Standup Zone Forum

Stand Up Paddle => Downwind and Racing => Topic started by: headmount on September 10, 2011, 11:11:50 AM

Title: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on September 10, 2011, 11:11:50 AM
It's almost officially fall but already feels like winter.  We're getting our first north swell of the season, the wind has lightened and the mornings have been glassy.  Of course that will change and we probably have a few more great downwind days left before the winter doldrums set in and we're forced to ride surf.  Excited about adventures to the southside since northerly winds are more prevalent in the winter.  The great baleens arrive from the NW around the same time as PBill and the big question is... how overloaded will Bill's Jeep be? 

Maliko has no new pavement going into the gulch and a bit more traffic.  Make sure you slow down when you enter and watch out for fisherman's lines off the ramp.  Be friendly and remember they will remain behind when you leave your car for a run.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on September 10, 2011, 03:19:35 PM
meant to write ... now has new pavement... which can get people to go a little faster sometimes and with expensive equipment laying around in the drive up, we don't want to run anything over.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on October 02, 2011, 10:54:45 PM
Here's an interesting development down in maliko gulch.   This sign was in a clearing at the turn by the river. 

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/001700x392.jpg)

Wind was excellent today.  HM and I did a fun run to the oil tanks.  Here he is chillin' early on. 

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/008700x393.jpg)

Resetting the camera every ten minutes or so makes editing easier.  With the mount on the tail of the board, a remote control would make life easier. 

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/015700x394.jpg)

Hope the footage is good, it was fun out there. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 808sup on October 02, 2011, 11:21:11 PM
It was a fun run today. Haven't been to maliko for a few weeks and was disappointed when I saw that sign on the way in. I wanted to respond by declaring some thoughts of my own and posting them as well but decided not to stir the pot. The shuttle arrived before i got there and most were headed for the water already. Met a friend of mine and headed out. Didn't see anyone ahead at all until kanaha where I saw a couple of sups ahead of me. I got some really long glides and nearly caught up when they turned inside and headed for the tanks.It was a pretty good run for me. I like the delayed starts. They give you something to chase.However, there are so many fast paddlers here that if they get ahead at the start you will never evan see them at all. Something to strive for...
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on October 03, 2011, 12:33:17 AM
Don't know the ramifications of what that sign will be.  It's been a few weeks since I last did a run and suddenly there's changes.  Who knows.  But you often see these signs out in that neck of the woods.  Can we return to 1898?  I guess some people think so.  Fortunately paddling of any kind is inside the realm of Hawaiian traditions  and even though LaPer and I are white boys, the vibe is always good and we slid out today with smiles all around.  Felt great to get back on the smoking track and take off on some bombs.  I saw a total blue day and asked LaPer if he was up for the stop and go of a video shoot.  He said yes so we cut the run up with several stops for camera reset and discussion of  positioning.   It's a hassle for sure but I got some stuff and hopefully I can pick out something for you Zoners to hold your interest.  It's difficult to follow, stay close but not too close and try to ride a glide together.  We had to jump off a few times to avoid high speed collisions.  Got a few good clips but also had periodic water drop issues.  Certainly enough to pick out a short vid in order to show PDX what it means to downwind.  

LaPer is a great carpenter and the old hale where we came in was what he called a fixer-upper, though I think the termites were eating- it-downer.  Here's where we came in and LaPer's future ocean front pad
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on October 03, 2011, 12:12:15 PM
/ Don't know the ramifications of what that sign will be.  It's been a few weeks since I last did a run and suddenly there's changes.  Who knows./  /Fortunately paddling of any kind is inside the realm of Hawaiian traditions/

Personally, I didn't get a feeling that maliko was going to be shut down.  The sign is in a small clearing, at a turn that leads down to the run. 

If maliko closes, so be it.  It's a big island and I'll move on.  Perhaps Kelly's shuttle will drop us off at Hookipa instead.  Now THAT will add some spice to the run.   :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdzC9g5UsRQ

This type of controversy alway leads me to famous quotes:

An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.

Martin Luther King, Jr.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on October 03, 2011, 07:55:46 PM
So here's a vid LaPer and I did yesterday.  Really difficult positioning so that the camera points at the subject (LaPer)  He's zigging left when I'm right and so on.  Felt like some fighter pilot video game only I was trying for "camera lock" with my tail mount.  Had some Malolos hit me in the shins but the camera had heavy water drops on that clip.  You see me splash back with my blade to clear it.  Anyway paying attention to the camera took my focus off trimming the board sometimes and you'll see it bury.  We went again today, high cirrus so no good for camera but a fantastic run where I didn't have to think about the camera angle.  Anyway here it is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FqPo6XE37w
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: pdxmike on October 03, 2011, 08:31:19 PM
Headmount--definitely one of my favorites of your videos.  Because it shows both you and LP, I can really see the glides and speed you're getting as one of you takes off in relationship to the other.  It's hard to see that when a video just shows the board relative to the water, or to other paddlers that are off in the distance.  Also like the combination of music and no music, and seeing the sparkling water and sun--not much of that around here anymore.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on October 03, 2011, 10:35:10 PM
Very cool HM, that was a fun day.  Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

Downwinding close together is not easy on such different boards.  Like you said, the F-16 needs to turn more.  Your speed suffered when you altered course to get me in the frame. 

