Zeke about to give a surfer at Keramas a faceful of Bali spray. Photo: Andrew Shield.

This interview first appeared in "Focus" in Surfing Life 289

Hawaii courses through the veins of 18-year-old budding superstar, Ezekiel Lau, or at least that’s what his high school says. Zeke – as he’s known - is a student at Kamehameha High School, one of several learning centers around the islands that cater purely to kids of native Hawaiian ancestry. Although still very young, it’s seen Zeke take a very serious stance toward the continuation and preservation of Hawaiian surf culture.  “When I get older for sure I want to come back and be able to give back to the kids in Hawaii and help all that new talent. I definitely wanna be a part of it,” he says.

It was also here, on a sunny day in November 2010, that Zeke first learned of the death of one of Hawaii’s modern heroes, Andy Irons. A.I. was an idol and friend of Zeke’s, the two having shared a coach in Dave Riddle. The influence of both Andy and Dave is very evident in the mechanics of Zeke’s surfing; big smooth arcs, stored up speed unleashed in furious gaffs, and a lofty aerial game. More recently, Zeke’s competitive results have also begun to reflect that of a future champion. In the past two months, Zeke joined Andy on the winners’ list of America’s most prestigious junior series, the NSSA Nationals, at Huntington. He followed that up with a third in the star studded six-star Billabong Pro J-Bay, and then a win in a four-star event in Japan.

Above all that, Zeke rates recently winning the NSSA National trophy for Outstanding Performance, presented by the Irons Family, as his most cherished title. The loss of Andy was a monumental blow for both Zeke and Hawaiian surfing. When we caught up we sought an answer as to how his generation was faring, who has stepped up to fill the void, and what it means to be carrying The Rock into 2012 and beyond.

How much did it mean to claim the Andy Irons trophy at the NSSA Nationals, Zeke?

It was pretty gnarly. I didn’t know about it until the last day when (former Hawaiian pro turned coach) Jason Shibata told me about it, and I was psyched.  I didn’t think I was gonna win it. I thought they’d give it to some grom who surfed really well, but at the end of the day they gave it to me and it’s the sickest trophy I’ve ever won in my life.

How close were you to A.I.?

I knew him pretty well through Dave Riddle, who coached Andy since he was small. They were really close and growing up Dave used him as a mentor. Everything Dave taught me, was based off what Andy did in surfing, contests. I also got to have little things like Andy would come over for dinner and he’d be hanging with Dave and his wife, and it was always really cool to have him around.

How did you guys interact?

It was pretty sick. Andy always knew what was going on with amateur stuff and was really interested. He was just fun to be around, joking and talking about rap music, Lil Wayne and all the stuff we talk about. He’d just crack jokes and hang out and have fun.

What did you take away from Andy’s surfing?

Andy just had this special feel on the water. Dave always taught us to study him and Kelly, and what they would do in competition, and how focused and determined they were. I feel like their whole attitude to competitive surfing was something he wanted us to take in. One of the first things he ever taught me was about Andy’s whole highline floater deal. I’d seen Andy do it a bunch and I remember just watching videos and trying to copy exactly what he did. Those highline floaters are pretty much the base.

Zeke has got the frame, and the surfing, of someone who looks much older than his 18 years of age. Photo: Andrew Shield.

Read the rest of the interview HERE!

Ezekiel “Zeke” Lau
Professional Surfer
Location: Kewalo Basin on the South Shore of Oahu
Sponsors: Volcom, Arnette, Body Glove, Nixon, Dakine, Fitted, Jeff Bushman Surfboards, New Era
Twitter: @zekelau

Jason: Who are your Top 5 favorite musical artists and songs that get you in the mood?

Zeke: Wiz Kahlifa “Work Hard, Play Hard” along with the whole “Taylor Alderdice” album, Drake “No Lie” featuring 2 Chains, Tyga “I’m On One” remix, 50 Cent “God Gave Me Style” and the whole “Curtis” album and The Game “One Blood” along with “The Doctor’s Advocate,” “The Red Album,” “The Documentary” and all of his mix tapes.

What is the biggest misconception that people have about you?

Sometimes I feel my personality is misinterpreted because I’m so competitive by nature. If I see something that gets me into competition mode then my mind and body just clicks on, and people who don’t know me well get the wrong vibe so I guess people take it as if I’m angry but I’m not. I know when to switch it off, I’ve learned to strive hard and focus for things that I want and I go for it with all that I’ve got but at the same time I know when to switch it off. There often is the stereotype of being an angry because I’m Hawaiian because of the stories that people hear about Hawaii or by the way that I look and perceived that I may just want to scrap everyone or being a punk really sucks because some people just expect you to be like that. Then I could get upset about it and then become that person, but I just focus to control that and let it go. I know who I am and that’s not me and they’ll learn.

