Windsurfing Humanitarianism

You may have seen the article in Windsurfing Magazine and the photos here of Maui’s Jacques Pauvert of Jaques' North Shore restaurant in Paia taking his friend Darren Quinn out for a sail. Here’s some video of them sailing at Kanaha last Saturday.

It’s a dedicated team that makes this happen, including board shaper Richard Greene and many others. These guys have even done downwinders from Maliko Gulch (a boat launch between Hookipa and Jaws) to Kanaha. Pretty damn cool to see many people working so hard to help one other windsurfer get out and get his windsurfing fix.

Meanwhile, back to the wind reports. It's been a pretty wacky wind week here on Maui. Like previous days, yesterday turned out to be pretty squally and up and down. 5.0 to 5.8 was the call, the problem was figuring out when you needed which. Late in the day turned out to be the best as the squalls finally cleared out and the 5.0 winds kicked in for a good while.

Wind Wimps Out

Though high-wind windsurfing has predominated the Maui north shore sailing scene the last few months, we get occasional days where the wind the wind wimps out. Today was one of those days. Wind in the mid-teens prevailed, managing to hit the 20 mph mark for a brief period or two. Skies were gray much of the day over Kanaha as the trade wind driven clouds bumped into the West Maui Mountains and piled up creating a natural awning over Kanaha. This seems to have squelched the wind. Nevertheless, lots of people at the beach, maximizing their summer sailing time. Guys pretty much needed 6.0 meter or bigger to get going. The wahines - 5.0s and bigger. For me it was "just say no to 6.0" and make a Costco run.

Incidentally, if you're familiar with Maui, you know that Costco is close to the airport and Kanaha. There's some construction going on across the street from Costco on the road to the airport. Word is that this is going to be an "airport hotel." No fancy resort, but just one of those basic airport hotels like you see near mainland airports. Could prove to be a popular place to stay for visiting windsurfers wanting to stay near the airport and the beach. Don't get too excited yet, my guess is that's it at least a year away from completion.

Anomolous Waves

Although it's not really wave season here on Maui's north shore, yesterday at Uppers we got some weird little swell rolling in from the north at the first upwind break from the launch at Uppers. Little waist- to shoulder-high sets rolling into a little 100 foot section of the break. All the other breaks upwind at Camp One and Sprecks seemed to be the typical summertime direction, but this one little break was producing some fun, albeit sloppy, little waves. Of course, every windsurfer who sails Uppers found this out and there was some stiff competition for this little wave.

The wind was pretty good 4.5 up until around 2:30 or so when someone turned the wind dial up another notch and the wind started to crank again. I was glad to have gotten a lunchtime session in yesterday before it went insane.

Got another race video from Steve R. showing the 40- 49 age division racing in last Saturday's Maui Race Series. Windsurfing slalom action at it's best as they blast around the bouy. From what I hear, slalom racing is going to be a new event on next year's PWA tour. Check out the video for a preview of coming attractions on the PWA world tour.

Still More Racing Videos

Yet another windsurfing racing video from Saturday's Maui Race Series. This Maui Windsurfing video, taken and submitted by Steve Robinson, shows Greg Thomas, the defending 2004 champion in the 55+ fleet, demonstrating how to steal a race.

Wind Conditions

Winds on Maui the last few days have been cranking in the afternoons. We've got a strong high pressure system to our north, creating a strong pressure gradient. In the afternoons, guys have been out on 4.0s and the women windsurfers are on low- to mid-3s. It's been pretty much flatwater, bump and jump windsurfing, not much to speak of for waves. As of 10:00 this morning, winds are already averaging 26 mph according to iWindsurf - and their sensor is reading low. Most likely it will be 4.0 out of the gate this morning and build even stronger.

More Racing Footage

More racing footage from Saturday's Maui Race Series. This Maui Windsurfing video, taken and submitted by Steve Robinson, shows that even the pros can blow jibes occasionally, as Anders Bringdal does around an inside mark. Even though he missed the jibe, he still manages to win the race however.