As we slowed and steered towards each other then took off, it was a good chance to compare the performance of the boards.  That bullet flies when you get it up to speed.  I had the edge in the tighter swells, but when it spread out, you ran away.     

Jeremy and Travis are going to be in my sights one of these days.  I'll chase them with a camera mounted on my canoe.     
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on October 09, 2011, 09:56:49 PM
Missed the shuttle but went with my pal around 2.  Count Basie was seen just outside the bay at our start.  Went right under Victor's board, easily as big. But we didn't pay it much attention because right off it was a cranking day, a real surprise with how grey and lifeless it looked from shore.  A small N swell was crossing it up a taste but still pretty damn good.  October holding up well.  5 out of the last seven days. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PT Woody on October 09, 2011, 11:36:09 PM
Wow, terrific vid. Is that the Panasonic FT-2? Doesn't look like a GoPro wide angle.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: JonathanC on October 10, 2011, 12:47:52 AM
Great video Bill, so clear and a great angle with Larry in the shot. Really shows the speed.

You seem to be really solid on the Bullet now, interesting to see some of the pretty decent waves you can take without having to move back much at all. 

Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on October 10, 2011, 10:33:19 AM
JC... The illusion of the lens and its position creates the effect of everything being forward of where it really is.  The fact is that on one of those step-backs (the one with the Cars drum intro to 'You're All I've Got Tonight) my foot was only inches in front of the lens and the camera mount was just behind the steering cable turnstyle... basically right over the rudder.  On the big drops I live back there in order to coax that ship (my pal calls it an Italian yacht)  into a sideways slide into the trough so I don't stick the front. (I also included a couple of nose submerges in the vid so you can see what Bullet drivers deal with)   But yes on the medium glides you don't have to drop back too much as long as you steer an angle to it.  In Kihei it's really wild.  

PT.. yeah TS2.  Until I can afford a GH2 the Panny works for me.  Drops on the lens are a constant challenge with this low mount and that's why I demonstrated the splash back stroke to clear the lens.  You have to have a clear blue day for these point and shoot cameras with small aperture openings.  That was the only clear day (with LaPer) like that in a long time.  Been high cirrus and grey since then.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on October 17, 2011, 09:57:52 AM
LaPer just posted an epic run on the southside yesterday.  My old theory was one side or the other but yesterday it was good over on the north side also.  The day before (Sat) I took a video of friend, Victor, who I've been surfing with for 35 years, which I'm still editing.  Then sunday it was 060 and LaPer called with the enthusiastic southside report.  But then I looked out my porch and it's ripping on this side.  So as much as I have begun to love that southside run the decision was made to not burn as much fossil fuel.  

Driving up to Maliko we saw the surf was over mast high at Hookipa. The dreaded roguish NE swell.  This resulted  huge cross ups that either knocked us out of glides or jettisoned us into a whoppers.  Past Paia the wind lightened up a tad and we had to work harder to get in.  My eyes were glued to the  few feet in front.  We waltzed into the outer Sprecks area and I'm slightly ahead and outside of Victor and Don.  Victor yells, I look up and see a full size set rolling in and I'm right in the line up.  The first one is already breaking just downwind of me.  Slip over the shoulder but when I do I see the stack of waves behind it.  I'm going to get caught inside and break my godamn board if I don't get out of there fast.  So the next wave looms up, I can hear  Victor hooting in back and inside of me.  Two solid strokes and I'm in.  Now going with the wind, to the right isn't an option and going straight is a for sure pearl up to my neck.  The wave is going top to bottom and I have a 17+ board.  As soon as it releases I railroad two staircases and am on the third.  One more chop and I'll drop into the pit so on the top third of the wave I kick the rudder into a hard left, get on the tail, lean backside on the blade.   The board trims perfectly.  Finally drop into the main face and am flying directly at Victor who has wisely negotiated the channel.   Blaze right up next to him in a deep crouch and he's howling so hard we both sit down to decompress and watch to see how Don Shear (the heli pilot) fared going through the lineup.  The set lulled and Don was fine but his rudder fell off for some unknown reason so he got creamed coming across on the camp one reef.   I told him to let his leash drag behind him and that worked pretty good till the finish.

  I usually spot surf line ups miles ahead but I'm out of practice.  I guess winter is here.  Forgot for a moment and my partner saved my neck yesterday with a warning yell.  

Anyway from the pics of LaPer it looked great on the south... two sides had great runs on the same day.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on October 17, 2011, 11:04:14 AM
That's what you get for following Victor on his crazy inside line. He's got the right genes for that, and you do too, but I'll be the guy a mile outside headed for the Harbor.

