Quick report, photos from North Shore

The industry has arrived on the North Shore in time for the Surfer Poll Awards tonight and the start of the Billabong Pipeline Masters later this week.

I have been doing lots of reporting, including some store tours and interviews, and those stories will be coming.

Last night, I stopped by a Vans BBQ at the house they rented for the season overlooking the ocean. Vans employees were showing boardshort styles to the media and others, and mingling with key retailers that Vans has brought to the islands.

I have a few photos from the night, with more reporting from Hawaii to come.

There is lots of chatter about the exceptional waves expected later this week at Pipeline.

Now, I’m off for a tour of the North Shore with Michael Tomson.

See the slide show above for a few photos from the Vans gathering, and for a photo of an industry executive I ran into at the grocery store.