Super Freak Photo Shoot

Photo shoots are a common scene on the north shore. Last week, Hot Sails sent out a bunch of young rippers and a helicopter to get some shots of their sail, the Super Freak. It was late afternoon, the skies were gray and the wind was out of the north and kind of getting flukey. Maui Windsurfing video correspondent Norm Roediger sends in this surrealistic windsurfing video footage of he and his son Bernd sailing in the photo shoot. Somehow they got Eddie Van Halen to ride along in the helicopter and play guitar over a loud speaker during the shoot, as you can hear in the video.

The competition really heats up in the pro and semi-pro classes. The action is fast and furious and jibing around the marks usually makes or breaks the race for the competitors. In the pro division, Anders Bringdal went on to win his division. Click on the image to the left for a Windows Media Player format video. Click here for a Quicktime video version.

Most of the racing is done on forumula gear. But for those who want to compete but don't want to shell out the bucks for race gear, there's the wave division where racers compete on wave boards and sails. Here we see Maui Windsurfing Blog field correspondent, Speedy, with a beautiful jibe around the inside mark. Speedy went on to win the race and the state championship. Congratulations Speedy.
Click here for a Quicktime version of the video.

There's often cargange at the finish line as the racers position to try to cross first. Click on the image to the left for a Windows Media Player format video. Click here for a Quicktime video version.

Once again, the Menehunes stole the show in Saturday's races. The kids are the talk of the beach amonst the local windsurfers. The kids are eager and enthusiastic and fun to watch as well. Here we see the first race in this class as they round the first inside mark. Ripper Jake Golm would go on to win this division. Click on the image to the left for a Windows Media Player format video. Click here for a Quicktime video version.

The final day of the 2005 Maui Race Series culminated yesterday with an exciting day of fun racing. This Maui Windsurfing video shows conditions as the first heat of races are about to start. Winds were light on the inside, due to the easterly direction of the wind, but outside the reef, it was blowing in the mid-20s. Click on the image to the left for a Windows Media Player format video. Click here for a Quicktime video version.

In the video to the right, you can see action from one of the first heats as Nick Warmuth, Mark Boersma and Riley Coon battle it out around the first mark in the Juniors division. Nick would go on to win the race and the division, followed by Mark and Riley.
Click here for a Quicktime version of the video.

It was an exciting day of racing on this final day of the 2005 Maui Race Series. Wind was in the mid- to upper-20s most of the day, a bit offshore at times, especially in the morning, but a good day of races. More photos and videos to come in the next few days.

Final Race Day

It's the final day of racing in this season's Maui Race Series. It's 8:30 in the morning and winds are blowing 23 already. Forecast is for Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent. Could be an interesting day of racing.

Lame Wind

The wind today was wallowing in lameness. A showery, light wind morning put the damper on windsurfing enthusiasm. Noon came and the wind was barely managing to hit the upper teens. But, early afternoon the iWindsurf graph hit 20 and the coast was clearing. Surely it's going to build now, I thought. I finished up some business and scrambled down to Kanaha to find very, very marginal conditions. The wind was barely in the low teens. As it turned out, the anomolous reading of 20 would be the high point of the day. Barely managed to make a 5.8 and big board plane when I went out.

Yesterday was a bit better, 5.0 from what I hear. Tuesday afternoon we saw strong 4.0 for me, gusty, but not as bad as the previous day. Waves the last few days have been pretty much non-existant. I'm sure I speak for a lot of Maui windsurfers when I say I can't wait for summer to be over. Sure it blows every day just about, but we're really starting to miss any of the three-dimensionality (waves) that we love so much about Maui windsurfing.

"A Little of That Goes a Long Way!"

Kanaha regular Steve R. supplied the quote of the day when he came off the water around noon. My plan had been to get my windsurfing in early today before the crowds set in, then get back to work. Winds in the morning were already blowing in the mid-20s. When I got to the beach at 10:30, sand was blowing - that's a sign it's 4.0. But I rigged 4.5 just to be safe. Ready to launch at 11:00 and the wind died inside. Rigged 5.0 and big board. Slogged to the reef and the windline. Wham! Full-on 4.0 winds, gusty and shifty and hellish psycho-chop. Back in for the 4.5 and wave board. That wasn't much better. Still not much fun with the gusts and the shifty winds. So, just one of those days were you're better off just going back to work.

