Dropping into a keeper at home. Photo: Mike Ito
Kai Sallas finally did it. Twenty-four years after his rookie season, the native Hawaiian brought a long-awaited world title back to his home state.
Born and raised in Honolulu, Sallas’ dad worked as a Waikiki Beach Boy, so he spent his childhood longboarding at Canoes. When Sallas was 18, he qualified for the WSL Longboard tour and has competed nearly every year since. When he wasn’t training and traveling, Sallas worked as a surf instructor to pay the bills. Once the pandemic hit and lessons slowed down, he spent more time in the shaping room and in 2020, founded the Kai Sallas Longboard Company.
We caught up with Sallas after the win had sunk in and dug into the breadth of his career, what it felt like to finally win one, and the benefit of shaping his own equipment.
When did you first start competing on the WSL Longboard Tour?
When I was 18. Then I didn’t do it for four or five years because I couldn’t afford it. But then I started again in my early 20s and have done it every year since. There was maybe one or two years that they didn’t hold it, but every year they held it I was in.
So now it’s been over 20 years since you first qualified. What does it feel like to finally bring home a world title?
As I got older, I started to think that it was never going to happen, which was a bummer because that was my goal in life. I came close so many times, but to finally win at the age of 42 was amazing and a big weight off my shoulders. I’m so proud of that.
Kai Sallas, shredding in the backyard. Photo: Michael Ito
What about bringing it home for Hawaii?
I’m super proud to be from Hawaii to begin with. Hawaii is considered the birthplace of surfing and in ancient times, it was the sport of royalty. So, to be a Hawaiian world champion and to have my name on that list is something I’m super proud of. It’s an honor.
Why do you think things finally lined up for you this year?
I trained especially hard and was really excited to surf on this year‘s tour because it’s the first year where we had four events at world-class waves. I also feel like with the criteria and my boards, I finally figured things out and that’s a big reason why things clicked for me.
Talk about some of your other career highlights?
Winning the ASP event at Pasta Point in 2009 for sure, which resulted in a second-place finish in the world. Also, winning the ISA world championships in 2018. I’m also proud of winning the Puerto Escondido tube riding contest in 2006.
Sallas, ripping on one of his hand-shaped toys. Photo: Mike Ito
Do you feel like being a shaper has helped your performance as a surfer?
For sure. Being a surfer helps with shaping and designing your boards. I’m able to test every board I build and see what it needs rather than trying to explain that to some shaper who could misunderstand what I’m trying to say. I designed a special moon tail board for Malibu – it was specifically designed to go fast down the line and do faster nose rides. It worked really well.
Do you still get excited about traveling with your team riders and competing?
Yeah, Kani [Stewart] and Kelis [Kaleopa’a] inspire me so much and traveling with them and watching them do so well riding my boards makes me feel really good. I’ve watched them basically grow up surfing at Queens from when they were little kids to becoming some of the best surfers in the world. To be a part of that and offer any type of help I can is amazing, and I wish them the best.
Kai Sallas, making magic. Photo: Mike Ito
Do you have a favorite wave in the world?
Yeah, Malibu because I won a world title there and it’s a sick wave (laughs).
Do your kids surf?
Yeah, my kids surf and I love seeing them get better. They both seem super motivated to want to compete and surf better and I’m going to be supportive of that for sure. I think it’s a great lifestyle for someone to have – to be able to travel and surf – and I wouldn’t want anything other than that for them. I’m super proud of them.
Sallas, shredding.
Want to talk about what’s going on at KSLCO?
I really want to expand my brand. We get a ton of inquiries from all over the world asking where to buy my boards. My goal this year is to make them available to everyone. I’m going to start building boards in California and shipping them out to the East Coast. I’m also working closely with Thunderbolt, which aims to build certain models of mine overseas – they have distribution all over the world, so everybody keep an eye out for that.
Will you continue competing on tour or end your career on a high with the title?
I’ve been thinking about that a lot. The tour is so fun and in such good locations. I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life and surfing my best, so I think I would regret retiring and not participating in this great tour that we have right now. So, I’m not hanging it up just yet.
