Talk Story with Luke Shepardson & Kyle Foyle
FREE ENTRY
OPEN TO RESORT GUESTS & PUBLIC
Talk Story is a monthly series hosted at Turtle Bay. A Hawaiian term, "Talk Story" means to chat, tell stories and taking the time to enjoy one another's presence. Each month, you'll have the opportunity to meet a different local creator or hero in an intimate setting and ask them questions only they can answer.
For May's Talk Story at Surf House, we are pleased to host two local heroes from the North Shore Lifeguard Association: Luke Shephardson, a lifeguard and the 2023 winner of the big wave invitational, The Eddie, and Kyle Foyle, Ocean Safety Lieutenant & North Shore Lifeguard Association Junior Guards Director.
Enjoy a relaxing evening as Kyle and Luke share their stories and adventures on the North Shore coast, provide educational advice when out in the water - or even close by, and of course what it was like to work, compete and win on the day of The Eddie for Luke, who is also celebrating his birthday this evening!
Turtle Bay and friends will also be raffling off prizes at the end of the evening where 100% of the proceeds will benefit the family of a fellow North Shore Lifeguard, Jason Bitzer, to help pay for his 3-year old son's cancer treatment after being diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare cancer. Surf House at Turtle Bay will also donate 20% of sales from 'Eddie Would Go' merchandise being sold at the retail store that day. For more info or to donate, view their GoFundMe page HERE.
Submit questions for Luke and Kyle to answer at the event via Instagram and use the tags: #OnlyAtTurtleBay / @TurtleBayResort / @NorthShoreLifeguardAssociation
About Luke Shepardson, North Shore Lifeguard & The Eddie 2023 Winner:
Luke was born in Honolulu and was raised on the North Shore, so surfing for "as long as I can remember," is an expected statement from this year's winner of The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. Because The Eddie hasn't run since 2016, the anticipation and hype for the next one increased year over year. And when the waves reached the required height to run earlier this year, Luke was evidently scheduled to work that day. Luckily, he was able to find a window during his lunch break to compete in the competition - a competition that was created in honor of a fellow North Shore Lifeguard from the 1970s - and ended up winning while on duty, making him the first winner in 7 years! Prior to his winning, he also won the WSL Junior Pro at the Dukes Fest in Waikiki when he was 16 before he started his lifeguard duties in 2019. He currently lives with his wife and 2 boys on the North Shore where he's close to work and his big waves.
About Kyle Foyle, Ocean Safety Lieutenant & NSLA Junior Guards Director:
Kyle Foyle is an Ocean Safety Lieutenant for the North Shore of O‘ahu and the current North Shore Lifeguard Associtation Junior Guards Director. He has been a first responder and EMT for Ocean Safety for 18 years. For most of his career, he's also been a Junior Guards instructor and is passionate about keeping the program alive for the next generation. Born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i Island, Kyle is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA competitor—currently training and coaching—his wife won't let him get locked in the cage anymore. He is a husband and father who cares deeply about his community.
About NSLA:
The North Shore Lifeguard Association (NSLA) was founded in 1996 by the District Three City & County Ocean Safety lifeguards who live and work in the North Shore, O‘ahu community. NSLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to provide lifesaving education to the North Shore community through instructional programs for the public, ocean-oriented events and contests, and to support the youth through the Junior Lifeguard Programs.
About NSLA Junior Guards:
Open to children ages 8 - 11 at Waimea Bay and youth ages 12-17 at ‘Ehukai, the mission of the North Shore Lifeguard Association's Junior Lifeguard Program is to teach ocean and beach safety, physical conditioning, basic First Aid and CPR, paddleboard and cross-carry rescues, as well as environmental and cultural awareness to empower the next generation of lifesavers and ocean enthusiasts. NSLA has been running its own Junior Guards program since 2010, serving more than 500 kids and youth each summer.
Photos of Luke by: Erik Kabik