Check out Contrast Magazine to get the full interview!

Willi EdwardsBorn and bred into the waters around "Town," Ezekial Lau is quickly garnering international attention.

Ezekiel Lau is a warrior: Literally. The 18-year-old, who is affectionately called "Zeke," is a senior at Kamehameha Schools and its mascot is the Warriors. In addition, his middle name -- bestowed by his great-grandfather -- is "Kekoamaikalanimai," which translates to "warrior from the heavens." He is Hawaii's hope for the next world tour surfer from the birthplace of surfing. His recent event victory at the North Shore Surf Shop Pro Junior at Sunset Beach in January is one of several contest results that have Hawaiians touting Zeke as the next prodigy to do battle on the world tour.

In 2011, Zeke appeared in three ASP Star event finals. He won in El Salvador and at Sunset Beach and placed runner-up at Puerto Escondido. Two years ago Zeke broke his back after a poorly calculated floater, but won an NSSA National title with the injury. A three-month stint in a body cast, meticulous dieting and tenacious physical therapy made him healthier and stronger. Today, Zeke looks more like a wide receiver than a surfer. ESPN caught up with the athletic, Kewalo Basin local to talk about training, jocks, swag and surfing.

Where does your competitive drive come from?
The sheer will to win all the time and just working hard; you're gonna want that work to pay off. If it takes that little more to push through and if you need that score in the end, you're going to push through and do it. All the things you do to prepare, leading up to events pretty much gives you all that drive.

How often to do you train?
I trained twice a day during winter break and Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the morning with Uncle Kimo [Middlesworth]. I do my own weightlifting and core training in the afternoon. In between training days is surfing and whatever running regimen my dad makes that's aside from all the school stuff. It's a lot of work for me to get out there and I just want to make it count.

Where do you go to school and what makes it such a unique educational institution?
I go to Kamehameha Schools: it's a school for kids that have native Hawaiian ancestry so it's pretty prestigious just to go to that school so I just want to seize every opportunity that I get and just make things happen.

How did you feel when you saw so many of your friends that surf, like Keanu Asing, going to home school and you were in a stricter school setting with bells and schedules?
At first, I wasn't used to it and I didn't really see [the advantages] as clearly as I do. When you're young you want to do what everybody else is doing. Now, I see that [my school experience is] different. I think it's better to be different and not just trying to do the whole full-on-surf-thing all the time. It just sets your self a part.

How did the traditional school schedule affect your hunger to surf?
I just wanted to be successful and you see the different paths other kids take with school and how lucky I am to already have a career ready. All these other kids are working really hard to get into college and build their career. I know how fortunate I am and I don't want to take it for granted.

Willi EdwardsLau says he would have played football if he didn't surf ... but reckons he made the right choice.

You're the captain of the Kamehameha Surf Team, but we heard you cruise with all the jocks at school.
At school I'm pretty much hanging out with mostly all the football players. They're all my friends and I met them when we were young because we had something in common: we all played sports. All the athletes kind of clique together and I'm with all the football players. They're all bigger than me. They lift weights, get big, train hard and try to do good in school because school comes first. If they want to play any sport they gotta do good in school. Being around that kind of mentality just pushes you to want to do well.

If you didn't surf what sports would you play?
If I didn't surf I would probably be playing football, basketball and running track because that's what all my friends do. I already wanted to play football so bad this year just because you want to do what your friends do, but I had to sacrifice that just cause surfing is going good right now and I don't want to mess that up.

Your pops, Leonard Lau, used to play football for the University of Hawaii back in the day and is a football coach. Did that make you want to pick up the pigskin?
Yeah, for sure. He's a big part of my life and he started me out in sports real young. We did pretty much every sport possible except for football. That's the only one we didn't play. His experience with sports and athletics really helped build who I am. He instilled working hard and training to me. He ingrained into my brain that that was the only way I was going to make it. He is big on preparation."

As a Native Hawaiian, how important is surfing to you?
As a Hawaiian, it's really important. It seems like Hawaiians fell of the map lately just cause they're aren't very many Native Hawaiians surfing [on tour] now. I just want to make that come back and try to bring that whole thing back. We started this sport so I just want to perpetuate it.

How do you describe your style in the water?
Speed, power and flow.

How do you describe your style on the street?
"Swag: Just swagged-out all day. One hundred percent."

Are you a gangster?
No, I'm not a gangster, but I am swagged-out. [laughs]

Why do you think some people think you're a gangster?
I don't know. Probably because of the music I listen to. That whole hip-hop vibe and we just kind of grew up into that whole thing, especially at school. All my friends are like that and just that attitude: you don't take no BS.

What are your career goals?
The ultimate career goal for me would to become world champion, but I'm trying to take it slow right now and build off of the success I'm having right now. Just try to do my best and see where it takes me.