In the beginning there was water, the giver of life, and then land, the maker of breaks and offshore wind. Add in the Sun, giving warmth. These are my deities, and this is my tribute to what they now bear in partnership together: the perfect ride.

I have been home now for over a month and have had time to contemplate all the travel I have squeezed in these past 24 months. As I hit the apex of my career and 40 years of traveling, I am reflecting on the iconic spots that have shaped me as a surfer. These unique locations that I choose to share with cherished with my friends and family have culminated into a list of spots that transcend time, perspective and history. I am calling this curation of travel, Seven Heavens on Earth. Each location is not just a place to ride waves, drink beer, or eat fish tacos. These are life-altering locations, spiritually, physically, and mentally—places of growth.

Let’s go back before civilization. Waves had already started leaving their mark on Earth. Unridden, unseen, and unutilized waves broke across unpolluted sands and rocks, and the residual big bang whirl winds bend in circularity, creating storms, wind and then swells.

This is where we come in: the present. Some of us choose to climb the seven tallest peaks in the world or sail the seven seas. It’s my mission as a surf coach to share seven places that will help complete you as a surfer and a person.

Each location has a story a thousand years old, lessons to learn, memories to make, and experiences you won’t find easily. Traveling is in our DNA. It’s the single most significant gift the universe gives us besides children. I suggest you follow your heart. Be true to your nature and go global. Below, please find the first in my series of pinnacle surf locations.

TSS Seven Heavens Tour Location 1 – Hawaii Hanalei, Kauai

The pursuit of happiness starts with self-respect, self-love, and confidence. Through that, we become better people and better members of society. No other place on this planet for me instills that in me like Hanalei does. That is why it’s Number One in my playbook. Test yourself at Hanalei. This is a location all surfers must experience. Let this island be part of your foundation and your guide to becoming a complete surfer in the spiritual and physical sense. Kauai, The Garden Island, is a nurturing, rejuvenating island. Formed by volcanic activity roughly 3.8 million years ago, Kauai is the oldest island in Hawaii. It is also known for hosting the wettest spot on the planet, Mount Waialeale. This mountain gives birth to air, wind, rain, sun, animals, and all life. It’s a place of self-discovery, adventure, and deep history. Hanalei is surrounded by mountains known as A Thousand Water Falls. This region is also home to the sacred Nāpali Coast, a 17-mile stretch along Kauai’s North Shore known for its stunning landscape, towering mountain peaks, and beautiful valleys. This coastline was first settled by the Polynesian navigators around 1200 AD. Walking along the Napali trail and getting lost in nature can make you feel like you are traveling backward in time. The natural beauty found here puts you in a state of awe, and you start to feel like this is where it all started.   Aerial view of Hanalei Bay.   The waves here are Hawaiian in every sense. Strong, powerful, beautiful, and a ride that feels like no other on the planet. Your average wave in wintertime is typically straight offshore in your face, anywhere from 10-15 knots. The speed at which it picks you up is intense. You automatically know you are in Hawaii. It’s exactly what you expect, mind-blowing. Sitting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is in the perfect position to catch the largest ocean swell the Pacific can build. With the North Shore exposed to both swell and desirable wind, the waves rush up the steep sea floor, creating power and velocity like nowhere else. Its shape and position is truly unique. Hanalei Bay saved my life in 1984. I needed clarification about my life, where it was going, and where it could go. Leaving the Mainland and moving to the Bay with my best friend, Jocko, turned it all around for me. It was my year of reckoning with who, what, and why I exist. The local legends taught me everything I needed to believe in myself, my surfing, and my desire to shoot for the stars. People like Billy Hamilton, Papa Sau, Byron Wong, Titus, and many others pushed me and my surfing to a place I was never sure I could go or get to. My bro Jocko was the main instigator and gave me unconditional support as I struggled to find my happy place. Kauai and Hanalei in the winter are stunning. Try to count the Thousand Waterfalls. Stand in the warm sand and learn surf history. Experience He’e Nalu, the legacy of hawaiian surfing, and go surf where it all started. You’ll be better off for it, I promise. Hanalei Bay 1984.   Riding one of Billy Hamilton’s balsa longboards. Hanalei Bay, November, 2007.

Where to Stay in Hanalei