Kauli gets wacked

Blog reader Rille sent the link to this video in which Kauli gets wacked by a big wave, destroys his gear and gets rescued by the lifeguards at Hookipa last Thursday.
I hope this will contribute to finally stop that stupid attitude I see in most windsurfers that say that the lifeguards don't help them...
Lifeguards job is to save lives. If you break your gear and the conditions allow you to swim back through the waves on your own without putting your life at risk, that's what you got to do. If you don't think you can do that, choose a different/easier spot.
I got plenty friends who's life has been saved by the lifeguards and I have been rescued myself with a broken mast at the outer reef at Kanaha on a huge day (October 28... was it 2003-4?). The day after that, it was windier and more windsurfers ventured out in the still huge surf and the Kanaha lifeguards made 36 rescues, or something like that. They were supposed to take off at 4, but they stayed till dark to make sure everyone came back in safe.
Off course, like in every job, some individuals are nicer than others, but overall, I love the fact that there's lifeguards and I'd like to thank them for what they do.
I'm sure Kauli would agree.

Kauli gets wacked from Rille on Vimeo.