From what I hear from my Maui Wind Blog field reporters, the rest of the day wasn't much better. The racer crowd sat on the guard rail as the wind averages jumped above 30. Lots of regulars locals deciding it just wasn't worth the pain and effort to go back out and deal with the harshness. Lots of visiting windsurfers, compelled to maximize their time on the water, braving the pyscho conditions.

Sounds like yesterday was pretty decent. For me it was a Beach Burnout Day. Yes, it's actually possible to get burned out on the windsurfing beach scene. Plus the body needs a rest once in awhile. I hear it was pretty good 4.5 to 5.0 early on then picked up later.

Kanaha Kai Maui

Kanaha Kai Maui, the new windsurfing shop located on Amala Place on the way to Kanaha, celebrated it's grand opening today with a party featuring onolicious grinds for local and visiting windsurfers alike.The shop is the new home of Hot Sails Maui. Not only is it the Hot Sails sail loft, but you can also rent Hot Sails, Mistral, Angulo, and Starboard boards.

The party was well attended with dozens of windsurfers milling around the appetizer-laden sail layout table, as well as outside. Co-owner Dana Cagan was spinning the tunes from the raised platform overlooking the party. While Dana spun the tunes, Hot Sails sail designer Jeff Henderson was serving up Hinano beer and wine.

In addition to the sail loft and rentals, Dana and his wife, Sue have also set up a cool little retail store featuring the usual in shorts, swimsuits, flip- flops and more. Next time you're on-island, stop by and check 'em out.

Brutally Gusty

Wind yesterday got a bit gusty and shifty in the afternoon. Earlier was definitely steadier. Averages in the afternoon were in the mid-20s - 4.5 was the call for me.

Got quite a few showers hitting the north shore this morning. Radar images, satellite images, windcams and a look out the window all confirm clouds and showers this morning. Hopefully that will clear out later and we can get some more good sailing in.

Maui Winds Crank

Winds on Maui cranked up again into the nuclear category, averaging over 30 mph in the afternoon, sending many windsurfers to the beach with their tails between their legs. For most who did venture out, it was mostly just survival windsurfing in the blasting conditions.

Yesterday's Maui windsurfing video featured 8 year old Bernd Roediger sailing at Hookipa. As it turns out, Bernd's windsurfing at Hookipa the last few days has set an unofficial record for the youngest windsurfer to sail there. According to 10 year old Kalani Hunt, he was the previous record-holder when he sailed at Hookipa at last year's Aloha Classic when he was then 9 year's old. Today's video, "Hookipa Record" features Kalani sailing comfortably switch stance in yesterday's raging conditions.

Congratulations to Maui's Super-Xers

Maui windsurfers Matt Pritchard, Kevin Pritchard and Junko Nagoshi have just completed their PWA Super X competitions in Lancerote (Canary Islands). Maui's Matt Pritchard came away with the event win and the overall title for Super X for 2005. Brother Kevin Pritchard comes away with second place. In the first ever women's Super X, local Kanaha regular Junko Nagoshi came in second behind Karin Jaggi. Congratulations to all of our Maui team of windsurfers!

For more information on the event, check out the PWA website.

More Kids Who Rip

If there’s a theme to Maui windsurfing this summer, it’s “kids who rip.” There’s a lot of talented kids here, but 8 year old Bernd Roediger is probably the youngest and shows tons of potential, skill and talent and sports a great attitude as well. In this Maui windsurfing video you can see Bernd and his dad Norm as they tackle the head-high (for Bernd) waves at Hookipa. For more Maui windsurfing video and photos check out MauiWindsurfing.net

Up and Down

Maui winds bounced up and down and all around today. Winds started out strong in the morning, promising Maui windsurfers a solid day of raging winds. But before people could get on the water and start windsurfing at 11:00, the winds dropped, soon to rebound, then drop, then build... a pattern that continued throughout the day.

