2015 Aloha Classic Wrap Up

A decent jump from my 3rd heat in the competition

What a great AWT / PWA event. Highlights for me included:

• watching the pros in epic huge conditions, 
• didn't break anything in my 3 heats, 
• actually competing against legends like Brian Talma,
• tacking in front of some big waves and riding them back in!
• some great free sailing sessions,
• hanging out with friends
• having my wife watch me and take pictures

I definitely achieved my goals. Here's a 5 picture .gif sequence of a decent jump (but not the best by far.)

Below are the details so I can re-read it all when I do it again in a few years:

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Oct 27 - My wife and I arrived in Maui, dropped off our luggage at the house and headed directly to pick up my rental gear.

The massive waves that greeted the first day of competition at Ho'okipa

We stopped at Ho'okipa to check out the massive conditions but there wasn't a soul out sailing or surfing. The enormous waves were coming in and closing out completely.

Then it was off to Pe'ahi to watch the waves coming in at Jaws. Everyone had left the water by then, but it was still awesome to see the power of that wave - even if it looks small from up on the cliff without anyone riding it.

Paia is such a cool town. We wandered around and then checked in at the event registration at Paia Bay Coffee. It was fun to run into so many people from past events this year. Dinner brought back memories at the Paia Fish Market restaurant.

The Hawaiian blessing ceremony

Oct 28 - We got to the beach for the 9am parade of 31 nations and Hawaiian blessing. First day of competition and it was pretty clear that the amateurs were not going to be sent out. The conditions were even bigger than the day before. We watched from the rocks as the trials started for the last few of the 48 openings in the men's pro contest. There were likely a half dozen rigs destroyed on the rocks and many amazing rescues - the wind was light and the waves massive making it so tough to get out. Dinner was romantic with my wife at Mama's - a classic Maui north shore destination.

Oct 29 - The second day of competition saw the first pro elimination completed. The pro windsurfers were continuing to show their skill in the huge waves but light winds. Morgan Noireaux impressed with an involuntary forward 360 into the wave that he sailed out of - and then went on to win the single elimination. It is amazing that Robby Naish is still windsurfing so well and clearly enjoying it. We ended the day with a nice dinner and then drinks with friends at Charley's Restaurant and Saloon.

Oct 30 - We knew that the amateurs were released so it was a great morning to catch up on some work emails and then head into Kahalui. We had the livestream running over the speakers in the car as the windsurfing competition was super exciting. After lunch we headed to Ho'okipa to watch the competition from the cliffs until the last heats were called. A nice swim with my wife at Sugar Cove and then dinner and a movie at the apartment.

Oct 31 - I was a little worried that this would be the day that the amateurs get sent out. I hadn't been in the water yet and the wind was predicted to be light. But the men's double elimination continued with the morning wind being better than expected.

After a lunch from the food truck there we headed back and I rigged up at Sugar Cove to try out my gear for the first time. Small world, Matt Pritchard was there with his wife and kids who were enjoying the beach and he watched me rig up his rental gear! The wind wasn't enough to plane when I went out but I really wanted to get wet. However, the wind completely died on my second tack out and I did low wind waterstarts and slowly uphauled my way back to shore. My walk back upwind along the shore was almost as far as I sailed!

We marvelled at the huge Halloween party that was happening on the street near us as we headed into Paia for a quiet dinner.

Nov 1 - Another morning at the Ho'okipa event site with the Amateurs and Masters released to make room for the women and men's competition. The youth were also on and were very impressive. We shopped and had lunch in Paia and had a lazy afternoon. I'm starting to hope that second half of our trip will bring me more opportunity to windsurf!

Nov 2 - Official Lay Day. There was no competition scheduled to give everyone a break and wait for bigger waves and more wind. We packed up our suitcases in the morning after a nice 5k walk along the beach. Then off to Ho'okipa for a quick warm up sail. It was a ton of fun being out on the water and knowing so many of the sailors.  I swear 15 of the 30 windsurfers were people I now know to some degree. Even Kauli Seadi seems to remember me from Cap Verde. Then off to Wailea to move into our other friend's house!

