If you’ve ever been in a surf camp, on surfing holidays or have been in contact with someone in the surfing community, you’ve probably heard or seen people “throwing shakas” (or shakes) – and you’ve probably been confused or maybe even slightly offended by it?

Well, don’t be! It’s just a Hawaiian hand gesture. Originally, it means to “hang loose” or to chill. In surf camp environments, it’s often used as positive reinforcement and you can see surf instructors showering their surf students in shaka’s when they stand up on their first waves. So, next time your on surf holiday yourself and you see someone catch an epic wave, shaka away! The amount of shakas thrown in and around the surf camp is phenomenal, if there was a shaka-o-meter, it would be off the charts!

You can also throw someone a shaka as a sign of approval or praise, give the shaka as a sign of “wassssup” or hello, use it as a way of saying goodbye and even use it as a thank you gesture. Next time you’re in a surfing environment, have a lookout for shakas. You can feel safe to use it knowing that it will be understood and appreciated.

Driving past someone with a surfboard on your way to the beach is also a very appropriate time to throw a shaka to a fellow surfing enthusiast. There are also a few variations of the surfing shaka. For exceptional events, such as your first-ever barrel, you can combine two shakas to form a giant mega shaka! It is the academy award of achievement in surfing.

Throwing shakas is encouraged throughout the entire surfing community. Even if you’re on surf holidays, travelling in a different country and don’t speak the language, a shaka is a universal sign for the positivity in the surfing lifestyle. Much like a smile, it is an internationally positive recognition and emphasises the surfing philosophy of a laid-back, friendly attitude.

So, whether you have been surfing for a while or have just learned to surf, it is never too late to begin your shaka-throwing career and see how much it brightens up someone’s day!

When we see you for your surfing holidays this summer around our surf camps, make sure to throw us & our surf camp crew your best shaka!