Laird Hamilton

A Laird Hamilton Update
By Gabby Reece
8-26-10

A Laird Hamilton Update
By Gabby Reece
8-3-10

Laird needs a thrill. A cheap thrill won’t do, he needs a big mountain or a large wave.  He has been really good about not feeling sorry for himself, but this reaction to no action is really at the core of who Laird is. He just flew to Utah today to do some demo’s for stand up paddle and he has a bit of traveling lined up in the next few weeks (NYC, Europe, and Hawaii). Busy, but not the same thing.

I have watched close to 15 summers of Laird going through this battle. He understands with his mind that it’s no big deal, but in his physiological and emotional self he gets down. This is the magic of Laird.  He really does all of this stuff and finds new ways to keep himself challenged because he needs too.  He would be perfectly content with doing some physically exciting thing in nature everyday regardless if anyone knew about it or not.  He does it for himself. Granted, he most likely would enjoy it with a few buddies, but in the end it’s for his own simple desire. If you asked him if he would like a building full of cash, hot chicks (remember this is his wife writing this), fast cars, fancy clothes etc., or just the promise of an active nature he would take the later. As all humans Laird is complex, but really what makes him happy is so constant. Good food, action, solid rest, time with the boys, time with his family, love, and more food.

He has gotten better at managing his summer time and waiting blues, but it still plagues him. In the end what makes us, is our gift and our curse. Maybe this is just the education of the human condition. So for now I will try to stay empathetic and give him his space while encouraging him to go somewhere if the weather shows signs of promise.

Best, Gabby

Written By,
A Laird Life Editor
Re: July 9th and 10th

This past weekend Laird, Dave Kalama, Bob Pearson, and more than 200+ people came out to Magnusson Park in Seattle for a day of stand-up paddling in the sun. The event was put on in collaboration with REI and gave people the chance to try out the latest boards from Surftech and Naish. People of all skill levels and ages were out on the water along with Laird who was handing out pointers left and right and making sure everyone was having a good time.

The Pacific Northwest may seem like an odd, chilly place for a sport like stand-up paddling to take off, but it is catching on quickly thanks to the many lakes in the area and pleasant summers. Several local shops now rent out paddle boards so if you are in the NW itching to try paddle boarding there is no reason to not try it.

By A Laird Life Editor
7-5-10

Laird and Gabby spent their 4^th with family and friends in Malibu at Don Wildman’s the same way they have for over 10 years. The day started early by preparing 80 lbs of meat that would slow cook until the afternoon with a spray of constant Hawaiian sea salt and water on a huge home-made rotisserie.  Laird’s good friend Teddy flew in from Maui like he always does to be the attendant. Gabby and the girls started their day with a little volleyball, spin biking, and a dip in the pool. Laird got in his workout and surf session before the guests started to arrive for the bash. Thankfully there was a swell for him to play around on.

This year’s celebration was a bit more mellow than years passed. There was more time for Gabby and Laird to relax and talk with good friends versus strangers who ‘just want to say hi’. Don’s party’s are top notch; gourmet food, endless drinks, rock bands (Kid Rock usually sings a song or two), masseuses, jet skis, boards, bachi ball, etc. so the guest list has gotten quite big. By the end of the night there is typically 15 celebrities to gawk at. Each year there are always random celebrities that drop by that seem to know someone but for the most part it’s the same old good friends; John Cusak, Chris Chelios, Jeremy Pivens, John McGinley, D.B. Sweeney, Cindy Crawford, Reggie Miller, etc.

After a little bit of mingling, greeting etc. the regulars made their way out to the large surf for a standup paddle surf show ( Jeff ‘Sweet’, Nate, Todd, Greeny, Chris ‘Chelly’ Chelios, Nancy Truman). It quickly became the main attraction and had everyone ‘oooing’ and ‘ahhing’ followed by some loud cheering when the only woman of the pack, Nancy, dropped in on some waves. Gabby was wading in-between sets enjoying the fun up close. A standup Paddle sprint session would break out, followed by a ‘the last one standing on their board wins by any means possible’ game. The surf was ‘big’ and a bit scary to us regular people on shore but Laird did his standard 360’s and hang tens on harsh drops. Those who dared to surf would typically end up getting tossed off and having their board fly up in the air 20 feet but it was really fun to watch.

The night ended with a spectacular fireworks show from a private barge boated in just for the party. They are always the biggest brightest fireworks you can think of that last and last. Great music, yummy desserts, and warm laughter were the perfect ending to a wonderful day.

We have some fun videos and photos for you to enjoy. Thanks to those who got out there and entertained us!

We ‘Blame Laird’ and Don Wildman for throwing one of the best party’s of the year!

Posted By
A Laird Life Editor

Laird Hamilton with wife Gabby Reece scooping up Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Barataria Bay, Wednesday, June 16, 2010, near Grand Isle, La.


More to come when they return…

By Gabby Reece
6-11-10

A long time friend and working friend of Laird’s, Sylvan Cazenave just sent me these photos of Laird from the south of France; big board, big dog, big man, and a little car.