Nov 3 - Another official Lay Day. We drove over to Ho'okipa for another warm up session. I was starting to feel comfortable getting in and out of the shore break and finding the occasional wave. I was one of the first out on the water and was done 45 minutes later. Did some shopping in Paia and made it back in time for happy hour at Tommy Bahama's.

Nov 4 - My first Amateur heat - the best heat of my life? I sailed out in the transition one heat before mine so I was in perfect position upwind for the start and was so relaxed I had actually been chatting with Sarah Quita while sailing around before the heat.

I landed a jump in my first minutes of my first heat:
the first official jump of the event!

Hit a jump in the first minute of the heat on my first time heading back out (they began counting jumps in heat 9 of this event - my first heat). So technically I had the first jump scored of the 2015 Aloha classic! Then 3 solid wave rides with one off the lip redirect in the white-water. Still came in 4th so I didn't advance against Talma and Aguera which is not a surprise at all.

Didn't spend too much time swimming when I did wipe out. Didn't break my gear on the rocks. And got back nicely power and stepped onto the beach with a huge smile on my face. Felt very competent for being at Ho'okipa my 7th time ever.

Same schedule again tomorrow for the Masters division. Dinner was at Sorrento's on the beach.

Brian Talma and me heading out into a wall of water

I competed against Brian Talma - a pro whose autograph I got 20 years ago!

Rain squalls at the beginning of my 1st Master's heat

Nov 5 - Masters. The conditions were a bit extreme with squalls coming through Ho'okipa all morning. I wasn't as comfortable due to a huge rain squall right at the beginning of my heat. I had to sail with my left eye closed it was that intense!

I wound up 3rd of 4, losing to master Patrick Bergeron who has been a sponsored Sailworks windsurfer for years and again to Hawaiian Greg Aguera. I did feel that my windsurfing and wave selection were ok and felt good about the heat. But 3rd means I didn't advance and my day was over. Great light dinner at the Monkey Pod.

Feeling good about my windsurfing effort

Waiting for results - who will sail again in the contest?
Not me - 3rd out of 4...

Nov 6 - Masters double elimination. Two competitors weren't there for our scheduled heat so fellow Canadian Roman and I advanced automatically. My 3rd actual heat saw me competing with Simian and Roman. Finally some sailors who were realistic competitors for my ability. I felt I sailed well and even got a few jumps in (although they weren't being counted!). I had one nice jump which Jen caught (we made it into the .gif at the top of this blog entry) and I felt I got a second one which was even better right on the next wave which she missed - while she was reviewing the nice first jump! Local photographer Jimmie Hepp captured that one even though I was a bit sideways.

I caught a few waves, even tacking right in front of a good one and riding it back in. That felt awesome. I came in 3rd with one of the 3 judges actually having me in 2nd. It felt good to be out there and feeling competent.

Heading out behind a good windsurfer

My 2nd jump of the day caught by local photographer Jimmie Hepp

I'm done - and happy.

Hiking the Haleakala crater

Nov 7 - With the pros scheduled for the full day we decided to drive up to Haleakala. It was great listening to the event live stream while ascending to 10,000 feet. After a tiring 5k hike in the thin air we drove back down and went to the Goya party in the evening.







Nov 8 - Sailed Kanaha for the first time. Jen even went out for a quick 4.7 back and forth session. Proud of her for that - the conditions were definitely not friendly to intermediates.

I was lit on the 5.3 for 2 hours until the wind died after a rain shower. I really didn't need to bring the 116 wave board all the way here, the 106 Tabou I rented has been perfect for me every day.

For dinner we headed to the 4
Seasons and celebrated our 29 years together. Wow.

My last session. At Sprecks riding some great waves.

Nov 9 - Last windsurf session, this time at Sprecklesville. Sailed the 4.7 on the 106 and had a blast for an hour until the wind dropped. Got some great air, on one jump I sheeted in while airborne and lifted myself even higher. What a rush!  Of course the go-pro was full and had stopped recording. We'll see if I ever edit video from that.

Dropped in on some nice waves and then tacked in front of a monster and rode it all the way to the beach in the dying wind. So fun. I returned the gear to Matt and said thanks. Last nice dinner with my friend and Jen and then ready for a day of packing.

Nov 10 - Departure day. We packed up, returned the rental car and headed to the Awards dinner. So many new friends in the room. What an amazing event.