On Saturday, August 17, we threw a party. Well, it was more than a party. It was a gathering of some of the greatest figures in the surf and outdoor worlds that we had the opportunity to honor. And then we got to do something else we don’t get to do often enough: listen to these legends simply talk about issues that are close to their hearts.
Jesse Billauer from Life Rolls On, Steve Larosiliere with Stoked Mentoring and Becky Mendoza talked about navigating non-profit work. Pro snowboarder Kimmy Fasani and renowned ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson discussed parenting while maintaining pro careers. Taylor Lane and Ben Judkins from The Cigarette Surfboard Team, Daniel Murphy, 4ocean’s head of cleanup, and television host and producer Alison Teal discussed ocean health before spearfishing expert Kimi Werner talked about maintaining connectivity with the food we eat.
We were also proud to premiere Three Hearts Home, Kimi’s deeply personal dive into her reunion with her estranged brother, Dr. Randy Kosaki, who grew up in an entirely different homes. Kosaki ultimately became a chief scientist at NOAA, and the two have made profound contributions to ocean advocacy in their own respective ways, and have mutual respect for each other’s skills.
Next up, Kassia Meador, longboarding icon and founder of Kassia+Surf, Chris Cuvelier, head of beverage for Caliva, and Conor Murphy, chief science officer at The Flow Research Collective, broke down fact and fiction in the cannabis world.
And finally, after the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing was honored for its social advocacy, 2018 Big Wave World Champion Keala Kennelly, freeskier Michelle Parker, and big wave charger Bianca Valenti had a discussion about women breaking boundaries in surf and mountain sports.
It was a hell of a night, and here are the pictures to prove it.
Special thanks, again, to our presenting partners who made this monumental gathering possible: OluKai, 4ocean, Zola, Caliva, Klean Kanteen. As well as our grassroots partners: Pau Maui Vodka, Qalo, Kindhumans, Rise Brewing Co., All Good Products, Travellers Autobarn, Travel with Meaning, and 805 Beer. Thank you also to STOKE for enabling us to host this event as sustainably as we possibly could.
