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29
Jul

32

Fun Water Sports – Parasailing

By admin | Filed in mastectomy swimwear, maternity swimwear, plus size swimwear (men), plus size swimwear (women)

Welcome, Haka Warriors, to the second installments of our summer blog series on fun water sports!

This sport is great, not only because it is fun, but because vacations can utilize companies that specialize in this sport instead of having to invest in equipment and training themselves. Of course, it is then important to make sure you use a reputable company that has a certificate of inspection.

Parasailing has been around, in one form or another, for over thirty years – since Brian Gaskin designed the first parasail. Most commercial operators still use this design today.

Parasailing is fun!

For those who have never tried it, parasailing is a recreational water activity where a person is pulled behind a board while attached to a special type of parachute. Up to three people can parasail at the same time. The parasail is attached to the boat via a tow rope. Whe the speed of the boat exceeds the the stalling speed, the parasail rises, lifting the parasailors up into the air.

There is more than one form of parasailing, but the safest and most widely practiced is called “Winch Direct Parasailing”. This type of parasailing allows you to take off and land from a boat, not off the beach or a floating barge.

What is most surprising about the experience is once the rope is released completely and you are as high up as you’ll be sailing, it is so peaceful – not the windy, bumpy ride you might expect it to be.

While parasailing, you can experience breath-taking views from heights of 800 ft. plus. Imagine, taking in a panoramic view of your favorite island paradise – it doesn’t get much better than that! Be sure and sail comfortably in your favorite big & tall beachwear, plus-size swimwear, maternity swimwear or mastectomy swimsuits from Haka Surfwear!

Find Your Own Mad Gringo!

Parasailing is your chance to fly like a bird and touch the clouds. You may be on the boat awhile though, waiting for your turn, so remember your suntan lotion and a beach towel too!

Plus-Size Swimwear & Mastectomy Swimsuits from Haka Surfwear!

Haka Warriors, if you get an opportunity to try parasailing; jump at the chance. You will never forget it! Join us next time when we check out windsurfing!

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19
Jul

5

Fun Summer Water Sports – Kitesurfing

By admin | Filed in Buzz, mastectomy swimwear, maternity swimwear, plus size swimwear (men), plus size swimwear (women)

Hi Haka Warriors! Looking for something fun to do on your next beach vacation? It’s definitely time for fun in the sun! Grab your favorite plus-size swimwear or big & tall beachwear from Haka Surfwear and hit the beach with us.

Feeling Hot This Summer?

We are doing a series on various summer water sports that are fun to try out at your favorite beach locale.  First, we’ll take a look at an exhilarating sport – kitesurfing.  Recently, I was relaxing on South Padre Island, Texas, near the Texas/Mexico border.  There I was, kicked back in my beach chair, enjoying the view of the Laguna Madre, when out of nowhere this dude comes flying by on the water, being pulled by a huge kite!

I looked over at my sister and said, “What the —-(fill in your favorite), was that??!!”  My friends, we watched this guy for a solid hour and that kite pulled him (on his board) all over the place – it was awesome!  So…I had to find out more about this fun sport.

Kitesurfing, also known as kiteboarding, is a water sport where the surfer uses the wind to pull themselves through the water on a small kite board.  This board and a large controllable kite are the primary gear used.

Kite surfers have been honing their craft for three decades with kites being patented in France during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s by the Legaignoux brothers.  Kitesurfing became popular in Hawaii in the 1990’s.  In fact, by the late 90’s, several schools were offering lessons in the sport.

Kitesurfing

Believe it or not, it is possible to surf great distances using a kite board.  The sport refers to a ride like this as a “downwinder”.  Just this past March, Natalie Clarke set a distance record of 240 km in a downwinder that took her from Tasmania to Australia across the Bass Strait – a trip that took her 9 hours and 30 minutes.

If you are interested in taking up this water sport, professional lessons are advised to minimize the chance of injury to yourself and others around you.  At kite surf school, you will learn how to launch the kite and other skills like flying, landing, and how to use the bar, lines, and safety devices.

Of course, with lessons and practice, you can increase your expertise to the point where you can start really having fun – jumping, flying, and performing board grabs!  Board grabs are tricks executed while the rider is jumping and he/she grabs the board in any number of positions.  These grabs even have different names depending on where the board is grabbed and which hand is used.  These tricks have really cool sounding names like Trindy, Tailfish, and Stalefish, to name a few.

