From Ballito to Pipeline (or any other beach across the globe), you’ll see it being thrown around. The ‘shaka’ has become the universal signal by frothing surfers the world over to display their stoke. But how did it come about?
This week we throw you back to Zag issue 38.1, in which Kerry Wright told us The Long Short Story of the Shaka.
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We also found a couple of epic examples while scanning the archives this week. See below.
Mark Wright stokes himself out with a shaka inside a glassy tube on the cover (Issue 16.4).
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David Van Zyl teaches a Sri Lankan grom how to pull a proper shaka (Issue 37.8).
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Mike Roscoe throws a shaka attempt. Frankie and Turnbull think it’s great (Issue 15.2).
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Brandon Benjamin gives his session at Muizenberg the double shaka approval (Issue 37.5).
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It’s not only the shaka that shows how stoked we are. Below are some examples of other hand signals used to display joy.
Paul Naude peacefully tucks in.
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Jeffreys Bay local, Carel Olivier, surrenders down the line (Issue 38.2).
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Jordy Smith busts a peace sign inside a churning pit (Issue 34.4).
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So there you have it. Next time you see a surfing brother, tweak that thumb and pinkie out as far as you can and pull a lekker shaka.