So if you haven’t heard about it by now, you will be soon enough. Yesterday Herbie gathered together some of surfing’s brightest surfers to start production on his new and upcoming Wave Warriors film that will be released in late 2012. 

This happened once before with the original Wave Warriors photo shoot back in the mid-80s, but since then nowhere in the history of surfing will you ever see these cast of characters together for a group pic. Everyone from Rob Machado, Danny Fuller, John John Florence, Bruce Irons, Christian Fletcher, Nathan Fletcher, Julian Wilson, Kolohe Andino, Buttons, Rory Russell, Makua Rothman, Alex Knoxt, the Gudauskas Brothers, and a slew of others got in on the act. Oh, yeah, and some guy named Kelly Slater - whoever he is, he was there, too, as was reknowned artist Julian Schnabel.

If you couldn’t tell by the elite list, this was an invite-only shoot of the best surfers on the planet, with loving acknowledgement and memory going out to Marvin Foster, Andy Irons, and Sion Milosky as well.   

Past, present, future… we are the Wave Warriors!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se-kjVywe4I

December 12, 2011: Off-The-Wall, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Jim Russi

Nathan among the elite - men who ride mountains. Check out the invite-only list and Nathan’s profile for this year’s Quiksilver Eddie contest. (Speaking of Nathan’s profile, what’s up Quiksilver peeps? Nathan was born in June, not October. Don’t mess with the Gemini!)

If you can’t click the link, copy and paste. 

 http://quiksilverlive.com/eddieaikau/2012/profiles,224,Invitees.en.html

The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau: Nathan Fletcher on the invite list.

Oh, you know you keep coming back here for more Nathan coverage. So, don’t worry; We won’t judge, and we’re not ones to disappoint, so here ya go…

Nathan, in his own words, about the wave that they’re all talking about.

Copy and paste if you can’t clickity-click.

http://www.smelive.com/News/Article/Bruce-says-NO-Koby-says-GO-Nathans-Chopoo-bomb

And, like we posted in an earlier blog, expect to see even more Nathan as a result of his gargantuan-sized testicles and sheer bravado.

Looks like Australia’s “Surfing World” magazine is the first to put him on the cover with that infamous Chopes ride. Check it out.

So by now everyone’s seen all the grotesquely epic waves that Teahupo’o produced this last weekend of August. I mean, for the average person such as yourself and I, even going out there on a boat would be some kind of kamikaze suicide mission… Never mind getting towed-in and trying to surf that unflinching rogue.

But when has Nathan ever been considered average? Nathan is (g)narly by nature. As a Fletcher should be.

We’re stoked to see that Nathan, once again, pretty much stole the show. There have been massive amounts of attention and coverage going his way, with some even claiming that Nathan’s wave at Teahupo’o might very well be the biggest ever ridden out there. ESPN is calling it the “wave of the year”.

And who are we to argue with such a declaration?

http://espn.go.com/action/surfing/story/_/id/6903518/teahupoo-pumps-epic-tow-day

Nathan trying to tame the beast. 08-27-11/Teahupo'o. Photo: Joli

Fiji has been going off and everyone from Kelly Slater to Bruce Irons is there. In fact, Nathan is there with Bruce now and they’re having a blast. Apparently Nathan even caught one of the bigger waves of the day yesterday. Just wanted to share this link with you that Transworld Surf posted. Some great pics of Nathan on it, so check ‘em out!

http://surf.transworld.net/1000134192/photos/cloudbreak-goes-xxl/?pid=55554#ngtop

Herbie Fletcher's "Wrecktangle" at the Waikiki Edition Hotel

Herbie will be in Oahu this week to promote his “Wrecktangle” board sculpture that’s being featured in the lobby of The Waikiki Edition.

Coming from the mastermind of Ian Schrager, The Waikiki Edition is a new type of hotel - kind of like an entity of its own - that’s being introduced by the Marriott International. In collaboration with interior designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg and landscape designer Deborah Nevins, the Waikiki Edition resides as its own sanctuary on the sand; smack dab near the beaches and Marina shopping districts in a coastal urban sprawl. Truly, a visiting surfer’s paradise.

When you walk into the lobby, the first thing that captures your eye is the wall-to-wall “Wrecktangle” pieced together by Surfer/Artist Herbie Fletcher. Emphasizing the impact of just how powerful Hawaii’s Pipeline is, Herbie collected over 100 surfboards that have been ridden (and broken) at this notorious spot by some of the surfing world’s mighty elite: Kelly Slater, Bruce Irons, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Christian Fletcher, Nathan Fletcher, and the late Andy Irons to name just a few.

