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More Women’s Video + Wind Update
November 30, 2006
PWA Aloha Classic - Women's Semifinal Heat #2 (QuickTime, 6.0 MB). More video action from the women's semifinal at the PWA Aloha Classic.
The wind has been a no-show so far today. 1:30 right now and Kanaha is reporting north winds at 8. Kihei is reporting north winds at 21 but that sensor reads pretty high. When it reads 24 or so, I still need my 5.7.
Wahine Wave Action
November 29, 2006
PWA Aloha Classic - Women's Semifinal Heat (QuickTime, 9.6 MB). Ok, time for the ladies to showcase their wave talent. This video is from semifinal action. I can't remember everyone in it, but it does feature Daida and Iballa Moreno, Karin Jaggi (sp) Junko Nagoshi (sp), Jen Henderson, Tatiana Howard and more. I think I've got enough footage for another 2 or 3 of these - coming soon, depending on wind conditions of course.
PWA Aloha Classic Videos
November 24, 2006
PWA Aloha Classic - Thursday, November 16 #6 (QuickTime, 5.1 MB). Semifinal heat from the next to last day of the 2006 PWA Aloha Classic. This one features Josh Angulo, Levi Siver, Ricardo Campello and Kai Katchadorian.
PWA Aloha Classic - Thursday, November 16 #7 (QuickTime, 8.7 MB). Final heat from the next to last day of the 2006 PWA Aloha Classic. This one features Jason Polakow, Josh Angulo, Levi Siver and Kevin Pritchard. Pay attention to the last clip in the sequence, Kevin Pritchard's one-footed aerial off the lip.
Kevin Pritchard Interview
November 21, 2006
Here on Maui we just saw the conclusion of the 2006 PWA Aloha Classic. When all was said and done, Kevin Pritchard was crowned the PWA wave champion for 2006. In addition, Kevin took second in Super X and third in Slalom 42. Doing so well in so many disciplines for so many years definitely ranks Kevin in an elite class of well-rounded, world-class windsurfers. Kevin was gracious enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to let me interview him recently.
Maui Windsurfing Blog (MWB): First of all, congratulations on winning the PWA Wave title this year. Any thoughts you want to share on winning the wave title this year?
Kevin Pritchard (KP): Thanks. I am super stoked on winning this. I dont know if people realize what goes into winning a world title. It is pretty full on. It feels great that is for sure. To be the top of the sport, cant ask for too much more.
MWB: Tell us about your experience at the recent 2006 PWA Aloha Classic at Hookipa. How did the conditions suit you? Did you feel you had any kind of "home court advantage"?
KP: The conditions were pretty small for Hookipa. The wind was light and the waves were small but it just goes to show you got to train in anything you can get out in. They really ran through alot of heats in the days that they had. I would say then did a pretty good job. Did the conditions favor me? Well hard to say. I would say that they were[n't] the best conditions for me, but not that bad either.
MWB: It must have been nice to live 10 minutes from the competition venue instead of having to fly half way around the world with all your gear and live out of a hotel.
KP: Oh man, it was great. It was so nice to come home to your own home everyday. It was actually kinda weird, almost hard to stay focused. But still managed to keep my mind in the game.
MWB: What's your take on the new school wave riding vs. mainstream wave riding? You and Josh Angulo are more mainstream style as opposed Kauli Seadi and other young guns with the new freestyle-influenced style of riding. Will there be a move in the PWA to favor the new school moves over the classic style?
KP: I think they are rewarding the new school stuff when they are landing it. Kauli is ripping and putting all sorts of combinations together, it looks good.
MWB: Should the PWA still have the overall title in place?
KP: Well not really. I wish it did but there is nobody who is good in all of the PWA disciplines. I think that it would be better to have one overall champion because it makes it more easy for people to recognize who the windsurfing champion is. Now there are 4 world champions each year. Seems confusing to me.
MWB: In you're newest venture your getting involved with, Island Style Vacations, you're getting involved in the vacation travel business. How did you get involved with that?
KP: It is just a little side business that I am working on. Trying to branch out a bit. I also worked on the website which was pretty fun to get it up and running. I like computers alot and so it was all a good learning expirience.
MWB: There's some really nice properties featured on the IslandStyleVacations.com website. Does it focus on the luxury vacation rental market or does it also cater to more affordable accommodations?
KP: It caters to everyone. Most people who come to Maui want luxury it seems, but Island Style has places for every budget.
MWB: Island Style Vacations promotes private lessons and clinics with you. What can people expect from a private lesson or clinic with Kevin Pritchard? Learning how to nail one-footed backloops maybe?
KP: Yeah, It is more for high performance only. If a person wants to race or compete in waves or learn some advanced moves, I am there for that sort of stuff. Every lesson I have done so far it has been a great expirience and a chance to meet people who want to learn something from the top of the sport.
