The Jump Contest

Many of you may have seen or heard about the jump contest that went on in Maui recently.  I had the privilege to take part in this event.  I had some pretty tough competition, going up against some of the top pros in windsurfing.  Conditions could not have been better for the contest.  We had sustained 40 mph winds and mast high waves rolling in at Ho’okipa.  Check out the video to see the insanity, that we called a jump contest.  I finished with a respectable 30 foot back-loop, but that wasn’t even close to what Levi Siver did.  He won the comp. with a landed 50+ foot back-loop.  Boujmaa was going nuts too, with a huge stock air and his recently invented move, the Blackshot.

Here are  a few pictures from the day of the jump contest.  I went out for a run on my 4.2, and after two reaches decided to go with the 3.7 for the jump-off.  My board was a little big at 75L, so I thought that with a smaller sail, I would have more control in the air.  It definitely helped with the control, but I think I suffered some height going with the small sail.  Check out these pics taken by Eric Sinclair during my 4.2 practice run.

Maui

Wind and waves.  What more can you ask for?  Maui has continued to offer outstanding conditions.  The winter swells haven’t slowed down too much, and the spring/summer winds have started to kick in.  I sailed 4.2 today with head high waves.  It was small compared to what was here the last few days.  Check Giampaolo’s blog to see some pictures of Kanaha a couple days ago.

I found this video on beachtelegraph.com, but it was originally posted by Rille here.  The video is long, but it’s good.  Check it out, and you’ll see my brief appearance around the 17 minute mark.

Finally, here are a couple pictures of me on a recent big wave day at Kuau.  Thanks to Kate and her blog for providing the shots.

Great Shots By Dave Baker

Maui has been a good place to be lately if you are a windsurfer.  It has been blowing all day and night for at least a week now.  The forecast is for more of the same and there is another big swell coming for early next week.  It’s nice to see this weather pattern, because the last couple months were not very windy at all.  Hope it continues!

Here are two shots taken by Dave Baker.  He is an amazing photographer and always comes out with some really quality pics.

Before the Tsunami

This morning I was woken up on Maui’s North Shore with sirens blaring at 6AM.  I checked the news and it said there was a Tsunami on the way, generated by a massive earthquake in Chile measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale.  Thankfully, the Tidal Waves were rather small, and nothing serious came of it on the Hawaiian islands.

Yesterday, I rode giant waves that were much bigger than the Tsunami.  My estimate from the biggest one that I caught would be double mast high!  Conditions were very difficult with the wind blowing nearly straight offshore, and most of the waves were closing out across the reef.  I was lucky to get out and catch a few before I got cleaned up by a big set.  I had  a long swim for my gear while I ducked mast high white water.  Fortunately when I tracked my gear down, it was unscathed.  I was pretty tired, but I wanted to catch one more.  I tried and tried for about 30 minutes to get back out doing chicken jibe after chicken jibe, when the waves finally opened up to let me through. 

Giampaolo stopped by and took a couple pictures of my efforts.  You can check out all of his shots on his blog at www.mauisurfreport.blogspot.com.  Check ‘em out and see the size waves we were out in.  I was glad to return to the beach without any broken pieces, myself or my gear.  Not everyone was so lucky.  My friend Art broke a mast and tore his sail, but he made it back in safely.  That was one crazy session.

Thanks again Giampaolo for taking these shots.

A Good Day

I just had one of those days that makes you feel very thankful to be a windsurfer on Maui.  The forecast was for no wind, and there was an advisory level swell on the way.  My expectations for windsurfing were low. 

I had work in the morning from 10-2 and the wind started to build by mid-day.  When  I got to the beach after work, I was welcomed with an uncrowded break and mast high waves peeling across the reef.  The wind was blowing perfect side-shore at about 15-20mph.  This was just enough to make it out with my 5.0 and 75L board.  I sailed for over 3 hours, catching wave after wave.  It was an epic day, considering I didn’t even expect to sail.

One of the first waves I had was a big one that peeled for what seemed like, forever.  I probably got 6 or 7 solid bottom turns before kicking out to catch the next one.  It was one of those days where you could just pick and choose any wave you wanted.  On my last wave, I went for an aerial on a big one, and shot up to clear the breaking section.  I landed in transition going down the face of the wave.  Unfortunately, upon landing, my back foot came out of the strap and I was riding with only one foot connected to the board.  I rode it out for a second, but decided it was better to bail, than to risk reinjuring my foot.  I dove off and got tumbled for a bit.  I had a short swim, but it was well worth it.

Check out these pics that Steve Hamman sent me.  The shots are from a recent session I had with fun sized waves.  Thanks Steve.