The thought of crossing the reef with a double overhead top-to-bottom wave on a Bullet has the hair on my neck standing up. Not that I haven't followed you over a few spots that kicked my ass, but geez. Summer in the Gorge didn't prep me for that.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on October 21, 2011, 08:40:15 AM
Yesterday the 20th, LaPer posted about another cranking day on the southside.  I'm really amazed this time because the wind report at the airport was 060 to 070 and when we did our Maliko run yesterday even Victor was outside because the east wind was pulling him that way.  The wind arched back in a tad at the end but still the Puunene stacks were blowing towards West Maui.  So it was definitely ENE on the north shore.  If the wind blew tangent on the south that means it bent 80 degrees going through the valley.  Anyway conditions on the north shore were fantastic yesterday.  Victor told me I dropped into one where my whole body disappeared from his view.  There was an east swell rolling through and it had size.   Everything was running in the same direction.  I had begun to have this love affair with the southside because I really enjoy the even grain but when Maliko is like yesterday then I realize why it's the best.  So great to have two spots to chose from and when the big NW swells roll in this winter, the south will be the call.  Came home to a new paddle from PonoBill and can't wait to set it up...
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on October 21, 2011, 09:39:41 AM
Yesterday the 20th, LaPer posted about another cranking day on the southside.  I'm really amazed this time because the wind report at the airport was 060 to 070 /
/ it was definitely ENE on the north shore.  If the wind blew tangent on the south that means it bent 80 degrees going through the valley.

It was bending a lot more than 80 degrees to the prevailing wind.  The wind was so onshore early I had to fight my way right to stay out.  When it's blowing that hard ENE it's very dangerous on the south shore.  It can go flat and switch to offshore 'road to Tahiti' in a flash.  Sup's should not launch from the boardwalk if it's 60 degrees or higher at the airport.  True NE winds are the safer bet.   

It's tempting to launch from the boardwalk because it's directly onshore at the Kihei Canoe club.  If you do, it's wise to zip right down to the boats and stay close to shore, then fight right to stay off the reef.  Ski's and Oc's can manage the wind if it goes wrong.  Sup's had better have a backup plan.

Glad to hear you had another great run HM.  I hope to make it over Saturday.

   
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 06, 2011, 06:47:26 PM
Yesterday, 11/5, WD was 080 with significant surf at Hookipa and enough surf at camp one to make one watchful on the approach.  I flowed outside with the wind and my partner who had no rudder stayed close.  We finished at Kanaha.  The east wind looked like crap from shore until we got out there.  I'm still amazed how the east wind fools me.  But it was good, real good.  Surf and wind is even bigger today but I had to work.  Looks like full-on winter conditions out there.  My graph from yesterday.  2nd run with GPS and still forgot to turn it off at finish so no accurate average speed.  But you can see that there was some energy out there.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on November 07, 2011, 10:00:24 AM
Saturday was fun.  Jeremy, Devon Blish and Sharon Look were on standup, I was in oc-1.  Devon is considering a Foote maliko like Jeremy's.  She did the first half of the run on his 24 incher.  I had a tough time keeping up with her. 

She and Jeremy are two of Maui's fastest racers, always on the podium in the big races.  Jeremy was holding back his speed so I could keep up.  The videos are experimental, should get better.  Hoping for some big winter stuff and race footage.  Camera fogged up towards the end - lost a lot of excellent rear view stuff.  Fun day. 

Devon at maliko (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9YXRiLT21g&hd=1#ws)

Jeremy at maliko (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmjVMF4JDSs#ws)

rear angle test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56bmZHgrhNs#ws)

Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 1paddle2paddle on November 07, 2011, 11:56:42 AM
Nice job LPB.  I did a run yesterday afternoon with a headcam and got some decent footage, but I'm still trying to learn how to use the movie program on the Macbook (recent convert from PC).  Us Oahu zoners are nowhere near as prolific as the Maui and Australia crews at providing video of the downwind runs, so I will try to get the footage up so people can see what we have on Oahu.

What is immediately apparent to me is how much bigger Maliko is compared to Hawaii Kai for a given day.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: J.Riggs on November 07, 2011, 12:09:15 PM
Nice job LaPer. Thanks for slowing down and taking the time to get the footage and make the video. That was fun!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: DavidJohn on November 07, 2011, 01:51:37 PM
Great vids.. Thanks heaps.. Loved the rear pointing view.

DJ
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 07, 2011, 10:10:12 PM
Yeah the rear view was great and I'm impressed with your Nikon AW100 replacement to your TS3.  The 1080p is fantastic and the low light capabilities of the camera were pretty impressive.  It's been cloudy here folks so when LaPer gets out in some blue skies it's gonna be heaps sharper.  These P/S cameras have small sensors and in low light they're usually blah but totally sufficient in full sun.  But this waterproof Nikon did a good job with some funky afternoon light with lots of rain clouds passing overhead.....  I fashioned a polarizing filter in front of my TS2 to deal with the glare.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: ericspin on November 08, 2011, 09:32:20 AM
I would echo the sentiments about the quality of the recent LPB video.  Love the clarity and crisp colors.  I am always stoked to see paddling video and my wife thinks I am nuts sitting there staring at my iPad watching people paddle.  But it keeps me stoked and I always learn from watching others paddle.  Keep it comin'.....
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 08, 2011, 09:54:51 AM
Nice videos. Making me nuts. December 2 can't come soon enough--though I have a ton of stuff to get done here in Hood River.  Fun seeing good friends playing and having fun, though watching Jeremy always just pisses me off. He's so f$#@ng smooth. Is that the new Aircore he's on?