MWB: Ok, on the subject of vacationing windsurfers visiting Maui, any favorite fine-dining restaurants on Maui.
KP: I don't do fine dining.. ha ha.. but for me I like the privacy of Kula Lodge for dinner.
MWB: Favorite everyday-good-grinds restaurant.
KP: Without a doubt Paia Fish Market.
MWB: You've got to be a pretty busy guy, traveling and training as a professional windsurfer, part owner of Maui Sails and now IslandStyleVacations.com. Definitely not the beach bum lifestyle that some might associate with a professional windsurfer. How do you find the time to do it all?
KP: You know, I love being busy. As soon as I run out of things to do, that is when I have a bad day. Maui Sails is really starting to take off now and so that is great. The sails are working better than ever and so it makes things run a lot smoother.
MWB: As part owner of Maui Sails, do you feel like you have more freedom in designing and building your dream sail?
KP: I have always had freedom to build what I want in a sail. The new Maui Sails are so amazing that they are my dream sail.
MWB: Maui Sails has come quite a way in a short period of time, what has been the key to its success so far?
KP: The key has been hard work and experience. Barry Spanier, the sail designer, has been doing it for years and years. It helps out to have the best stuff for the job. This year I finished 1st in waves on the Legends, 2nd in Super X on the Switch's, and 3rd in racing on the TR2's. Just goes to show how all the ranges are really coming together and are successful. Our next mission is getting them into people's hands to try them for themselves and believing in the product.
MWB: How do you think windsurfing as a sport and industry is doing? Is it growing? Declining? Stagnant?
KP: You know I think it is starting to grow quite a bit these days. The kids are really getting into it and this is a great thing.
MWB:There's tons of kids getting into windsurfing the last few years. What do you think that will do for windsurfing down the road?
KP: I think it is great. You see the kids out there ripping and the sport is starting to get healthy again. Just look at the Aloha Classic and all the kids that were in that. We had kids from France, Brazil, pretty cool for sure.
MWB: Any goals or plans for next year you want to share?
KP: Not at the moment. I really want to get on top of that racing thing and be the best at that. For now I am just trying to take a short breath and then get back on the training, testing program.
Q; Any thoughts on the recent passing of Rope Tree? Word has it that you and Matt were two of the last guys to see it before it sadly fell.
KP: Ha ha.. yah we were the last ones in it. I am just happy it didnt fall when I was up in it.. That would have been an expensive day!
MWB: Ok, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule and good luck next year.
KP: Thanks alot Jeff [Makani]
Ok. If you're interested in checking out Kevin's sail line or vacation rental line, check out the links below:
Thanks to Kevin and Maui Sails for permission to use the photos.
Yet More Hookipa Video From Last Week
November 21, 2006
PWA Aloha Classic - Thursday, November 16 #5 (QuickTime, 8.4 MB). Number 5 in a series of clips from Thursday's Hookipa action. This one features Jason Polakow, Nick Baker, Ross Williams and Kevin Pritchard in a hard-fought semi-final heat late in the afternoon. Speaking of Kevin Pritchard, Kevin was gracious enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to let me interview him recently. I'll be posting that interview later tonight.
As for sailing, it was another light trade wind day today. Whether it was sailable or not depends where you draw the line. I had enough work to do today that I drew the line at 20. It almost made it, with winds in the mid- to upper-teens, but not quite enough for me to bail on work. Tomorrow may be a different story though. Forecast is for much the same conditions wind-wise, so I might get tempted to pull out the 5.7 and play on the declining small north swell we've got while the rest of the US sits airports and airplanes. Aaaaah. It's good to be on Maui during the holidays. :)
PWA Aloha Classic
November 19, 2006
PWA Aloha Classic - Thursday, November 16 #3 (QuickTime, 6.2 MB). Third set of clips from Thursday's Hookipa action. This one features Kevin Pritchard, Ross Williams, Graham Ezzy and Scott McKercher.
Wind yesterday were pretty light, too light for me, but it looks like they'll be a little strong today. Already up to 16 at Kanaha at 10:00am. And there's some nice looking waves too. Time muster up to get down to the beach.
PWA Aloha Classic
November 18, 2006
PWA Aloha Classic - Thursday, November 16 #2 (QuickTime, 7.6 MB). Second set of clips from Thursday's Hookipa action. This one features the likes of Jason Polakow, Antoine Albeau, Nick Baker and others. Couple of nice goiter attempts in here that I slowed down a bit just for something different.
PWA Aloha Classic
November 18, 2006
PWA Aloha Classic - Thursday, November 16 #1 (QuickTime, 4.6 MB). Here's the first in a series of video action from the single elimination heats from Thursday's PWA action at Hookipa. More to come so check back.
