This particular one was absolutely average, but what he did on it wasn't. Before this one, he did two more remarkable turns, accelerating in each one. Only a lot of speed, in fact, can allow him to throw such an amount of spray. 10 from the italian judge.
Let's get rid of him and publish three more photos. Don't click on this one, since it's blurred. Looks better small.
Wave 360.
And another aerial.
Well, at this point (and after watching the following photos), you might think that conditions were epic at Hookipa yesterday, but you would be deceived.
The pros always make it look good. The wind was super offshore and gusty. The waves were inconsistent, since a new NW swell was just starting to show up and overlap with the leftover of the old NW swell and a short period NE swell. In other words, less than ideal.
Francisco Porcella may not agree with me.
Here he is again (this one is for the ladies), probably giving a bit more outhaul (some gusts were just too much). I keep hearing rumors that Mistral is done, finished, kaput. If that's true, after F2 that's another historical brand that goes. I will always remember that Mistral Stinger I had ages ago and that was the perfect board for my spring time home spot Scauri. Thanks to whoever shaped that board, I really enjoyed it.
Post update. An allegedly more accurate rumor says that they're not closing, but they're just cutting down some costs: no more sponsored team riders and no more Mark Nelson as a shaper.
Talking about shapers, french Hot Sails team rider Bruno Andre is here. He brought me a board that is completely out of the ordinary and will find some place on this blog soon.
Here he's riding his latest three fin AHD desing.
KP.
Brazilian stretching (sorry, wrong side).
Mark Angulo.
Graham Ezzy.
A local.
Manu.
Stuff I have to post (I write this as a note to myself):
- photos from the very first day of the Kona swell
- video clips from two days ago. They're really nice, but I want to edit them and do a little video called Uppers vs Lowers... stat tuned. The new GoPro wide angle camera is amazing. I can't believe those guys have improved the product so much in so little time. Thanks a lot for that.
Forecast.
The new swell is 6 feet, 17 seconds from 110-115 degrees at the Waimea buoy this morning at 6am. That is a great size and period, but probably a bit too west for Kanaha. I may have to sail up the coast again.
The wind is going to be offshore and gusty again, maybe I'll rig 4.2 this time. The weekend should be fun anyway, thanks to the waves, but next week looks pretty bad.
A low level low (can you say that?) will develop just north of the islands and give us some unsettled weather, super choppy short period northerly swell and variable winds. Then towards the end of the week, trade winds will be back with related windswell, but without any long period NW swell at all. Oh well, we had waves for more than 10 days, I guess I can't complain... so I won't!
Stoked to be alive, well and in Maui! Life is great. Off to the beach.
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