Jamie O’Brien's North Shore
This week we sit down with North Shore local, Pipe Master Champion, YouTube star, and creator of the JOB Surf Experience: Jamie O’Brien.
Local Currents is a series about surfers that live in a place we often visit, sharing with us their local recommendations and intel about their homes.
Thermal: Before we get into your North Shore “best of’s”…The Jamie O'Brien Surf Experience…what do you love about this trip most and what’d you set out to do with it?
Jamie O’Brien: Giving someone the gift of surfing is something that my father did for me. And I felt like as a young kid, it helped me stay out of trouble. The ocean is a very humbling place, and I feel like to be able to offer that feeling to people—it's the greatest gift that I could see myself doing for any other human. It puts a smile on their face, it gets them in the ocean. For me, the ocean is a natural healing place. It's that one place you could get away from the world where nothing else really matters—it’s just you in the ocean. There's nothing like the salt, the air, the vibe, and yeah, “the experience” is a business, but they say if you surround yourself with a work environment where you are happy to be there, then it's not really a job. So, to me, we're able to give jobs to people in our community that love surfing and sharing it, and also share the love of surfing with the world. I think that's the coolest thing, really, at the end of the day about this trip we offer up here on the North Shore. I will say, though, that I couldn’t do the JOB Experience and the surf school without a better partner—Kaikea Elias.
Well said. And, the North Shore has such a reputation. Beyond the “Mecca of Surfing” it seems to be a lot of things for a lot of people. What is the North Shore, or even, Hawaii, to you?
I don't really know how to put it into words, but I'm definitely grateful to live in Hawaii. I'm grateful to be able to represent Hawaii, and to be a positive role model in the world. I'm grateful for beautiful weather because that keeps us all going and just grateful to be alive. I don't know. I’ve asked my dad before (who moved here from Australia), "Would you ever do it any other way?" And he goes, "Nope, I wouldn't change one thing." So, I feel like coming from him, or your parents, who have been there, done that—I just feel very grateful to be born and raised in Hawaii and represent this island in a good manner.
Awesome. And on that note, about being positive, or “staying psyching” as your motto goes…where did that all come from?
I don't know. [laughs] It was just kind of like—life's all about energy, or meeting people with good energy, bouncing energy off of each other. Sure, it’s just a funny thing we’d say all the time, but I think being psyched has to do with that positive energy and vibe. At the end of the day, I think what it does is help spread good awareness to the world, and positivity, and just being a good, positive role model. The world needs this. Sometimes I need to remind myself to stay psyched. It's all just fun at the end of the day. When I see people with the stickers on their cars all over the world, I love that. It’s just a good, positive message.
Love it. OK, so what are your three favorite waves on the North Shore of Oahu?
Well, I mean, obviously Pipeline is a no-brainer. And, when I say Pipeline, that’s covering the whole stretch of beach including Off The Wall and Backdoor. After that, I just love Ke’Iki Shorebreak. it's a place that I can go and always get humbled, sharpen up my skills, and get better at taking off late. Ke’Iki always builds the confidence that I need. It always exceeds expectations out there (but it’s definitely not for novices). Ke’Iki always lets you know Mother Nature is in charge. I also love Waimea Bay. Waimea actually offers so many different things, so many different aspects of surfing. It offers massive waves on the outside, it offers a fun river wave, it offers awesome shorebreak. Pinballs on the inside… there's a lot to ride there for such a beautiful place.
Nice. For someone visiting the North Shore for their first time, what would you say is the best etiquette or words of advice?
Just to respect the way our communities work. Parking can be an issue for local residents, so don’t park in people’s driveways. It’s our home, you know? So, No. 1, actually, is drive SLOW in the neighborhoods. There are a lot of kids on bikes or running around and no one wants to hit a kid because they’re driving too fast where they shouldn’t.
That's great advice. What's your favorite food truck on the North Shore?
My favorite food truck is Pupukea Grill. They have so much aloha. There’s hardly any place where they remember your name after a couple times. You feel so welcome with them, they’ve got that people energy. Everything’s good on the menu, but my go-to item is the Hawaiian Bowl. It checks every box on your flavor profile [laughs].
Any foods in Hawaii that people have to try?
I think I would say kalua pig. At any authentic Hawaiian dinner you go to, you're eating kalua pig. That, and lomi lomi salmon.
Yup. Your favorite sit-down food spot on North Shore?
I would say that at the top of my list is Banzai Sushi in Haleiwa. It's like, when the sushi restaurant is less than a mile from the harbor, you know you're eating some good, fresh fish.
Totally. What's an activity that you would recommend on the North Shore, outside of surfing, not to be missed?
I’d say snorkeling Shark’s Cove if the waves are small. It's really fun, it's beautiful. There's great marine life, it ticks all those boxes.
If the weather or waves go bad out here, where would you go?
You can go to the Westside of Oahu. Just be respectful out there. Go with an open mind and open heart, and stay humble.
What’s something somebody coming to the North Shore for the first time should bring that they might normally forget?
I'd bring your mask and snorkel. And a pair of fins, because I don't know, if you're me, borrowing a mask, snorkels, fins—it’s always the worst. I’m always like, "Oh, I should have just thrown that in my bag!"
Good call. You seem to be on soft-tops a LOT these days. Is that another thing you’d recommend someone bringing in their quiver?
Well, I guess, my theory and my whole reason why I ride a soft top and those 9’0”s all the time is, yeah, I am sponsored by Catch Surf, but honestly, I love the board. I think the 9’0” log is just the greatest board. If I could bring that thing anywhere in the world with me, I would bring it because you can teach a friend how to surf on it, you can catch a one-foot wave on it, or catch a six-foot wave on it. You could go tandem surfing with your girlfriend or your boyfriend. It’s just a perfect board that shares the stoke of surfing. Believe it or not, every time I don't bring it, I regret it.
Explore the Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience
— Kaikea Elias, JOB Surf Experience
