Duane De Soto invited to undertake the Re-enactment

One of the main events during the Duke's Day Centenary Celebrations will be the re-enactment of the legendary surfing exhibition which Duke Kahanamoku undertook at Australia’s Freshwater Beach on the 10th January 1915.

Eric Middledorp, Gemma Pigott  and Tim Hatton were all on hand to witness Hawaiian World Champ surfer, Duane de Soto, undertaking the trial of the Duke Board Replica in front of the famous Outrigger on the Beach Hotel on Sunday 24 August.  They were blown away by Duane’s uncanny ability to effortlessly carry the very heavy board into the Waikiki surf just

like Duke did it at Freshwater Beach 100 years ago.  However it was the ease with which he comfortably rode the 38kg (84lb) solid timber surfboard was what really impressed the representatives of the Duke’s Day Committee. 

There was no hesitation to recommend Duane be invited to be part of the Duke Centenary Re-enactment  to be held at Freshwater Beach 8-10 January 2015!

The re-enactment is due to start at midday on 10 January 2015. For a full schedule of events, see the Schedule of Events page.

Photos Courtesy Richard Dusautel

Check out the video of Duane's ride below courtesy of Richard Dusautel

 Thanks again to Hawaiian Air for their support in transporting the valuable replica of Duke's Surfboard to Duke's OceanFest at Waikiki August 2014. Thank you also to all in Hawaii and the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation for all of their support and hospitality.