With my new obsession I can't help but notice how big Devin's blade is (she's tiny) and how it keeps missing catches. It practically bounced out of the water a few times when she was going hard for swells. Gotta fix that. No helping Jeremy, he plants that thing. Besides, who in their right mind wants to make Jeremy faster.

Makes me realize that video like this is going to be important to our development process. I've been just watching paddles underwater. Lots to be learned above the water too. I'm going to be a pain in the butt for both you and Mr. Bill this winter.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on November 08, 2011, 07:57:23 PM
PB, you should sponsor Devon.  She's always on the podium at the big races.  

Jeremy and I let her start a few minutes early that day.  The camera was rolling and I tried to catch her.  Hammered as hard as I could. She was away for miles and miles, really flying.  Never did catch her.  She sat down just as I caught up.  

We rested a few minutes then took off again, that's where the video starts.  She was probably tired from the early effort.  Nobody is in good shape this time of year.  When she gets her own Footie, she's going to be hell on wheels.  Count on it.    
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 808sup on November 08, 2011, 08:37:47 PM
I like the rear view as well. It gives a more realistic view of the swell IMO. Harder to keep people in the frame though. Sunday was fun as well. Overheard devon talking about the narrow board.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on November 20, 2011, 06:00:28 AM
Shuttle was full Saturday.  Windguru forcasted epic conditions, but the wind was only medium.  Overcast conditions may have slowed up the wind.  The fetch was good and no NW swell, so we had some great bumps over the reef.  The f-16 was a blast.

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/DSCN0042700x507.jpg)

maliko 11-19-11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PahYCp_vqak#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 20, 2011, 07:29:34 AM
Looks like more than full, I count 10 hulls in a nine passenger van. Did you sit in Bill's lap?
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 20, 2011, 10:19:14 AM
Great LaPer....nice and close.  Great coordination with J&R.  who are to be commended for keeping close.  Best clip for me was RR, very close,  steering full right turn away from you to avoid collision.

The obvious is the vertical bounce that I spoke with you about on the phone.  Hopefully my 2nd suction mount to create a triangle of balance will help.  You may use mine until my new camera arrives.  The rear view had less bounce shake than the side which I think will always be the worse because of the accentuated difference in elevations of rider and camera.  But in editing if you keep those clips short, there isn't as much assault on the viewers eyes and stomach with camera shake.  Again pretty good low light capibilities with your camera.  Yesterday was grey but with those close shots it was cool.  Good work
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on November 20, 2011, 10:46:28 AM
Thanks HM, those guys are such a blast to paddle with.  Randy and I were struggling to catch glides, often to exhaustion.  He accidentally steered right over me once.  The boards barely touched, but it was odd having half an f-16 across me, just in front of my shins.  He stepped back and swung it away in a flash.  Jeremy needs a faster paddler to get real footage of him.  The raw footage shows how he was constantly slowing to stay in frame.  My front angle stuff was shot to the left.  Too much glare.  Right is best on the north shore, left on the south.  Fun day. 

Looks like more than full, I count 10 hulls in a nine passenger van./

It's an 11 passenger van.  I like it when the Aussies are in town, they fit 14 and make it a party. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 20, 2011, 11:57:41 AM
Maybe we need to try a camelback mount. Hmmm, that gives me a few ideas.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on November 21, 2011, 12:57:19 AM
Wind was very good Sunday.  Shuttle was full again.  This angle has potential. 

maliko 11-20-11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBKaOzA8OX8#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 1paddle2paddle on November 21, 2011, 05:06:02 PM
Great footage LPB, but perhaps only stuff a downwind junkie would watch.

The thought in my mind watching the video was "this is when board stability is very important."
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on November 22, 2011, 03:56:26 AM
Here's a better one, Jeremy is on an Aircore board this time.  

My oc-1 has a small hole in it, from a stick fish.  I forgot to tape it up before the run.  About half way into the run I noticed water shooting out when the boat was headed downhill.  The hole is up high - in the nose, so it wasn't life threatening.  

The boat's weight increased about 40 pounds and the handling got a bit sluggish.  But it was cruising like a Caddilac in the bumps across pier one.  Very fun day.  Strong wind, big swells.  

Plenty of room on the Tacoma for an extra boat, so Tyson Kubo hitched a ride up with us, He's one of the best on Maui.  Classy guy.  

Here's the standup gang; Jeremy, Todd and Randy.  

