Wolfpak Article On The New York Times Website
Ryan Brower
- January 22 2009
- 1,795 views
- 14 comments
It’s not every day you head to The New York Times website and see Kala Alexander’s picture staring you in the face. The New York Times posted the article which attempts to delve into “surfing’s darkside on the North Shore,” talking with PT, Eddie Rothman, Kala, and others about the Wolfpak, Da Hui, Pipeline, and the occurrences that take place in the film Bustin’ Down The Door. Here’s the article below:
Kala, right next to the latest actions of our new President.
As reported by Matt Higgins for The New York Times.
SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii — They are known as the Wolfpak or simply “the boys.” They use fear and their fists to command respect in the surf along the North Shore of Oahu, a seven-mile stretch of some of the world’s most renowned waves. At the celebrated Banzai Pipeline, they determine which waves go to whom, and punish those who breach their code of respect for local residents and the waves.
The Wolfpak’s members have tried to soften their image with charitable works, but they have learned that a hard-earned reputation can be hard to shake.
The Pipeline is “like any surf spot,” said Randy Rarick, executive director of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, which includes the Pipeline Masters.
“You have locals, and you have locals who enforce the unwritten rules,” he added. “And sometimes that leads to violence, sort of shady characters dictating. It’s kind of like mafia control in the surf.”
This persists even as wealth has poured into the North Shore through the vacation-home market.
“The intimidation was and still is a big part of the North Shore experience,” said Shaun Tomson, the world surfing champion in 1977 and producer of a documentary about the seminal professional surfing scene on the North Shore, “Bustin’ Down the Door,” released on DVD this month. “That’s just the way it is. You go there as a surfer knowing that that’s part of the experience.”
The Wolfpak’s loosely affiliated membership comes mostly from the neighboring island of Kauai. It includes professional surfers like the three-time world champion Andy Irons, 30, and his brother, Bruce, 29, a talented free surfer.
The most notorious member is the group’s enforcer, Kala Alexander, a professional surfer with muscular tattooed arms and “Wolfpak” inked across his knuckles. In 2007 Alexander starred in “The 808,” a reality television series about the Wolfpak and the North Shore, and appeared in the films “Blue Crush” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” But he has also gained fame for YouTube videos that show him pummeling surfers on the sand several years ago.
“The code is to respect other people,” Alexander, 39, said. “People come over here and don’t respect other people. You’re going to run into problems if you do that.”
That is what happened to Chris Ward, a 30-year-old professional from San Clemente, Calif., and runner-up to Kelly Slater last month at the Pipeline Masters. In November, Australian publications reported that Ward cut off a local surfer while riding a wave at Pipeline. He was banished to the beach, where a Wolfpak member smacked him in the head. Without providing details, Ward confirmed that the incident happened.
“It’s been like that for four decades,” said Peter Townend, who in 1976 won the first world championship of surfing on the North Shore. In 1978, he said, he was punched out at a surf break called Off the Wall. In that year he required a police escort to compete in the Pipeline Masters because of threats against him.
During the 2007 Pipeline Masters, a fracas in the water spilled onto the beach as Sunny Garcia of Hawaii chased his opening-round opponent, Neco Padaratz of Brazil. Padaratz fled, followed by Garcia and some locals. The police eventually escorted Padaratz from the contest site.
Such incidents create debate about localism, a brand of territorialism that has been practiced at surf breaks around the world for decades. Yet the North Shore remains a focal point because its breaks are a proving ground for professional aspirants who arrive each winter along with the massive swells out of the North Pacific.
“It’s really the center of the surfing universe,” Tomson said. “It’s like Mount Everest for surfers everywhere. And Pipeline is really the wave one needs to come to terms with as a surfer in order to be considered a great surfer.”
As surfing has become increasingly popular, some say fear of violent reprisal ensures order and safety at congested and perilous surf spots like Pipeline.
“It’s a dangerous environment, and without a self-governing control pattern it would just be chaos out there,” Rarick said.
For the full article and video interview, head to The New York Times.