Many never think to realize the impact and sheer bravado it takes to ride waves such as the Banzai Pipeline, and for those visitors to the North Shore who are lucky enough to stay at The Waikiki Edition, the “Wrecktangle” will perhaps give them a small idea of how intense that ride was.

Seems like we’ve been losing a lot of friends lately. Sucks. Take it easy, Dennis.

Boys Will Be Boys: Kelly Slater, Dennis Hopper, Herbie Fletcher, Julian Schnabel

So anyone who knows a lick of surf history knows that before it became the notorious Volcom Pipe House, it was Gerry Lopez’s and Herbie Fletcher’s pad first. And it’s safe to say that all throughout the 80s, anyone who was anyone in the surf world walked through the doors of that house. People from Johnny Boy-Gomes to Dane Kealoha, Martin Potter and Kelly Slater. So many notable, talented riders and characters. Much of the Wave Warriors grew into infamy from the sands in front of Pipeline and Backdoor; it was the best of times with debauchery run amok on land and sheer, unfiltered bravado in the water.

Fast forward a couple of decades. Time flies but good times never die down. Some faces have faded but as is always the case, that only means new ones emerge. Many of Astrodeck’s team riders haunt the Pipe House compound and still dominate with their presence. And no one has forgotten that Herbie and the Pipe House go hand-in-hand, rich in a timeline of history.

Volcom’s own Bruce Irons recently went on a trip to the Mentawaii’s with Herbie. And after coming back home from that epic journey, Bruce called Herbie up and personally invited him to join the Volcom Pipeline Pro that’s taking place now. Because, come on…how can you do an event like that and not involve Herbie Fletcher? That’s just wrong.

So this five-star WQS event started today and the conditions are…eh. The winds aren’t a big factor today, they’re kinda light. And the waves are looking choppy, junky with sand on the reef and double-ups. Not ideal. Guys who are regulars out there are getting scored 1.6 and 2.3’s. Anyway, been getting all this coverage by watching the live webcast (www.volcompipelinepro.com). Herb was invited to do some commentary, an opportunity to give a rich detailed history of having been one of the first people to surf Pipeline back in the day, and also talk about the good ole Pipe House during its heyday of yesteryear. Herb’s also going to be surfing the event right before the finals. That’s always cool. And, you know, he’s still the only guy his age who’s not afraid to charge Pipe…on a longboard!

Yeah, Herbie! Can’t wait to hear all about it when you get back.

Below is a piece that was writen by Volcom about the Pipeline House:

On Thursday February 8, 2007 Volcom purchased one of the most famous houses in surfing history. The three-story home is situated directly in front of Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore. It was once home to legendary surfers Gerry Lopez and Herbie Fletcher and has been an icon in the surfing world for close to three decades. It will now serve as Volcom’s second residence in front of the world renowned surf break.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our team riders, coaches, product developers, and the entire marketing program,” said Richard Woolcott, Volcom’s president and chief executive officer. “It’s also a great honor to carry on the legacy of the house that Gerry Lopez and Herbie Fletcher made so famous.”

The new home will be headquarters for Volcom team rider Bruce Irons and other top Volcom surfing professionals during the winter months while they train for the Triple Crown of Surfing and maximize their exposure during the north shore season. In addition, the house will be used as an R&D center for product design, testing and retailer roundtables. The original Volcom House will continue to accommodate the majority of Volcom’s domestic and international up-and-coming team riders.

“I can’t believe that we even had the opportunity to purchase this historic house,” said Volcom’s vice president of marketing, Troy Eckert. “Just thinking about the legends that used to call The Pipe House home is amazing. I can’t wait for our team, and especially Bruce, to enjoy the house. It’s a dream come true.”

“We are all so lucky to have both places and ensure our presence at Pipeline. We wanted to give Bruce and the team the best place to live in the winter,” said Volcom’s surf brand manager Brad Dougherty. “This is a very exciting step for our surfing program.”

Volcom team rider Bruce Irons said, “Growing up as a kid we saw this place in all the videos and we could only dream about what it was like. That dream has become reality and we now get to live it for the rest of our lives!”

Volcom Hawaii sales rep, Clint Moncata said, “From the ghettos of V-land to the beachfront at Pipe, never in my wildest dreams could I have predicted we would be part of one of the most famous houses in the surfing world. The new Volcom Pipe House is a reward to our Volcom Hawaii surf team for always believing in the brand!”

“The community up-roared when we bought the first house and we proved that we fit in. We all hung out at this house when we were kids and this was the only place we knew. Now we are back and in full effect. Check mate… bring it on!” said Volcom Hawaii ambassador Kai Garcia.

“This place and this house are full of Hawaiian surfing history. I’m proud and humbled to be a part of it. Volcom will continue the history from this incredible site,” said Volcom Hawaii team coach Dave Riddle.