So, Haka Warriors, what do you think of this thrill-seeking water sport?  Are you thinking of strapping on a board, grabbing that next gust of air, and riding some waves?  Well, you know our mantra – don’t forget your women’s plus-size swimwear, men’s big & tall beachwear, maternity swimwear, or mastectomy swimsuit from Haka Surfwear when you suit up!

Attractive Swimwear at Haka Surfwear!

Over at Haka Surfwear, it’s more our speed to shift into our Mad Gringo mode, fire up the blender, kick back on our favorite beach towel and watch those awesome kite surfers fly!

Find Your Mad Gringo at Haka Surfwear!!!

Join us next time when we explore that awesome water sport – parasailing!

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22
Jun

19

Great Islands to Visit – Trinidad & Tobago

By admin | Filed in mastectomy swimwear, maternity swimwear, plus size swimwear (men), plus size swimwear (women)

Thanks so much for joining us on the next step on our virtual tour of favorite islands to visit. Welcome to the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago!

Beautiful Trinidad!

Due to having the most varied plant life in the Caribbean, this dual island nation is the most colorful to visit.  Trinidad is the largest of the two at 4828 sq km compared to Tobago’s 300 sq km size.  The two islands are about 19 kilometers apart.

Fantastic Tobago!

This area also hosts a large variety of animal life.  You’ll want to go hiking in the lush dense rainforests on these islands and go looking for the over 430 species of birds, 600 species of butterflies, and over 100 types of mammals – including the always fun howler monkey!

Red Howler Monkey

Due to its laid-back mindset, the tiny island of Tobago is a fantastic place to kick back and catch some tropical rays.  This island provides some of the most beautiful and secluded beaches in the Caribbean.  Hope you didn’t forget to bring your favorite women’s plus-size swimsuit, maternity swimwear, mastectomy bathingsuit, or men’s big & tall beachwear from Haka Surfwear along for the trip!

Be Really Hot at the Beach in Swimwear from Haka Surfwear!

While relaxing on the beach or by the pool at a local resort, make sure you are near enough to hear the ever-present soca/calypso music that plays in the streets all over the two islands.

Soca music is soul calypso music and is a form of dance music originating on these dual islands.  It combines traditional calypso music with local chutney music (traditional bhojpuri folk music songs and Indian filmi songs).  This music was created by Indo-Caribbean people whose ancestors were transported to the West Indies as indentured servants during the 19th century.

All of the islands we’ve visited thus far are home to warm and friendly people.  Trinidad & Tobago are no different.  These locals welcome everyone to their ethnically diverse island with open arms!

Haka Warriors, thank you for joining us on our virtual island hopping adventure!  We’ve had a blast and we hope you have too.

Join us next time when we explore the fun world of water sports!

Get Your Beach Warrior On!!!

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13
Jun

10

Great Islands to Visit – Montserrat

By admin | Filed in mastectomy swimwear, maternity swimwear, plus size swimwear (men), plus size swimwear (women)

Hi Haka Warriors! We’ve surfed over from one of the largest islands in the Caribbean to one of the smallest. Montserrat is only 101 sq km in size. If you want an unusual get-a-way, off the beaten path, this is the island for you.

Unique Montserrat

Montserrat is known as the “Emerald Isle” of the Caribbean both for its lush green landscape and its Irish heritage, dating back centuries (1632).

On the southern tip of the island is one of the most active volcanoes in the West Indies; Soufriere Hills Volcano.  This volcano erupted 15 years ago and caused the then capital of Plymouth to be abandoned to the volcanic ash.  Today, the Monserrat Volcano Observatory monitors and reports on its volcanic activity.

From that time, the southern end of the island can only be visited during daylight hours.  And at night, from the safety zone at the other end of the island, you can witness the fantastic sight of molten red volcanic rocks crash down the mountainside!

Soufriere Hill Volcano at Night

Those vacationing on this unique island are restricted to the northern end of the island, where a quiet vacation awaits.  Relax on beautiful beaches in your attractive maternity bathingsuit, mastectomy swimsuit, plus-size swimwear, or big & tall beachwear from Haka Surfwear!  Or explore the lush green nature surrounding you.  Either way, the warm and friendly people of Monserrat welcome you!

If you love shopping, you’ll be right at home.  There isn’t a mall, but there are many smaller shops selling locally made crafts and souvenirs.  A visit to Emerald Spa will reveal natural soap products made from volcanic ash and other local elements.

If you’d like a taste of local fare, throw on your favorite big & tall tropical shirt from Haka Surfwear and head out to a nearby restaurant and give some of Montserrat’s local delicacies a try:  Mountain Chicken (aka Frog Legs) are a local favorite.  Monserrat’s national dish is Goat water, a thick stew made with chunks of goat meat.