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/DSCN0061700x510.jpg)


maliko 11-21-11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzc0b1cClkk#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 30, 2011, 11:33:23 AM
Yesterday I escorted a guy from BC for a Maliko run.  It was his last day, he'd heard about it and wanted to do it... no matter what.  Well it certainly wasn't a day I woulda picked... no wind, big surf and torrential rain.  But the surface with heavy raindrops felt like grease and was kinda triply.  The guy, Lee, was nervous about the swell pounding on the reefs and then not being able to see the shoreline when the cloud moved in around us.  But he was very fit, kept up a solid pace, and controlled his nerves, only falling a few times in the sloppy conditions.  There was a nice east swell in the varied mix of energy and we were able to pick up a glide every once in awhile.  I guided us in through a gap in the outer reef with solid sets on both sides of our path.  The shoreline became visible and he looked back at the surf and shook his head in disbelief.  My eyes are crap but it's fortunate I don't have to only rely on them.

My 2 cents.  Unless it's smoking wind, in the winter, I'd use 14s just in case you have to ride a swell across the reef.  You can surf a 14 a lot easier than a 16 or 17... winter is here
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on December 14, 2011, 06:25:26 PM
Finally a good windy day after many daz of doldrums... the sun actually came out but Maliko was running like the Amazon
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: SoCalSupper on December 14, 2011, 08:22:00 PM
this is my favorite thread to lurk on-watched all the vids-we just dont have anything like this here in Socal-all you guys look like youre having such a great time.
Im a sup surf addict but i would love to do this!
Keep up the great vids.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on December 15, 2011, 09:01:08 AM
Pretty good days both Tuesday and Wednesday, though wed was windier and faster all the way in. I'm using HM's 14' board while my Bullet get fixed up at Mark's (Ding King/SIC). It's a pretty cool board, very surfy. Steers from everywhere, just like a good surfboard.

We went just to Sugar Cove yesterday because I promised Diane a date nite and had to get back to the house by 4:00. But conditions were so good we were at the cove before I knew it--woulda, shoulda, coulda gone to Kenaha, or maybe even the Harbor. In fact I didn't realize Bill was headed in until I noticed him disappearing towards the shore. He's got that Bullet dialed! He looked like a waterbug carving sideways across the swells. I couldn't quite manage the quick turn required to do that without a rudder, though the few times I did the swell just rolled me off the board anyway. Couldn't quite get the rails working right. Need more time on the water.

The groundswell was small enough that it didn't matter, but we pretty much came in right over Spartan's. I get butterflies when we do that. I've surfed there at low tide on medium days, so I'm not quite so scared of the place, but it throws a huge wave without warning. One minute you're on the outside, lining up DOH peelers and feeling all saucy, and the next you're looking up at an impossible feathering face--way up. 

Nice to be doing Malkios and Southside runs again. The Columbia is great, but Maliko is Maliko. Also nice that it's all been Maliko 101 conditions--no terror yet this year. Good to get a re-intro before I need to paddle for my life.

I know it sounds like a shameless plug but I'm REALLY loving the Ke Nalu paddles, though I think I'm going to switch to a Molokai for downwind. My shoulders feel better after a run than before. Really. Warm and loose with no pain.

I don't have a Molokai blade--we ran out, and I sent mine to a customer--but there's a shipment on the way. I think the early hard catch of the Molokai blade will be perfect for getting on bumps.

I'm also pleased with how much focusing on a better stroke helps me. Every time I get sloppy I start missing bumps. As soon as I clean it up I start nailing them. The critical piece is feathering the blade and pulling it up with the LOWER hand, and then punching forward with the lower hand to get good reach, good torso rotation, and a good shoulder stack. Makes a huge difference.

Bill doesn't care, he gets about every swell he goes for on his Bullet no matter how he's stroking. But I need all the help I can get.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on December 15, 2011, 10:29:33 AM
Yeah But I want to work on my stroke and am still into switching out my Maliko  for the 8.5 if you wish.  I think the 8.5 will foster less brutality (trying to get it done in one stroke).  With the Bullet I know it will be plenty on days like yesterday.  Plus I'm real interested in seeing if a lower gear  (smaller blade) results in a lower heart rate.    Mine stayed ranged between 150 and 170 when I was getting enthusiastic but I think the spikes to 170 might just be excitement on those long slides, especially right (out to sea).   I did like the quick drop in HR when I rested.  My goal is to get it done out there with the least amount of effort.  Pono is so relaxed I can hear him whistling.  

SoCal if you come here and paddle with us I'll give you my Air Force Thunderbirds Tee-shirt and hat.  Best recommendation.. March, when the wind gods roar.  Very intense. It'll blow your mind.  All the guys that have SUP surf time in the saddle, do great on these boards because basically that's what we're doing... surfing wind swells out in the wild blue.  We got it all.  Just come.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 808sup on December 15, 2011, 10:02:55 PM
This weekend should raise a few eyebrows  :o  http://www.mauiwindcam.com/weather/ (http://www.mauiwindcam.com/weather/)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on December 15, 2011, 10:18:49 PM
Should be pretty good. Mr. Boyum had an appointment so we didn't go today--looked pretty good to me, but I figured on a southside run combined with some extra points for taking Diane on a beach day. Unfortunately the south side was like a lake. So I did a little flatwater paddle--Sorrentos to the cove and back. Just enough to get the blood moving. Friday looks like it might be OK too, and there could be some surfing in the morning. The ground swell looks to be on the good side of spooky.

