Oahu: It's All About Aloha, Brah!
the surf dregged up more than sand on this run. our man on the circuit tells all.
2007-10-15
By Rahim Walker

I met Nino Medrano* at Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica two years ago.  I remembered him as a mellow and friendly Tico,  very relaxed in the water.  He was a true Rasta who lived peacefully among the things he loved most: surfing and Jah.
 
 He was here on the North Shore of Oahu for the first time with fellow Tico professional Gilbert Brown and Gilbert’s younger brother, Ronald.
 
“Wha gwon ras,” Nino said as we greeted each other in the lineup with a clasp of hands.
 
“Hey man, how’s it going?” I replied.
 
Straddling our boards, we awaited an incoming set.  Nino had already gracefully navigated himself through two difficult left tubes, a skill crafted from the thick heaving barrels of his home break, Salsa Brava.
 
Suddenly, a noise came from behind:
 
“Hey, Nino.”  A short chubby Haole paddled up from behind.  “F*** you.”  Nino glanced back as the Haole turned extremely aggressive and confrontational.  “Yah, you don’t remember me? Two years ago you hit me with a bat, you little f***er.”
 
The Haole lunged the nose of his board toward Nino’s face, missing his eye by mere inches.  Nino looked puzzled and gazed toward the Haole as he tried to calm the situation.  With a Tony Montana-like accent caused by the unique mixture of Patois and Spanish, Nino attempted to quell the situation before it escalated.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about man.  You’re confused.  Man, I never seen you before in my life.”
 
“F*** you Nino,” the Haole continued.  “Two years ago in Costa Rica you attacked me from behind with a bat.  Look at me,” the Haole barked towards Nino.
 
I glanced at Reynaldo, a good friend of Nino and a recent acquaintance of mine.  We were unsure what to do at this point as two other surfers paddled out alongside the first Haole.  It seemed as though a fight was a foregone conclusion.
 
The Haole continued his belligerent yelling, but now directed his attention towards me.
 
“Get the f*** out of here you f***ing Costa Ricans.  All of you, get the f*** off my island.”
 
Nino was still puzzled, but now also very insulted.  He continued to keep his cool:  “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about.  In ten years, I never fight nobody.  In ten years,” he repeated.  He then pointed up to the sky and said: “God will show you, man.  God will show you.”
 
 The Haole persisted, firing back in a more personal tone.  “I spit on your mom,” he yelled.  The entire lineup froze as perfect 8-10ft set waves passed by.  Nino had had enough.  He caught one more wave and paddled in.  I watched as he walked the quarter mile from Log Cabins down to the Volcom house in front of Pipeline.
 
I proceeded to catch four more waves and called it a session.  The confrontation had ruined my desire to surf.  I decided to wait for Reynaldo on the beach.
 
Within minutes, Nino returned with Tai, Kahea, and a few other pros from the Volcom House .  They neared the water’s edge and called out to the Haole who was still surfing.
 
Reynaldo exited the water and walked up the beach, understandably furious as well.  He turned my way and exclaimed, “I’m sorry man, but this is why I hate America!”
 
I lowered my head unable to offer any words of consolation.  I too was sorry.
 
After five minutes, the Haole finally exited the water throwing his board down hard onto the sand and muttering something with indignation. Immediately, two sets of feet stomped the bottom of his board until it was broken.  He had caused some major friction and it could not go unanswered.  Nino engaged him and the two fought one on one.
 
What did the Haole gain from all this, I later asked myself?
 
He awoke that morning with a nice surfboard, a fraction of dignity, and maybe a few friends.  Within hours he managed to incite the Wolfpak and Pipeline Posse into protecting their Costa Rican brothers.  Not a smart move in da islands, brah

*Nino "Medrano" Myrie is a black Rasta surfer who has won national Costa Rica titles as well as Latin America titles.  To this day he remains one of Costa Rica's most decorated surfers.

Rahim Walker is a citizen of the world currently hanging out in Australia. He has navigated 4 continents, 17 countries, 5 languages and 24 years of life.