The Hippest Tropical Shirt from Haka Surfwear

While relaxing by the pool at a fabulous resort – in your favorite women’s plus-size swimwear, mastectomy swimsuit, maternity bathingsuit, or men’s big & tall beachwear from Haka Surfwear - be sure and sample one of the local drinks made from the island’s exotic fruit (mango, papaya and West Indies cherries, to name a few).

Well warriors, we’re off to our next stop – catch up with us next week at Trinidad and Tobago!

Get Your Beach Warrior On!!!

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5
Jun

8

Great Islands to Visit – Martinique

By admin | Filed in mastectomy swimwear, maternity swimwear, plus size swimwear (men), plus size swimwear (women)

Hi Haka Warriors! Welcome to the next stop on Haka Surfwear’s virtual tour of our favorite islands to visit.

We are still hanging out in the Caribbean – this week we’re kicked back on Martinique.

Did you know that this island is the second largest of the Caribbean Island chain (1080 sq km)?

Gorgeous Martinique!

There are a large number of very colorful flowers and lots of vegetation on Martinique, earning it the nickname of the “Island of Flowers”.

Everything here is either a colorful bloom or green, green, green!  Yep, there is definitely a rainy season.  To avoid the rain, but still enjoy all the beauty that the rain produces, visit the island during its dry season (December to March).  The weather is tropical year-round – no surprise there.

If you haven’t realized yet from its name, Martinique is definitely a French island.  English is rarely spoken on the island, so you may want to brush up on your French before you arrive as it will help in getting around the island.

There are wonderful, secluded beaches to enjoy so don’t forget to make sure you are properly “suited up” in a sexy maternity swimsuit, mastectomy bathingsuit, women’s plus-size swimwear, or men’s big & tall beachwear from Haka Surfwear before you kick back and catch some rays.

Mad Gringo Passport T-Shirts from Haka Surfwear

There are also long hiking trails available for the energetic visitor.  Or, you can explore one of the quiet fishing villages or fields of bananas, pineapples, and sugarcane.

Need a change of pace?  Throw on that swimsuit cover-up and hit the road!

Sante Fe Cover-Up from Haka Surfwear

Be sure and check out the capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France, located on the island’s western shore.  This city is modern, cosmopolitan, and very similar to the French city of Marseilles.  It is the largest city in the French West Indies and home to many markets offering fresh produce and spices, as well as museums and Fort St. Louis (built in 1640 and an still an active French military base).

Thanks for coming along on Haka Surfwear’s second virtual tour of our favorite islands to visit!  We’ll talk with you next time from beautiful Montserrat.

Get Your Beach Warrior On!!!

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1
Jun

31

Great Islands to Visit – Saint Lucia

By admin | Filed in mastectomy swimwear, maternity swimwear, plus size swimwear (men), plus size swimwear (women)

At Haka Surfwear,we are so excited to see summer arrive!  For obvious reasons, we love the whole beach scene!  For the next month, we thought we would take all of our Haka warrior friends on a virtual visit to some of our favorite islands of paradise.

We begin with the beautiful island of Saint Lucia.  You know, this island is one of the most popular honeymoon locales in the world; and it is easy to see why.

St. Lucia is located midway down the eastern chain of Caribbean islands, between Martinique and St. Vincent, just north of Barbados.  It is 27 miles long, 14 miles wide and looks sort of like an avocado!  You can see the Atlantic to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the west.

Beautiful St. Lucia

For those visitors desiring some quiet time away from their hectic lives, Saint Lucia offers secluded cays and gorgeous beaches to help you kick back and relax.  Don’t forget to take your very cool men’s big & tall beachwear, attractive plus-size women’s swimwear, comfortable mastectomy swimsuit, or sexy maternity bathingsuit from Haka Surfwear with you for that fun time on the beach!

Sexy Swimwear from Haka Surfwear

Are you looking for a more active get-a-way?  St. Lucia has many lush jungles to explore.  You can hike these using the well layed-out hiking trails.  Be sure and get in some birdwatching along the way.  Scuba diving and snorkeling are available off the beaches at Pigeon Bay.  Make sure you are well suited up for the occasion with plus-size bathingsuits, maternity swimsuits or mastectomy swimwear from Haka Surfwear!

Attractive Maternity Swimwear from Haka Surfwear

For an awesome view, don’t miss the two Pitons Peaks located right at the shoreline on the south end of the island.  These peaks rise 2000 feet above the sea and shelter wonderful rain forests where you can find huge ferns, wild orchids, and birds of paradise.