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January 22nd, 2009 at 7:31 pm
with the amount of people that visit pipe on a day to day basis especially there winter season, you need to have rules. yeah it can get extreme. but some people don’t learn. it’s a nescessary evil
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
I used to think that violence in the water was a bad thing - the few times when it gets carried away it certainly is. Unfortunately, ever since the introduction of “surf rage” laws and the over exposure of spots by the media, the crowds of newbies that feel “entitled” without feeling the need to earn a spot the right way - by time spent and by show of respect - and who now feel that there are no consequences for their arrogance have made riding waves an increasingly miserable pursuit for the truly dedicated and experienced. Sadly, many people only step in line when assaulted and just as sadly there are a few too many people who only know how to respond through violence. I don’t like to see people get beat up but I like even less to have to deal with spoiled incompetent punks who beg for it.
Transworld, you have profited by exploiting something beautiful. You, and all the surf industry need to step back and assess the monster you have created. Your beast has feet of clay. Make it right.
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:10 am
This is just another reason why I hate the NY Times. Glad to see another article is “fair and balanced.” Their condescending writing style and lack of objectiveness further indicates why they are sinking in profits. The fact that Kala and others are cleaning up their image should be the focal point of the article, not the isolated incidents of violence that have occurred in the past. F*uck you Matt Higgins, maybe you should have done a little more research before diving into a subject you know nothing about.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Yeah, the Mafia offers protection and order in their communities as well. Such wonderful men “serving” their community…give me a break! Picking up some trash off the beach doesn’t change the fact that they are a bunch of thugs operating outside of the law. Also, if they don’t condone violence, then why are they all so interested in MMA and UFC fighting?
January 24th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Kala is a D_Bag and so is the rest of those tool bags.
January 24th, 2009 at 11:15 am
If these guys acted like this in parts of LA or SD, they would not last long. Big fish little pond complex.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:29 am
The reason they are into professional fighting like MMA and UFC is because they are real worriers and know how to fight the right way and restrain someone without injury if that’s what the situation calls for. Obviously they are not a bunch of pussy’s but the water is safer and being a Hawaiian in Hawaii they get us some respect. Come over here and see how little is left for us, and by the way Hawaii has a history of warriors and fighting look at King Kamehameha and BJ Penn is from Hawaii it’s a big thing over here so naturally a club like Da Hui would identify with the sport. Whitey just wants to see our women dance hula and and bend over for them in the name of Aloha but that’s not gotten us anywhere they are destroying paradise. Da hui does beach cleanups, sponsors local families in need, Kala and Eddie where visiting children in the intensive care unit at Kapiolani Medical center on christmas eve , Where were you? So please educate yourself and let us have one club that makes the local people proud. And don’t talk about violence they fight with their hands and are not dropping bombs on little children.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Well stay out of our Little pond with your uneducated mainland attitude.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Ya look at how the white ,man fights if they did it the mainland way they would be using guns and knives and did you see the stuff on the cover next to the Kala article “secret prison camps and detention centers” under president Bush, who is propagating violence and who do we choose to judge, maybe they should get some real weapons and then it would be civilized. Or look at the KKK or these malitia groups why is this even news worthy when there is way worse stuff going on.
January 26th, 2009 at 4:29 am
Yeah, I don’t like Bush or the KKK either. But what do they have to do with Da Hui or the Wolfpak (unless you’re talking about how they’re all violent and discriminate against others)?
January 26th, 2009 at 4:40 am
Hawaiians are a beautiful people, no doubt. The guys in these clubs, however, use violence as a means to discriminate against any “white man” or “haole” or anyone they don’t like, for that matter. Being a “warrior’ has nothing to do with beating up someone who is helpless or does not want to fight.
I was at my in-laws on Christmas Eve… and i’ve never dropped a bomb on a little child.
January 26th, 2009 at 11:43 am
What a bunch wolfpak losers. They should all be in prison.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Anderson Silva is still pound for pound, he will shine his next fight.
September 13th, 2009 at 7:32 am
I had been informed about this from a friend (who pointed me here) so thanks for making it available.