I have a lot of work to do on Ke Nalu, but first things first--and that means water time. Just automatic here--so very Maui.

My Bullet might be done--if the folks at SIC don't have Maui Work Motivation Disorder (MWMD) as badly as I do.

I got a spare 8.5 blade sitting on the workbench Bill--all we gotta do is stay out of the water long enough to swap it out.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on December 20, 2011, 09:20:04 AM
Another Maliko Gulch yesterday. Strong NE winds,(slightly onshore) severely chopped up surface conditions and treacherous low tide.  Went with Pono and his fixed Bullet (feels lighter than mine) and we slipped through all the right gaps and got in without ripping our rudders off.  The right call was the south side but I had a time frame.  I always seem to rush from here to there so it's nice to have a calming paddle in between.  Although yesterday I had a 6-8 footer swim right next to me for a sec or two.  Still some good glides but the farthest condition from the fantastic uniformity of the south side.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 1paddle2paddle on December 20, 2011, 11:37:09 AM
Winds are blasting for all the islands.  Hoping to get an afternoon run this week.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on December 20, 2011, 01:09:58 PM
After Bill saw the landlord hanging by his board I saw what looked to be a big tail flash next to my board. Might have been the same guy or might have been something else stimulating my overactive imagination.

I figure the sharks think we might be a dead seal. I was falling a lot--getting my Maliko/Bullet sea legs back--and bleeding from a slice on my shin. After spotting our buddy I was getting back on the board PDQ.

Fun run, especially the run in through the breakers. Skinny little doorway at Camp One with such a low tide--destruction looming on both sides. Good thing Bill knows right where it is. I'm pretty sure I would have at least taken my rudder off. Some of the bigger sets were breaking on nearly dry reef.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on December 21, 2011, 10:29:38 PM
I snuck in a late evening southside run today. The wind was howling earlier but it was pointed straight at Lanai. Really big winds though, the area between the islands was fogged up with spindrift. Went over to Lahina with Diane for a beach day, lunch and Mala, a nice out and back paddle from Puamana to Lahina breakwall, back along the reef and popped inside through the skinny little boat channel just to see if I still remembered how (answer: NO, had to fend off hard twice to save my board and rudder) then back to Puamana.

We headed back home but when I got to mid-island the wind direction looked almost do-able, so we went down the Kihei Canoe Hale and sure enough, it was angled somewhat along the shore. Still not ideal angle, but OK with a rudder board, and HOWLING. Thought about calling Boyum, but no way he could make it. Wrestled my board to the water--got away from me twice, but only minor scrapes. Hopped on and awaaaaay we go.

Mighty fast run to the cove. Wind pooped out about a mile from the end, but a nice run. Leaded up, watched a beautiful sunset, headed home.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on December 22, 2011, 07:55:53 PM
Initial effort with my new tripod setup was a wash ...literally.  Board with camera on was behaving fine going out of the gulch even tho water was muck brown.  Got out in the blue and had Pono wait while I turned on the camera.  Thumbs up and off we went but I immediately caught a rail on a glide and tipped the board over.  When I righted, all the suction cups had slipped and some of my PVC tubes had come apart at taped joints.  I swore a bunch and stuffed everything into my camel back and off I went to track Pono down.  Tide was contrary, swell was crossed up and water generally felt like sloppy glue.  Hard just staying on our boards, especially towards the end.  But it's the 2nd day of winter and we did a Maliko to the harbor, so hell that ain't bad.  Shirley backed the truck up to the boat ramp and we loaded up in that hole, out of the wind.  20 ft. higher at the top of the ramp ... ridiculous wind.  She also had veggie sushis and fresh coconut water.  So here's my brief clip of Bill on his Bullet (22 secs) and my spaz splash.

Pono BILL (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo-OD-DoF8Q#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on December 22, 2011, 11:40:05 PM
Well, at least you didn't have to waste a day editing. Man, I was bushed after that run. Getting into the harbor was grim.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: blueplanetsurf on December 22, 2011, 11:47:34 PM
I hate when that happens.  Back to the drawing board, I guess.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on December 23, 2011, 08:26:05 AM
The water housing for the camera has attachments on the corners where I can bungee the whole thing to my chest.  The riders'  body generally moves around too much but it is possible to stand still for 4-6 secs. which is a usable clip when I cut out in edit. I might try that.

   The thing with the tripod is that the very element that made it adjust easily to fit well, was also the thing that made it fall apart.   Curved rails don't make it easy.  Misjudged how my joints would loosen up in the water.  But good thing I found out when I wasn't going through any surf zone.  Everything floated as designed.  Pono had a bigger pack to stash my camera after the disassembly and when we did the hand off the camera didn't make the pass and dropped into the water.  It was nice to see it float like I had planned since it was the most expensive part.       The tripod with camera weighed in at 4 lbs which like I said before was doable as far as riding the board BUT I could feel the added weight back there.  With a very rough day like yesterday the added weight could add to a moment of unbalance.  Yes back to the drawing board.