In the  mood for a snack?  Check out the fields of papaya, mango, coconut, and banana trees!

Once you’ve rested up from all these fun activities, and have your belly full of fresh fruit, be sure and visit Soufriere Volcano (pictured earlier), the only drive-in volcanic crater on the entire planet.

The native people of St. Lucia are known the world over for their warmth and charm.  Don’t miss a visit to their villages and open-air markets to find that perfect local souvenir.

Well Haka Warriors, this completes our first virtual island visit.  A fun time was had by all!  We’ll catch you next time, from Martinique.

Get Your Beach Warrior On!!!

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16
May

4

Meet Your Mad Gringo

By admin | Filed in plus size swimwear (men)

I mentioned in a previous blog, awhile back, that I would be sharing more information soon about the Mad Gringo.

What is the Mad Gringo?

Well, as you will soon find out, it is several things – it’s a person, a company, and a state of mind.

While toiling away online, at Haka Surfwear, recently (smile), we caught up with our friend, the Mad Gringo, between tiki bar stops – and, had a great visit. We thought we’d share a bit of it with our Haka warrior friends (that’s you!).

Q: Can you tell us a bit about the origins of the Mad Gringo (the person, the company, and the state of mind)?

A: Well, back in 2006, I had been toying around with making an escape from my banking career. I gave it a trial run and hit the beach in Mexico to “find myself”.

On the second day, I met Ricardo who was shucking and selling oysters. After several conversations about how miserable I was and how I wanted to walk away from it all and set up shop next to him and sell ANYTHING – he told me I was “Loco, gringo!”.

I eventually found out Ricardo was from Wisconsin and was living my dream; stress-free and tanned by something other than florescent lights!

I promised myself that I was going to walk away, start my own business, and start living life differently and that’s what I did. I found my Mad Gringo – that something inside that’s a little crazy and…a little angry – now, I try to help others do the same.

Q: Now we’re moving on to another Mad Gringo dimension; your product line of men’s beachwear. Where are your products manufactured?

A: Currently, most of our products (men’s tropical shirts, for example) come from Bali – a good friend of ours makes ‘em (the buttons are made from coconut shells!). Our t-shirts are made in Central America.

El Chapin

Haka Surfwear's Tropical Shirts by Mad Gringo

Q: What sets the Mad Gringo products apart from the rest?

A: Well, each style has its own story and lets the wearer tell their own story about their own inner Mad Gringo. You find a style you like, reflect, find your own inner Mad Gringo!

These stylish men’s beachwear products allow guys to talk clothes in a way that is interesting to them, versus, “Do these pants make my butt look big?” (smile).

Mad Gringo tropical shirts are soft and silky feeling; you can’t help but GO SLOW.

This beachwear comes with simple care instructions: wash when dirty, dry when wet.

"Mad Gringo" T-Shirt at Haka Surfwear

Q: What can you tell us about your men’s Big & Tall beachwear product line?

A: Our men’s Big & Tall beachwear product specs were recommended to us by a menswear professional, formerly with Murray’s (absorbed into Casual Male).

We have tweaked the original fit, based directly on wearer feedback.

We’ve added cotton to the mix and incorporated softer fabrics.

Mad Gringo's Big & Tall Tropical Shirts at Haka Surfwear

Q: What is coming up from the Mad Gringo?

A: We’ve recently hired a very creative and talented designer. We’ll have some great new designs coming out for Father’s Day.

Our Spring 2011 line will feature Mayan pottery prints, bolder designs, and more solids than ever before.

We are also adding polo’s – sneak your Mad Gringo into corporate America!

Thanks, Mad Gringo – we at Haka Surfwear tip our board to ya!

Well, that’s it for now, Haka warriors – GET YOUR BEACH WARRIOR ON!!!

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12
Apr

18

Big & Tall Beachwear For Summer – You Should Get Mad!

By admin | Filed in plus size swimwear (men)

Spring is here and summer is around the corner! For many men who may not fall into the traditional small, medium, or large size categories, finding beachwear that is comfortable, fits well, while also being stylish, can be a very tough challenge. Well, it’s about time for guys to get Mad!

In many cases, these men are expected to wedge themselves into traditional sizes, ending up with shirt-tails that will not stay tucked in, and shirt sleeves that look more like three-quarter length sleeves.

What about those pants with legs that are in no danger of getting wet in a flood – you know what I’m talking about! Pants and shorts that are binding at the waist and thigh; shirts that are tight at the buttons…and the list goes on and on…

Many times, you will find a cool looking shirt, right? And yea, ok, the retailer has it available in sizes 1X – 3X, but only in black, or only in a long-sleeve style. Who wants to wear black or long sleeves to the beach? What are these manufacturers and retailers thinking?

