Memorial Day Weekend
The holiday weekend is in full swing here on Maui. Friday we saw promising winds starting out the day, but they quickly dropped into the low- to mid-teens. Those who got the early session on Friday scored.
Saturday was the first race day of the annual Maui Race Series. Kanaha was packed with racers, and rigged gear everywhere. The racing was supposed to start at 11:30 but a buoy decided to cut loose and do a downwinder toward kite beach so racing was delayed as the committe raced to catch the buoy and re-set the course. 4.5 was the call for me as I took advantage of the break in sailing and went to Uppers to play in the surf. Soon the races started. The starting line was set just inside of the break at Uppers. The starts had to have been challenging for the racers on their slalom gear, positioning themselves for the start in the waves and chop at Uppers. While they fought their pitched battles, I played in small waist- to head-high surf at Uppers. Good fun.
I felt sorry for all the racers missing out on the waves. But then again, that just left all the more for me. I did manage to capture a couple of videos of the racing action. In this video, you can see the fierce competition rounding the marks.
The Maui Race Series sets up several classes. If you have slalom gear you can compete in age group classes or in ability level classes ranging from pro down to sport. If you just have wave gear, you can compete in the wave class. The wave class is where you'll find a lot of the young ripper kids like Conner Baxter and Kai Lenny. The few adults who compete in this class pretty much demolish their younger competition. In this video, Pete Sullivan is all by himself rounding the second inside mark. Hey Pete, let's see you throw a vulcan or spock like those kids do! ;-) Lots of good competition and good fun with the Maui Race Series.
Today we saw smaller waves at Uppers and pretty strong 4.5 wind that kind of dropped a bit later in the afternoon. Had a great time shredding Uppers with my better half, me maxed out on my 5.0, she on her 4.0. Great fun sailing with her as she gets comfortable sailing in the surf, getting her bottom turns and cutbacks in. She rips! Very cool to not only have a windsurfing significant other, but one that rips as well!
Last I looked, we were supposed to get another swell tomorrow. That should cap off an already sweet holiday weekend.
Saturday was the first race day of the annual Maui Race Series. Kanaha was packed with racers, and rigged gear everywhere. The racing was supposed to start at 11:30 but a buoy decided to cut loose and do a downwinder toward kite beach so racing was delayed as the committe raced to catch the buoy and re-set the course. 4.5 was the call for me as I took advantage of the break in sailing and went to Uppers to play in the surf. Soon the races started. The starting line was set just inside of the break at Uppers. The starts had to have been challenging for the racers on their slalom gear, positioning themselves for the start in the waves and chop at Uppers. While they fought their pitched battles, I played in small waist- to head-high surf at Uppers. Good fun.
I felt sorry for all the racers missing out on the waves. But then again, that just left all the more for me. I did manage to capture a couple of videos of the racing action. In this video, you can see the fierce competition rounding the marks.
The Maui Race Series sets up several classes. If you have slalom gear you can compete in age group classes or in ability level classes ranging from pro down to sport. If you just have wave gear, you can compete in the wave class. The wave class is where you'll find a lot of the young ripper kids like Conner Baxter and Kai Lenny. The few adults who compete in this class pretty much demolish their younger competition. In this video, Pete Sullivan is all by himself rounding the second inside mark. Hey Pete, let's see you throw a vulcan or spock like those kids do! ;-) Lots of good competition and good fun with the Maui Race Series.
Today we saw smaller waves at Uppers and pretty strong 4.5 wind that kind of dropped a bit later in the afternoon. Had a great time shredding Uppers with my better half, me maxed out on my 5.0, she on her 4.0. Great fun sailing with her as she gets comfortable sailing in the surf, getting her bottom turns and cutbacks in. She rips! Very cool to not only have a windsurfing significant other, but one that rips as well!
Last I looked, we were supposed to get another swell tomorrow. That should cap off an already sweet holiday weekend.
posted by Jeff at
5:00 PM
3 Comments:
Hey Makani, did you fix something on your camera? The shots are nice & clear. Or did the wedding get out all the bugs? Wish I was there.
By
Anonymous, at 2:29 PM
Maybe some more of the big guys with wave gear should come out and compete in the Race Series to keep the rest of us honest. It's a great way to improve your skills and show your buddies how fast you can get around a buoy (without falling down, hopefully).
Speedy
By
Anonymous, at 8:56 AM
What, and sit on the beach waiting for the committee to chase down AWOL bouys? OK Speedy. Next year.
By
Jeff, at 9:14 PM
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