PWA Aloha Classic at Hookipa
November 15, 2006
Another day with a wind no-show for the pro show. Since these no wind reports are getting a bit repetitive, here's some more photos from Friday's PWA Aloha Classic at Hookipa.
PWA Aloha Classic Day 1
November 12, 2006
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This is a huge video download, so you might want to wait until you're at work with your T3 line. Just keep in mind that there's an audio track so put your headphones on or turn the volume down so your co-workers don't know what you're really doing. ;) Wind so far this morning is shaping up a bit like yesterday. Wind at Hookipa is currently 12 mph out of the east. Encouraging, but that's similar to what it did yesterday as well. There's probably going to be a lot more waiting around at Hookipa today for conditions to get ripe enough for competition. |
PWA Aloha Classic Day 1
November 11, 2006
PWA Aloha Classic Day 1 (QuickTime, 13.6 MB). Lots of great action yesterday at the 2006 PWA Aloha classic at Hookipa.This video kind of runs through some of the highlights, starting in the morning with a warm-up expression session shot from the rocks to get an up close and personal point of view. In my opinion that was some of the best action of the day, some of the biggest waves, best wind and several things going on all at once.
Picking the shots from the competition is tough, there's so much talent, but this is kind of representative of some of the best rides, aerials and waves of the day.
Wind today started really light, with the Hookipa sensor reporting about 2 - 6 mph but the readings have come up to 11, 12 mph the last few readings. As low as that sounds, if it holds, that will probably be enough to get the competition going today. Not sure if I'll make it down there to watch and get any photos/video today or not. Meanwhile, enjoy the video and here's a few more photos from yesterday's warm-up session:
Josh Angulo Tweaked Aerial
November 10, 2006
Shots like this really make me wish I had a better digital camera. Josh Angula, ultra-tweaked aerial.
PWA Aloha Classic Day 1 Teaser
November 10, 2006
PWA Aloha Classic Day 1 Teaser
(QuickTime, 9.3 MB). A quick little video teaser from today's PWA wave contest action at Hookipa.
Aloha Classic Day 3
November 9, 2006
Aloha Classic Day 3 - Men's Open #5 (QuickTime, 5.5 MB). Last of the action from yesterday. These clips are from the last few heats of the day, including the aborted final between Josh Stone and Jesse Brown. Lots of wave 360 attempts and a nice clean forward loop and back loop by Josh Stone.
Wind conditions today got a little funky. Wind came up to sailable levels by mid day, so I dashed down to Kanaha to get in a session. 5.3 was the call. Waves were pretty junky, mostly wind swell. After less than an hour the wind tanked and it was aslogapalooza hulafest for everyone out to get back to the beach. Wind came back up briefly at times, but the forecasted lightening of the trades seems to be in effect.
I didn't stop by Hookipa today, so no new footage from that. Winds are turning more out of the south east. I think there's an outside chance that the PWA could get sailable conditions tomorrow, but it's not looking that great. The already small surf is on the decline and with light southeast winds it won't be epic conditions. The next few days are supposed to bring light land and sea breezes with hot and muggy conditions. Forecast for early next week still holds the possibility of decent Kona winds which could really make things interesting for the contest if we get a new swell. Kona winds bring opposite tack sailing to normal Hookipa conditions and the place to sail is at Lanes, just downwind from Hookipa. A lot of pros who make Maui their home will have a big advantage over those who don't since Kona Lanes will be a totally new break for most guys on the tour. Guys like Kevin and Matt Pritchard, Josh Angulo and Levi Siver have got the Kona Lanes experience under their belts, er, harnesses, so I would think conditions would favor these guys. Course, the king of Kona Lanes is Robby Naish. Here's some video of Robby sailing a classic Kona day at Lanes last December. (QuickTime, 6.9 MB) .
Men's Open
November 9, 2006
Aloha Classic Day 3 - Men's Open #3 (QuickTime, 4.5 MB). Third set of video clips from yesterday's action.
Men's Open
November 9, 2006
Aloha Classic Day 3 - Men's Open #2 (QuickTime, 9.2 MB). Second set of video clips from yesterday's action. Looks like the men's final was tried twice yesterday but canceled each time. Looks like Graham Ezzy took 3rd and Jeff Sutherland 4th.
Things are looking pretty light so far today on Maui, but the forecast is calling for one last day of trades before the wind turns from the south. On tap today in the Aloha classic junior men and women and the kids.
