my life. I finally sneaked out the front and ditched my board. I yelled to Rochelle, "Im out of here," and went to the comfort of my truck to find my son smiling watching 'Jake and the Neverland Pirates' on my phone. That was one of my sickest and scariest waves I rode being a newcomer to Kauai. Lucky we live Hawaii!" - Kauluokalā Kauwe Photo: Nate Ragragola
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Sunny Garcia ripping. Photo: @heath_lifethruthelens
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"It was a decent sized canyon set after sitting outside for a while so as to minimize the irritation to the rest of the crowd, and while trying to get over the hump and onto the face the wavestorm suddenly caught air and flipped up from under my feet, leaving me to get wrecked much like I had hoped (if somewhat early for my preference). Ended up getting chased out by the big shot guy on the red board who thought he owned the break and couldn't or wouldn't appreciate having a bit of fun, but then I grabbed my shortie and paddled back out for a few more hours." - Troy Hamner Photo: Jack Delulio
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"Kinda funny to say but wavestorms are actually my favorite board to ride (:" -Karlie Thoma Photo: Dooma Photos
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Nate Rohner at a secret spot in Oceanside during the Hurricane Marie swell. Photo: Connor Kollenda
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Mike Coots pitted. Photo: Mike Coots
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"On this breezy day at one of Maui's premier southshore breaks, Ariana Brown captured how easily the wavestorm glides through difficult sections while surfing in stormy conditions." Raji Ananda Photo: Ariana Brown
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This is a Kirkland signature shorebreak photo , it's one of my favorites though because the wave actually fits an 8ft wavestorm ,going straight, nose to tail in the barrel. Photo: Larry Beard
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"I was looking at the waves for a little before I went out and I was noticing it was only barreling completely on shore. So I took my wavestorm out to catch them far out and ride it all the way inside where I got some really fun barrels like this one shaped up to be." - Darrin Puff Photo: @carrie_loves_smiling
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Danny Bossano demonstrating that Wavestorms and Waimea Bay Shorebreak go together like ketchup on french fries. Looking forward to taking another dip into a day like this soon. Photo: Timmy Leichliter
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This photo of Casey Richmond shows how Wavestorm's allow you to surf waves that would be otherwise be really sketchy on a fiberglass board. Wavestorm's are also super buoyant so you can get into steep shorebreak early and have plenty of time to pull in. This wave was at my local spot in La Jolla that gets super fun in the summer, with the right swell direction the whomp barrels are totally makable! Photo: Ronald Hons
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"The wavestorm breaks that stereotype of a soft top, it performs and allows you to surf any condition and wave including shore break. I love surfing the wavestorm because it is pure fun." - from surfer Kamakani Froiseth Photo: Austin Borge
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Namotu Island Resort, Nadi, Fiji (Thursday, February 25 2016): Taylor Hession (AUS) ducks for cover as Mike Hennessy (HAW) rebounds off the white water above him. Both survived the move. A new North West swell was hitting this morning with very light variable winds. Virtually all the breaks around the island were working depending on the tide with sessions at Namotu Lefts and Swimming Pools. The swell was in the 4'-6' range all day and it was stinking hot without any wind. Photo: Peter Joli Wilson
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Sheila B, styling out. Photo by Perfect Storm Fins proud sponsor of Team Wavestorm
The Wavestorm has sparked a worldwide trend. Once considered to be a craft reserved for beginners, now it’s not uncommon to see rippers electing to take out foamies over high performance surfboards, even on days when the waves are firing – all because, well, surfing is fun and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Team Wavestorm embodies that mantra. It’s an Instagram account, a movement, a lifestyle. For a deeper look into the team we spoke to the anonymous Captain of Team Wavestorm who sits at the helm of the foam ship that is this movement.
Can you tell me a bit about Team Wavestorm?
Team Wavestorm is surfing’s new counter-culture. We are generally looked down upon and even hated at nearly every surf break around the world, but we couldn’t care less. We are catching more waves than everyone, and having the time of our lives during every session. Surfing is all about having fun, being open minded, and escaping the dismal realities and even boring every-day lives that we all face. Many surfers have forgotten this – something that we never will do as we lose our egos and cruise around on an 8-foot, pinstriped foam surfboard.
What inspired you to start the team?
Seeing people get intimidated and shooed away from lineups simply because they rode a different board than other people. We wanted them to have a support system, and become inspired by what other people are doing on Wavestorms. We wanted these surfers not to lose sight of the real purpose of getting in the water.
It seems like a huge honor to even be considered for Team Wavestorm. How does the team select the best of the best?
Yeah, it definitely is. Being “Welcomed to the Team” can be a life-changing experience for some. Everyone is welcome to join the team, but we like to especially feature the riders that embody Team Wavestorm’s deepest values. Some of which are: having fun, getting barreled, sticking it to the man, and sharing the “true” meaning of surfing with those around them.
Any chance of working with the WSL in the future? Maybe an all Wavestorm heat at the Pipe Masters? Or pushing to let ‘CT guys add a Wavestorm to their quiver for days when the waves don’t show up?
We are actually starting our own World Tour. Free-surfs only. Everyone invited. No exceptions. We are ironing out the details but it is highly likely that Lunada Bay will be our first stop… Stay tuned on our Instagram @teamwavestorm.
Be sure to follow Team Wavestorm on Instagram. And got a shot of you ripping on a Wavestorm? Consider submitting it for consideration for one of the highest honors in surfing – being welcomed to the team.