Hawaii Surf Workforce Captain Kai Martin Has His Sights Set on the CT

Kai Martin was proudly born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Like many youngsters that grew up within the Aloha State, Martin’s dad pushed him into waves as a child, destining him for a life as a surfer. However when he was two, Martin competed in his first tandem contests along with his dad and realized he wasn’t in love with the game. Browsing took a backseat for just a few years, however Martin picked it again up once more when he was seven. By the point he was 10, knew he needed to pursue a profession as knowledgeable surfer and started taking his browsing extra critically.

In 2022, Martin gained the U-18 division on the USA Browsing Championship and served as captain for the Hawaii Surf Workforce (HST), serving to to steer the crew to victory. Right here, the 18-year-old shares what it was like competing on the HST, how rising up in Hawaii formed him as a surfer, and his objectives for the 2023 season and past.

What do you like about browsing and competing?

Browsing is a freedom and it’s a way of life for me. I really like to have the ability to simply go and be within the ocean. So far as competitors, I’m a very aggressive individual and I really like competing, browsing new waves, and getting the chance to showcase my browsing.

The place are your favourite locations to surf at residence?

Within the summertime, I surf Kewalo Basin lots and Ala Moana Bowls. Within the wintertime, Pipeline and Haleiwa are my two favourite spots.

How has rising up in Hawaii formed you as a surfer?

I feel it has lots to do with the group of surfers right here. I grew up with a decent knit group of pals and all of us grew up skating and browsing with one another. All of us respect one another and push one another to be higher on daily basis. Being on an island, I see all these individuals on daily basis once I surf and so they push me to higher.

Do you’ve gotten anybody that you just often practice/surf with?

I surf lots with my pal Diego Ferri and Shion Crawford, in addition to individuals I look as much as just like the Moniz brothers—they’re a giant affect on me. My coach Rainos Hayes has labored with me since a really younger age via Billabong. Simply with the ability to be round these guys has helped me lots.

What are a few of your strengths/weaknesses as a surfer?

I’d say my largest strengths could be consistency and pace—I really feel like I surf fairly quick and highly effective. In competitors, I really feel very comfy; I really feel like I’ve surfed lots of heats. So far as issues to work on, out at Pipe and Sundown, simply getting extra comfy in these heavier lineups. Larger boards and greater surf—I simply need to get extra comfy with that.

Do you’ve gotten any bucket checklist surf spots?

I’ve at all times needed to go to the Mentawais on a ship journey with a bunch of pals. That’s type of just like the dream surf journey for me is to have the ability to go there and surf on daily basis.

What was it like competing on the HST on the ISAs?

It was very intense. The observe classes had been as intense because it will get—tons of of children which might be very aggressive with very restricted waves. All people was very aggressive. So far as the competitors, we received actually good waves. It was on the larger aspect, so I really feel like that gave us youngsters from Hawaii the benefit—we’re extra comfy in these situations than most different individuals.

What did it imply so that you can win gold total for Hawaii?

We went there going for gold; that was our purpose. We weren’t attempting to accept anything. All people on the crew was serving to everyone and all of us had that drive to concentrate on ourselves when it was time for our personal heats, but additionally be there supporting our teammates. Simply understanding how essential it was for every of us and everyone understanding how essential it was for one another to make their very own heats made it actually particular to come back out on high total.

What are your objectives wanting ahead?

Quick time period objectives for me are to do nicely within the Hawaii regional QS occasions and get on the CS. The top purpose for me is to have the ability to compete on the WCT.

What do you love to do while you’re not browsing?

My two largest hobbies are Jiu Jitsu and I’m entering into golf. Jiu Jitsu is certainly a superb bodily exercise however for me, it’s largely simply psychological. Once I’m coaching, it’s like enjoying chess, I really feel prefer it helps with my psychological energy.

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