The camera was OK at 24mm (widest) but a tad soft in the corners.  I'm going to try 28 and 35mm and maybe 50 although I anticipate too much shake.  I did like the colors in the S100.
                                                                                                                                  
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on December 23, 2011, 10:13:59 AM
We can certainly make it stronger, heck I can weld it up from aluminum tubing, but I think falling on a strong metal tripod might have unpleasant consequences.

GP's whacky curved helmet mount will work for a GoPro or something light, but your new camera is pretty bulky in that case.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on December 28, 2011, 05:53:38 AM
A very fun day with Jeremy and Randy R.  I've been hiding over on the south shore for about a month.  The north shore is very lush and green after all the rain.  We had a brief shower in the middle of the run, but good wind for most of it.  Jeremy was suffering a bit from indigestion, but still outrunning me on the outrigger if he turned it on. 

maliko 12-27-11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSD2ofIfkEI#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on December 28, 2011, 07:52:54 AM
Indecision. We should know better. Just GO.

Bill and I got a late start, dropped his rig at the harbor and headed for Maliko. When we got to Ho'okipa the wind had died and it was an oily, tossing, mixed up lake. After some waffling we bailed, went back to the harbor to get Bill's rig, talked story with Larry, Jeremy and Randy (good to see you guys) then I headed home. When I got to Ho'okipa the wind was nuking and the swells were lined up.

DAMN.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on January 21, 2012, 10:06:45 PM
Yesterday I came within inches of getting t-boned in traffic.  Today, even tho the wind came up early, I tried to restrain myself from expectations.  It's been so long since we had good conditions that LaPer has taken over this thread with his ski trips on the south side.  (not that it's a bad thing)

 Pono Bill and I took the shuttle with a lively crew including MR and Livio (who had already gone) who reported a great run.  But my pessimism started to grow when we passed Hookipa with the windsurfrs dogging it(not planning) .  Uhg, more training.  But to our surprise  as soon as we got outside Maliko the conditions were outasight.  Not just winter type good but summer great... in deep January.  I connected well the whole way and was very happy.  However my GPS was alarming....my heart rate averaged 162 over 9.38 mi for 1hr 25 min.  My mathematical redline for 61yrs. is supposed to be 159.  I had spikes of 176.  Anyone else using these GPS and heart rate monitors?  You think they're accurate?  I hate being so far over max but I felt great... no problems.  Anyway a fantastic day with a great group in January.  Sometimes you don't see great days this good in the summer.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on January 21, 2012, 10:42:59 PM
Great for you, a bit tough for me. I'm wearing my Garmin tomorrow, I want to see how badly I'm doing. The first half was good, lots of glides. For some reason I wasn't getting comfortable on the board, I felt kind of off-balance. But I was getting good glides and staying in sight of HM--who is simply a lot faster in the bumps.

About Camp one the swells got bigger. They were pretty short period and steep faced. And there was all kinds of sideways and angle chop--looked like the roaring 40's instead of Maliko. Just past Kanaha the wind picked up more and the angle got a little more north. I started looking more at the water in front of the nose to pick my way through the chaff. I finally looked up and discovered I was way inside. Headed straight for Pier 1. So I had to cut a pretty tight angle back out. Surprisingly the new angle worked well and my glides improved. Nice to slide through the breakwall all the same.

When I got to the beach Bill was already loaded up, showered and into dry clothes. Damn. Probably played a round of golf while he was waiting for me. Oh well, there's tomorrow. Maybe we should do a double. I need to get my Mojo back.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on January 21, 2012, 11:42:31 PM
Glad to hear you had a fun run. 


/ LaPer has taken over this thread with his ski trips on the south side.


That's the summer smokin maliko thread.  I hijacked it because summer had run it's course. 

We did a reverse downwinder last week that was rather gnarly.  It convinced me I'm ready to try maliko on the ski for the first time.  Unfortunately, the NFL and MCKC races are conspiring to keep me away from the north shore. 


Anyone else using these GPS and heart rate monitors?  You think they're accurate? 


The common wisdom over on the cycling forums is that lower priced heart rate monitors are notoriously innacurate.  If anyone would know those geeks would.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on January 22, 2012, 08:41:17 AM
I fell five times... all were high speed poke tako, pearled up to my knees.  Tried all my tricks to gut it out but the nose just wouldn't pull up and I ended up really getting tossed on each of those.  Those kinds of falls really knock the crap out of me and it's a real hard thing to do mentaly to relax, climb back on and get rolling again.  I want to hang there on my hands and knees (what I call the execution pose) and just pant for a bit but I knew I was doing pretty good overall and wanted to see if I could post a good time, so no rest for the wicked.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on January 22, 2012, 08:47:22 AM
I did a lot of stumbling off the back yesterday. I hate those, though not as much as the little side shake bullets do that drops me off the edge and scrapes my shin on the way down.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on January 22, 2012, 08:54:46 AM
I think slalom shin guards are going to be the new gear accessory for big water down winding.  In the mean time stock up on band-aids and take good care of the new cuts.  It's easiest if you keep them good from the beginning.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on January 22, 2012, 09:03:48 AM
I know it sounds so easy but curbing ones enthusiasm out there is like telling a teenager not to have sex.  BTW I'm getting jacked-up right now.  The sun is rising and it's already cranking down here in Paia.  Meet The Press is being recorded as well as the games. 