Windsurfing yesterday was much better as the winds were much more consistent, holding in the mid-20s most of the day. It was a late afternoon session for me, and not wanting to be underpowered I rigged my 5.0. Wrong call! Shoulda gone 4.5. By the end of my session winds were cranking in the upper 20s. Great thing about late afternoon sessions is that most sailors have cleared off the water by then. I only had to share the waves at Uppers with a couple of others. Unfortunately I was so OP'd that I couldn't really depower enough to ride.

Sunday on Maui we saw pretty light winds - I'd almost call it unsailable (by Maui standards) unless you had big gear and sails - wind in the low- to mid-teens.

Wind forecast for this week is for strong winds to continue. Any visiting windsurfers should get their money's worth this week. Got a new windsurfing video posted on Maui Windsurfing .net. Pro racing action from Saturday's Maui Race Series with pros jibing around the mark. Check it out.

The Buzainis & Bringdall Show

The heavy weights came out for yesterday's Maui Race Series; Anders Bringdall, Micah Buzainis , Phil McGain. It was a beautiful day for racing as the races started. We had the mellowest wind so far of the series - low- to mid-20s during the morning heats. As the first few heats got under way the wind started dropping a bit, signaling a trend that would continue throughout the day.

By the afternoon skill-level heats, the wind was in the upper teens mostly and getting pretty funky. The wind direction got a bit shifty, making it hard to even make it through the downwind course for the guys on wave gear. In the pro class it was a battle between Anders and Micah, with Neil Pryde's Peter Slate and Maui Sails' Phil McGain close on their heels each race. Some good exciting races with these guys blasting around the course. I could be wrong, but I think Micah took first place and Anders second in the pro fleet. Stay tuned for video and photos coming in the next few days.

For those of us just out for fun sailing, there were some pretty sweet waves rolling in at Uppers around noon to 1:00. The wind was a just a bit light for my 5.0, so it was work to stay upwind and get into the waves, but it was worth the effort - some nice shoulder-high smooth waves rolling in with the wind making for some fun backside wave riding.

Showery, Squally Friday

An upper level trough and remnants of a former tropical storm combined to make yesterday a soggy gray day on Maui. Winds ping-ponged between barely sailable and raging. Not exactly the paradise that one would expect from Maui.

As today dawns, skies are mostly clear and the sun is drying things out. The racers in the race series may still have to contend with some showers however.

Wind today on Maui pretty much sucked. Around noon it looked like winter had set in at Kanaha, gray, cool north wind, squalls marching through. No waves though. After the squalls passed the wind tanked completely for awhile. It built later into the mid 5 range but was pretty onshore.

Other than that, the wind the last few days has been pretty typical summer sailing. Flat water, mid- to upper-20s mph and lots and lots of people on the water.

Wave legend and now board and sail maker, Francisco Goya chats with sailors on Saturday at Kanaha - part of a Goya demo day where sailors got to try out Francisco's new line of boards and sails.

Maui is the R&D capital of the world for windsurfing.Here you see Mark Nelson's (shaper for Mistral, & M&M boards) latest slalom board, "sharky" - it's only 7 feet long.

Typical Summertime Windsurfing

Typical summertime windsurfing on Maui today. Warm and sunny, moderately strong winds - 4.5ish for me - and lots and lots of people on the water and on the beach.

Happy 4th Weekend

Today kicks of the 4th of July weekend festivities. Those who've timed their vacations to be here shouldn't be disappointed. Looks like the tradewinds are here through the weekend.

Yesterday it looked light initially, I went out on 5.8 and was pretty powered. We're in the middle of summer so there's no real swell to generate waves, but at Uppers, Camp One and Sprecks there's some fun little wind swell breaking on the reefs. The direction is the same as the wind so it's not really down the line sailing, but it makes for some fun backside riding. Yesterday we had some fun little waist-high stuff to play in. As the day progressed, the wind kicked in a bit more and 4.7 to 5.0 was the call.

Lots and lots of people at Kanaha. Tons of visitors - mainlanders and Japanese mostly. Tons of kids on break. Tons of kids windsurfing camps.

According to some flyers distributed the other day, Fransisco Goya will be at Kanaha tomorrow to talk about his new line of boards and sails and will be offering demos of his stuff.