Stormy Maui.........holding on!!!!!!!!

[West]

Here is a little footage of head-high, blown-out windswell that I rode later in my trip.....Greg had decided to go snorkeling since it was small and gusty, but I rigged up my 7m on short lines and had some fun.....I was the only one out all day, until Asha showed up at Sunset.....hard to pass up even a "stormy" day on Maui in the waves!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZXS-JpkIR0


The waves at Lanes are usually about double the size of the waves down the coast. Most of the "good" days at Lanes there would be a dozen or so riders catching waves....the launch over the urchin-filled reef with gusty winds keeps most kiters down at Kanaha and kite beach. The conditions can become rather overwhelming very quickly; and Greg and I tore up our share of equipment, lost a couple of boards, and picked up a few cuts along the way......

The music is by my buddy Starman...."a blues afficionado"!!!!

enjoy, West

[V]

Nice, love the series from 0.45 to 1.00. Staying in front of it...

but bro, you gotta hit that wave at 0.30!!! Damn...

Nice, thanks for some wave stoke.

[Rorke]

......and in other Kitesurfing News;
Twin-Tip sales are soaring in Maui, Texas, and Lake Michigan.



Seriously, there are few guys with such a distinctive signature style. Always smooth, always powered, always fast.

Nice vid. Where is the footage of the other 60+ days?!

[IVO]

Nice vid. Where is the footage of the other 60+ days?!

Rorke I saw couple pic here and there,but I wouldnt be far from the thrue if I say thats it


Great shredding!Since you were riding 60days to the left its about time to get back to your other natural direction

[jensmadwind]

isn't that a right breaking wave?

way to clean up the scraps that the locals left on the table. I can only begin to imagine the time you had. have fun in spi

[IVO]

yeh,you are right Jens,I dont know why I still keeps calling the direction from looking towards the water and not the beach..

[jensmadwind]

sorry to be a stickler

[STF]

Slash........Slash.....Slash, Slash........Slash....Slash...

(repeat)

[Kevin]

As a segway from Bob's nice recent strapless riding write-up here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10012&p=48249#p48249

I'd been wanting to ask for some pointers re: starting to ride waves with a TT. I've tried a directional a few times but didn't really like it, I like the dexterity of a twintip. I usually end up riding over and around waves, not really knowing how to properly ride them well. West's video is great. A few ?'s:

-What is the best direction? Maui usually side to slightly on shore, would seem optimal to ride the wave downwind.
-It looks like you ride hard upwind to "drop in" to the wave, then do a quick toeside "bottom turn" and start heading downwind, and up the face; then at the top a quick heelside turn to head back down (or take off the ramp for big air which looks awesome)
-Keep the kite high? In order to be able to change directions quickly?
-You usually don't "ride the wave" right? Meaning use the power of the wave, like you would with a surfboard

-Also, practicing riding waves, around here, it's usually shorebreak. Are there spots to worry about bottoming out? Montrose and Waukegan seem to be shallow for a bit near shore

Any other tips and pointers appreciated

-Kevin