Hookipa + bit of sup

Photos from yesterday.

Philippe.


Philippe.


Side A (might be worth clicking on it...).


Laurent.


Laurent.


Laurent.


Levi.


Side B.


Morgan.


Anatol.


Downwinder season started, that's at least a 14 footer.


Mystery Bob.



Check out this great video of Laird at Hanalei.



Last saturday there was a paddling race from Maui to Molokai.
Big congratulations to Connor Baxter who won the standup category. Nice reports in this standupzone forum thread.

Allright, someone sent me this photo of this lovely lady from the south shore... thanks!


Just finished watching the final at the ASP surf contest in Brazil. Congratulations to Jadson Andre for winning his first WCT event ever in front of the home crowd and against the best surfer of all times Kelly Slater.

I'm noticing a shift similar to the one happening in windsurfing: surfers are now throwing all kind of rotations in their turns. Sometimes a bit unnecessary and/or overscored. I might be a bit old school, but for me a big bottom/top turn combo with a lot of spray should still be the highest scoring maneuver (other then barrels, of course). Not many of those available in the small and mushy conditions at Imbituba, that's why an air reverse master like Jadson could prevail.

Anyway, after three contests, Kelly is now leading the rankings. Quite a break in the action now, since the next contest is Jeffrey's Bay in July.

PS. Just seen on beachtelegraph.com this brand new way of polluting the ocean. Damn, do we really need shit like that?!?

Pro action winding down

Camille was in the water early and he's starring in this post.



Plenty other "regular" sailors in the rest of the photos too. But first I'd like to thank Philippe for giving me a short Reiki mini-treatment at the beach to help my foot heal faster. Thank you very much.


Camille.


Camille.


Unknown guy 1.


Camille.


Unknown guy 2.


Unknown guy 1.


Camille.


Camille.


Camille.


Camille.


Volwater's opening backloop.


This photographer was quite hot.


Skyler.


Unknown guy 3.


Woke up this morning and tuned into the ASP surf contest in Brazil right into Kelly Slater's heat in round 3. Not the most exciting heat (which Kelly dominated nonetheless), but plenty lovely brazilian ladies on the beach to look at in the lulls... webcasts, got to love them.

Also because they are the perfect thing to have running in the background when doing computer work (like blogging right now, or writing the next article for Windnews afterwords).
Wow, that was a close heat between Chris Davidson and Dan Ross! Jordy Smith in the water now.

North shore is going pretty much flat in the next days. Most pros are getting ready to pack up and leave. Expect the windsurfing action to wind down, but keep checking this blog because the author might always come up with something worth it...

a beautiful right

Didn't take photos yesterday, so it's time for me to publish these photos that a Alex sent me a while ago (thanks!).

I believe it was mid March and that right doesn't go off very often. I personally have never seen it that big and Alex said that there were larger sets than these.
When it's smaller, the take off is right in front of the rocks you see in the first photo. Pretty much where the big foam ball is... very sketchy.

Enjoy.










PS. I'll be at Hookipa from 12 to 1.30 today. Be there sailing if you want to have a chance to end up on the blog. And don't forget to do something worthy! :)

Saved by a surf...

Today was a rough one at work. Most everyone knows now. It kind of feels like what it must feel like when you have a terminal illness. I suppose it's the way people look at you, with that mix of sadness and empathy. But then, I am so dramatic, and see things based on my mood at any given moment...

But, I will get through it, and so many people had the coolest things to say to me today. I found out how some people think of me, things that I never knew, about the job I do. I found out that not knowing what will happen next can be alternately scary and exciting. Nothing is forever, and nothing is for sure. That's the theme for this day.

So, after work the offshores were still blowing, and the sky was brilliantly blue. My zombiesque demeanor needed a good dunking in the sea.

I drove to Matanzas again, with the tide on the rise.

When I got there, not a surfer was in sight. I walked to the overlook and I could see it looked small. Oh, heck. I decided to just go, just paddle around, and hope to catch something.

By the time I got back with my board, I noticed the sandbar had really been defined. The waves were looking better, and wrapping on the triangular point of sand quite nicely. Maybe it would be worth it after all.

It turned out to be more fun than it looked. I even skinned it at first, it was so warm out. I kept getting these wrapping, peeling little rights that had surprising push for as small as it was. It was a 13 second period swell, and those seconds make all the difference, don't they?

When I got that dry barrel, and was looking out the almond eye as the crystal lip threw over me, I knew I had made a good choice to drive down here today. Soon Andy was paddling out on the placebo, and we had some fun! He had one wave that stands out in my mind. He took off left, and then did this stylish sweeping turn back around, his board bright white, his feet positioned perfectly on the deck of his board. I wish I could have a picture of it. I don't know why it seemed so extraordinarily beautiful, that relaxed stance, the clean face of the wave, all under that blue, blue sky...

Then Mark paddled out, and it was just us three the entire late afternoon into evening. We couldn't believe our luck. With beach driving now banned, it makes it harder to get out here. We could not be happier. We all came in at the same time when the tide seemed to get a bit too fat. Mark helped Andy carry the eleven footer he had lugged down just in case. The lighting was just astounding this afternoon, the air so clear. As I watched them walking, carrying the surfboards, even this seemed full of some magical beauty. Why? I don't know. There was just something about the light today...

family beach day

Kinda flat on the north shore, most people opted to head south.
The waves were the usual small, mushy Maui south shore stuff. Here's a bit of beach scenes.

Dog on the nose.


Tail!


At the beginning of each windsurf or surf lessons, I always pointed out:"this is the front of the board and this is the back of the board".
This guy was not one of my students.


Lovely ladies.


I don't even know where my right Birky is anymore.


Best $45 buy ever.
Unfortunately, the crutches are messing with my left thumb and I can only do very little practice.


Downwind facing dog.


I miss yoga.


He's ready!


Love the ankle crossing.


Hey, a day at the beach is still a day at the beach!