Laird just called and he has now traveled to Portugal where the winds are blowing over 30 knots straight on shore so he said he just went out to “paddle around”.  Laird has been in Europe for over 9 days, and I can hear in his voice even though he is enjoying his stay he is ‘over missing the family’.

I also noticed that he seems to be VERY reflective about all that is going on in the world.  I think because men are all about solutions, it’s tricky when they see a lot of the issues, but struggle with feeling like there hands are tied or they don’t know how to make a REAL difference.  Speaking of, we are heading with the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and our dear friend Kelly Meyer to the gulf on Tuesday to see how we can get involved.  Talk about overwhelming, but better to see and be in the reality then just turn it off.

Laird will land on Sunday from Europe and then he and I will go for a couple of days on Tuesday afternoon. He made some comment about paddling in the spill, but hopefully he will re think that.  The stories of how sick some of the volunteers are getting have begun to surface.

I will keep you posted, and if I hear of ways to get involved I will share on the site.  Let’s all keep the spill in the forefront of our prayers even though it’s been 52 days, and there is a lot more to this race.

A call to action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyVG0k7bQao
Best, Gabby

By Gabby Reece
6-10-10

Since I do most of the entries on this site I figured I would tell you how BLAME LAIRD came to be.  It all started when some people told Laird about stickers that were posted at Malibu Surfrider, and a few other spots in Southern California that simply said BLAME LAIRD.  Laird then started getting calls about them popping up on his native island of Kaua’i.

My initial reaction was that I wish I had stickers saying BLAME GABBY, but I haven’t had that kind of impact.  Of course maybe for the first few seconds the notion that someone was putting energy into ‘BLAMING’ Laird stung him a bit, but quickly we all started to get a great belly laugh from it.

BLAMING someone is not only to place blame or fault, but can be the highest compliment you can bestow upon someone.  A kid is good in Math, and tells the teacher to “BLAME my Dad” or you see a friend smiling from ear to ear and they reply “BLAME it on love” etc.  I guess in our house we know that ‘BLAME LAIRD’ was initially meant to cast fault on Laird for re-igniting the stand up paddle discipline of surfing.  Notice I did not say invent I’m just saying re-introducing it.

I can remember it being so easy to find Laird in any line up since he was the only person out there standing on his board.  For about five years I watched Laird mess around trying to find the right equipment to stand up paddle surf.

I am not a surfer so I will not pretend to understand the frustration that some of the lay down surfers feel about the “sweepers”, but I do know that there is an adjustment period for any change, and this too shall pass.

I think Laird decided to take something that could have been perceived as a negative, and just have some fun with it.  After all if you are having any fun at all stand up paddle surfing, then you too can BLAME LAIRD.

To all of the other individuals who are still upset about the discipline then you should BLAME LAIRD.

As a wife and someone who lives with Laird I just may walk around from time to time with a shirt or hat that declares I BLAME LAIRD.

However, at the end of the day I know Laird’s greatest wish is to enjoy and take care of the ocean, and to have peace with his fellow water persons in which ever fashion they choose to enjoy her.

Let us all remember what is important, and how short this life really is.

Best, Gabby

CLICK HERE FOR BLAME LAIRD GEAR

A Laird Hamilton Update
By Gabby Reece
5-18-2010

Hi Everyone:

Sorry I have been M.I.A. on the Laird reports, but it has been a little hectic transitioning back to the Mainland.  We are now back in Malibu and getting settled in.  Poor Laird loves the area, but every once and in a while I catch him looking out at the California sea and sighing ever so slightly for his Kaua’i and her seas.

However, he got a call on April 22nd from Raimana in Tahiti that a swell was on its way.  En route to California he flew in, dropped off Reece and Speedy (our dog), went to a meeting and then headed back to the airport to catch a plane to Tahiti.  That trip was great; he got barreled and broke all his boards. Then last Wednesday, Raimana called again and Laird was off Thursday afternoon.  He loves going down to the beauty of Tahiti and the warmth of his friends in addition to the hopes and excitement the ocean offers.

His boards did not arrive with him on his direct flight that evening, but did manage to make it at 5 am the next morning.  After assessing the conditions the direction of the swell just didn’t quite hit right, and there was a bit of wind.

Laird and Raimana still spent the day in the water, and then he boarded a flight headed towards California Friday evening.  He was scheduled to come home a day later, but surprised the girls and I by arriving home early.  Laird flew for a total of 16 hours, was on the ground for about 28 hours and if he was a fisherman he would have come home empty handed.  However, this is not Lairds approach. He was glad to have just made the move, is appreciative of the amazing friends he has on the Island who welcome his so graciously, and in the end seems to understand after all these years this is a big part of surfing.

I write this not to only give a snippet of Laird’s life, but also to show you that he is not always “successful”. That maybe part of his own definition of being successful is the fact that you tried.  Of course it’s a great luxury that he can do this as a part of his job, but what came first?

All my best,
Gabby