Aloha Classic Day 3
November 9, 2006
Things pretty much went per plan today. I went down to Kanaha early to get the early session before heading up to Hookipa to check out the contest action. Winds were pretty light but were hinting at building so I went with the 5.3 and worked my way to Uppers where I had the waves to myself for half an hour so. The forecast north swell didn't seem to really materialize. Conditions were mostly pretty junky, but I managed to get a couple clean waist-high sets all to myself. :)
By around 12:30 I had lots of company competing for the waves. The wind had built and it was time for me to get off the water and head to Hookipa. I arrived at Hookipa just in time to see them start the the men's open class, with 16 sailors competing. Conditions were about the same as Kanaha wind-wise - 5.0 for most guys but the waves were more consistent. Standouts in the competition included Josh Stone, Jesse Brown, Jeff Sutherland, Nat Gill, Skyler Haywood, Kevin Ponitchtera and Graham Ezzy. These guys were all ripping it up.
Conditions deteriorated as the competition went on as the skies got gray, we got a few sprinkles, the wind lightened up and the waves got more and more inconsistent. The final consisted of Josh Stone against Jesse Brown but was called due to deteriorating conditions. Conditions weren't looking promising to me so I bailed so I'm not sure if they ended up re-running the heat or not. No doubt the results will be posted on the Aloha Classic website later tonight. From what I saw of the canceled heat, it would have been a tough call. They each had gotten one wave ride each with Jesse getting the bigger, cleaner wave, but Josh had a cleaner forward plus a nice backloop for the jump score.
Aloha Classic Day 3 - Men's Open #1 (QuickTime, 9.2 MB). This quick, rough-cut video shows the first 1/4 to 1/3 of the men's open. It starts out during the warm-up session, so you'll see pro sailor Matt Pritchard out getting some TOW before the competition started. Lots of pro sailors were launching at Hookipa and heading down to Lanes to sail during the competition. More footage coming tomorrow or maybe even later tonight.
Aloha Classic
November 7, 2006
Aloha Classic November 6, 2006 (QuickTime, 6.2 MB).
Aloha Classic Kicks off
November 6, 2006
The Aloha Classic kicked off today at Hookipa with the men's open class vying for a top 16 placement to be able to sail against the big boys next week in the PWA/Aloha Classic, the final wave event of the 2006 PWA tour.
Conditions in the morning were pretty light, but there were some incredibly smooth, big, glassy waves at times. Sets were a bit inconsistent, but every few minutes a beautiful big glassy set would roll in. If you timed it right, you were golden. If not, you got maybe got some small-kine sloppy stuff.
My initial plan was to shoot lots of video today, but my cheap-o video camera was telling me that there was some condensation inside somewhere and it refused to work for me. So, I pulled out the old 2.1 megapixel dinosaur digital cam and shot a few still shots, but with the wind on the rise, my journalistic integrity was found wanting and I ditched watching the action at Hookipa in favor of being part of the action at Kanaha.
Nice 5.3 day at Uppers. Initially not many people out. Waves were similar to Hookipa, big at times, but needing a bit more fiber in their diet (a bit irregular and inconsistent). Good fun nonetheless and it felt great to be out on the water.
Lots of pros out at Kanaha since Hookipa was owned by the amateurs today. Team Tabou out testing boards. Team Neil Pryde/JP out testing. The Moreno twins stopped by late in the afternoon.
On tap tomorrow, stronger wind, not sure about the waves. To see the results from today's competition, click over to the Aloha Classic website.
Below are a few photos of the early action today at Hookipa, mostly from the warm-up session before competition started:
Konas
November 4, 2006
After a couple of days of drenching rain Wednesday and Thursday, the sun emerged again yesterday to begin drying us out. Wind yesterday was generally out of the south and light. It was a strange site while driving down the hill to Kahului yesterday seeing the planes taking off and landing in the wrong direction. Stranger still was the near absolute calm of the ocean. No whitecaps and very oddly, little to no waves. You could see some very small surf breaking at Uppers as well as Baldwin Beach but this looked like summer time surf of a foot or two.
Today we have Kona conditions with winds out of the south still. They look a bit stronger today, possibly sailable at Hookipa Lanes, but with the surf still in the very small category it won't make for the epic conditions Kona Lanes can be known for like we saw last December when I captured this video at Lanes with mast-high conditions and wind cranking around 30.
Looks like we'll have another day of southerly winds before they switch back to a more easterly trade wind direction on Monday/Tuesday. That will be just in time for 2006 PWA Aloha Classic at Hookipa which starts with the amateur heats on Monday through the 10th, followed by the final wave event of the season for the PWA tour the following week. As fortuitous as the trade wind return will be the return of a north swell Sunday night - nothing epicly large, but should provide Hookipa with some good conditions for the start of the event.
I'm hoping to get down to Hookipa each day of the event to capture video and photos. As a preview to the coming event, I edited some recent Hookipa video footage into a highlight real below.
Hookipa HiLites (Flash Player, 11.8 MB). For some reason, the audio track didn't come through on this when I converted it from QuickTime to Flash. I may upload the 20 MB QuickTime version tonight or tomorrow for people who'd rather have a little edgy grunge audio with their video.
