Red Bull No Contest Wanders Waikiki + Crossteps Along Oahu’s South Shore

Watch previous episodes of Red Bull No Contest here: Sydney, San Francisco + Morocco.

Welcome back to No Contest — Stab and Red Bull’s travel series diving into the culture, characters, and customs of surf communities around the globe.

In episode two, host Ashton Goggans teams up with Red Bull surfer Jamie O’Brien and local longboard World Champion Kai Sallas to explore the rich surf heritage of Oahu’s South Shore — from Waikiki’s mellow ankle slappers to the punchy reef breaks of Ala Moana Bowls. 

Upcoming stops include Japan and Florida.

“Waikiki is the birthplace of surfing,” says 2004 Pipe Master and surf media trailblazer Jamie O’Brien, who honed his skills competing at Queens, the slopey A-frame just 200 meters from the iconic Duke Kahanamoku statue in central Waikiki. He reflects on the cultural significance of the ‘Beach Boys’ — skilled watermen who mastered surfing, canoe paddling, and swimming. O’Brien stresses their role in preserving surfing’s roots and introducing newcomers to the sport.

Adding depth to the discussion is Kai Sallas, a second-generation Beach Boy, master board builder, and 2023 Longboard World Champion. Sallas clinched his maiden world title at 42, poetically defeating his own student, Kaniela Stewart, with both finalists riding boards he shaped. “My dad was a Beach Boy, and that’s how I learned to surf,” he says. “He took tourists surfing or out in the canoe. It’s just part of the Waikiki lifestyle. You’re kind of walking in the footsteps of Duke by continuing that Beach Boy tradition.”

Beyond the surf, we dive into the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of Honolulu’s 300,000-strong population, visiting local institutions like Sailor Jerry’s historic tattoo parlor in Chinatown, Town & Country Surfboards in Pearl Harbor, and the eclectic and hip Honolulu Pawn Shop in downtown Waikiki.

After watching Ashton get tattooed at Sailor Jerry’s Old Ironside Parlor — founded by Norman Collins, one of the most iconic tattoo artists ever — the crew heads to Town & Country Surfboards. Founded by Craig and Ryan Sugihara in 1971, T&C has left an indelible mark on surf culture. They cross paths with shaping royalty Dennis Pang and airbrush artist Gavin Hasegawa, uncovering stories like how Dennis Martinez’s famous slash in a swimming pool landed T&C its first cover (spoiler: it wasn’t in a surf mag).

They also check out Jonah Hill’s latest custom order and discuss how Nintendo Games’ release of Town & Country Surf: Wood and Water Rage in 1988 became the world’s first action sports video game, the profits of which helped build their star-studded team that came to include: Dane Kealoha, Tony Moniz, Sunny Garcia, Christian and Nate Fletcher, Matt Archbold, Marvin Foster, Johnny Boy Gomes, Bruce Irons and Jamie O’Brien over the years.

The episode wraps with a visit to Kekoa Cazimero, founder of Avva brand and sponsor of the iconic “Surf Into Summer” event at Ala Moana Bowls. Cazimero, a five-time winner of the event, shares how he’s giving back to the competition that launched countless Hawaiian pro surfing careers.

Watch previous episodes of Red Bull No Contest here: Sydney, San Francisco + Morocco.