Duke Kahanamoku, spreading aloha everywhere he went.
Duke Kahanamoku is, without a doubt, one of the most influential surfers of all time. The full-blooded Hawaiian was the definition of a waterman, a term tossed around far too casually these days. He excelled at everything to do with the ocean, whether it be outrigger canoe paddling, diving or swimming. When he was 20 years old, when he shattered the American freestyle 50-yard record as well as the 100-yard world record. This led him straight into the 1912 Stockholm, Sweden Olympic games, where he set the world record for 100-meter freestyle and took home a silver in the 200-meter freestyle relay. His first taste of success in the games fueled him to medal in several more times in following years at the 1924 Paris games.
His Olympic achievements thrust him into the national spotlight, allowing him to travel the world. He introduced surfing and aloha wherever he went – Duke shared his love for the ocean with everyone from New Jersey to Australia and everywhere in between.
And now, 100 years later, Australia is celebrating the anniversary of Duke Kahanamoku’s visit to the country. He played a large part in the popularization of surfing with his graceful display of wave riding on an 8’6, 90 pound wood board. Duke’s Day is coming up in Australia, and to celebrate, they have invited two-time World Longboard Surfing Champion Duane De Soto to play Duke at Freshwater Beach, Sydney. He earned the invitation with his smooth, easy going style on the replica board during Duke’s Ocean Festival held annually on Duke’s birthday in Waikiki.
“I am not even close to the Duke,” Duane said in a press release. “It’s not that I would feel I would be replacing or close to replicating what Duke did, but just trying to come close and humbly put on a good show that would make him proud. I’m extremely psyched and excited and I also think it’s wonderful that Hawaii and Australia have a great bond through surfing and we will be coming together to share this great occasion.”