When it comes to beachwear, big & tall men want what everyone wants when they are heading out for some fun-in-the-sun. They want to look good and they want to feel confident and comfortable in whatever they are wearing. It’s just that simple! Why can’t suppliers of swimwear and beachwear get it?

Let me tell you about a brand out there that “gets it”. Haka Surfwear has proudly partnered with Mad Gringo to offer attractive and stylish beachwear that meets the needs of our big & tall kahunas. More to come on our compadres over at Mad Gringo – stay tuned!

Mad Gringo Tropical Shirt

Tropical Shirts at Haka Surfwear

You will find most of these products are offered in sizes up to 7XL and 7XLT – AWESOME! Another cool feature is the products are designed to mix & match. At Haka Surfwear, we just love this beachwear – it brings out the Mad Gringo in all of us crazy warriors!

Mad Gringo T-shirt

Mad Gringo T-shirts from Haka Surfwear

Hop on your board and backdoor over to hakasurfwear.com – we’d love to see ya!

GET YOUR BEACH WARRIOR ON!!!

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4
Apr

4

Why Mastectomy Swimwear Should be the Summer Swimsuit Choice for ALL Women

By admin | Filed in Uncategorized

Ladies, summer is just around the corner and most of us are getting ready to head to the beach, lake, or other sunny locale. For all women, especially those who have had a mastectomy, this can be a particularly stressful time.

Finding a swimsuit that is attractive, yet supportive, can end up being such a frustrating chore, that all women face. Women can now feel more confident that their summer swimsuit needs will be met, thanks to the availability of quality swimwear products.

For example, the Amoena line of mastectomy swimwear products is stylish and diverse as the women who wear them. The swimsuits are made from Xtra Lite LYCRA Spandex and RadElast Spandex which retains its shape, has a longer-lasting fit, as well as being chlorine-resistant.

Stylish Swimwear from Haka Surfwear

The swimsuits are designed with a subtle pocket to hold a breast form or symmetry shaper in place. The mastectomy bathingsuits are available in a wide range of styles, including one-piece swimsuits, swimdresses, as well as tankini-style with skirts or traditional bathingsuit separates.

This fashionable and modest mastectomy swimwear product line is figure-flattering, offering additional supportive features and clever tailoring to provide high-quality swimsuits that look and feel great.

They also provide a UPF+50 rating, so they stand up to the sun and protect the wearer from it as well.

While these supportive features are of obvious benefit to women who have had mastectomies, these same features are beneficial to ALL women.

In their pursuit to offer quality products to women who have had mastectomies, this manufacturer has made available an attractive yet supportive line of stylish swimsuits that give EVERY woman an opportunity to have a comfortable and confident swimwear experience this summer.

Jump on your boogie board and cruise on over to hakasurfwear.com.

GET YOUR BEACH WARRIOR ON!!!

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23
Feb

32

What To Look for In Mastectomy Swimwear

By admin | Filed in mastectomy swimwear

Swimming is a great moderate form of exercise for strengthening the body before, during, and after breast cancer treatment. It’s a terrific option for low-impact exercise that strengthens all the major muscle groups, avoiding muscle atrophy.  A well rounded workout, while cooling off on a hot summer day – what could be better?

You might wonder, is there a swimwear product that will offer support for a swimming workout, yet be attractive and stylish as well? If you know what look for, you can have both.

When you are looking for a mastectomy swimsuit, look for the following attributes to ensure you have all the support you need to feel confident and comfortable during your next beach vacation, or just relaxing by the pool:
1. Swimsuits with arm holes cut up higher to provide more support.
2. Swimwear that is fitted with pockets to support the prosthesis in a secure and discreet fashion.
3. Bathing suits with higher necklines which will provide the appropriate level of coverage and support.
4. Swimsuits with extra linking in the abdominal area to support the tummy, which helps define a flattering figure.

Shop Haka Surfwear

Swimwear industry designers and manufacturers have been paying attention to the needs and concerns of women who have had mastectomies. There are more mastectomy swimsuit styles available today than ever before.

These styles include:
1. One-piece mastectomy swimsuits

2. Two-piece mastectomy tankinis

3. Mastectomy tank-style blouses with skirts or shorts

4. Mastectomy swimdresses

These designs are available in a wide variety of colors and prints. All of which offer support, comfort and especially, style!

Get Your Beach Warrior On!

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