The cruise ship will be in the harbor today spilling all its crap so I'm going to the Kanaha Canoe Hale with Victor.  You're welcome to come along.  Mid day sometime.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on January 22, 2012, 12:16:03 PM
We should do two.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 808sup on January 22, 2012, 05:14:33 PM
Due to football I opted for a early maliko run this morning. Wind was about 20mph. or so with gusts WAY Higher. I haven't done a downwinder since thanksgiving so expected to be short on energy. I have been surfing and kiting,however neither gives the cardio like downwinders do. I figured on a tough paddle and was pleasantly surprised by how fun and fast it was. Time was 1:12 from boat ramp to the oil tanks. I didn't think I would enjoy the grind inside the harbor. Maybe next time... ;)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on January 22, 2012, 06:33:06 PM
We went around noon. Nice run, pretty much fun all the way except cutting across the inside of upper Kanaha was like standing in  washing machine--fell beaucoup times until I got mad and said NO MORE.

I wore my GPS and heart rate monitor, didn't start it until about Ho'okipa, finished at the Kanaha Hale.

(http://www.kenalu.com/wp-content/uploads/ebooks/heart%20rate.jpg)

No, I wasn't sleeping, that's just my weird physiology. And has a lot to do with why even as active as I am I have a hard time keeping weight off. According to this trace my max heart rate averaged 116. I actually saw 124 a couple of times when I was going hard, and thought I saw 144 when I was really hitting it trying to catch Bill, which would be SUPER high for me. If I sit down for two minutes I'm back at 60. I think the stuff at the end is garbage, my band slipped down too low.

(http://www.kenalu.com/wp-content/uploads/ebooks/mrun.jpg)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on January 22, 2012, 09:55:33 PM
Yeah another great day.. even for a trio of geezers.... all over 60.  I was a tad tired from yesterday but still had a great run with my pals Pono and Victor.  Pono Bill had an O ring discrepancy and took on a few gallons.  I was very impressed he made it in... with a smile on his face.  Yesterday wind was 25 to 28.  Today 25-35.  Pretty damn sweet for January.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: DavidJohn on January 23, 2012, 04:34:47 AM
Great pic..  ;D

DJ
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on January 23, 2012, 06:09:52 AM
Windy days without a big NW swell can be rare in the winter.  Football had to wait.  I shuttled up at one and paddled the ski for the first time.

Jeremy, Ralf Sifford and Randy R. launched just before me.  They were switching boards when I caught up to them.  Unfortunately, I didn't have the skill to stay with them.  I was all over the ocean and afraid of hitting someone.  So I steered away to play it safe.  As my ability grows, I hope to get some better footage of the fast standups.   

The ski was very fast in the open ocean.  I held back from all the big waves, fearing what might happen if I crashed at speed.  Even holding back, the ski would steer itself into some very, very fun glides.  Super day.  I'm glad the initial run is over. 

Skis sit very low in the water, so everything seems big.  Strong wind, good fetch, big swells.  Super fun.

first maliko on a ski, 1-22-12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bCqgaNZ_pM#ws)   
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: DavidJohn on January 23, 2012, 06:23:18 AM
Great vid.. DW heaven..  ;D

DJ
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on January 23, 2012, 07:59:14 AM
You guys must have caught the 1:00 Shuttle. Looked pretty clean. Congratulations Larry, it must feel good having that first Maliko out of the way. Conditions were almost ideal, good size windswells and enough wind to keep them perky, but no groundswell to make the big V's and the Volkswagens in the bottom of the trenches. I bet those big bumps will be even tougher on a ski.

I knew we should have gone again, even though I had a tough time at lower uppers and got pooped. A couple of gallons in the Bullet didn't really seem to faze it, but I was falling a lot.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on January 23, 2012, 10:19:07 AM
Dyno vid LaPer.  I watched in 1080 on my 27".  WOW Really caught the feel of yesterday.  You looked great on that ski!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PilonSUP on January 25, 2012, 11:01:48 AM
wow!
unreal vid.Maui's energy comes in many ways,and was coming out da screen!!
whew, that was good.your hull looks like it dosent make a sound going thru the water.
thx  alot
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on January 25, 2012, 03:01:22 PM
Very cool video, I did as Bill suggested--switched to 1080p and watched it on my 27" Thunderbolt monitor. Amazing. A tutorial in wave texture and swell direction.

It's outrageous that Jeremy can stand sideways on his board in that Maelstom, reach into his pocket and pull out a camera, then look through the viewfinder and take pictures. No single part of that is in the realm of possiblity for me.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on January 25, 2012, 10:47:17 PM

/your hull looks like it dosent make a sound going thru the water./


You are correct.  Skis are silent.  The only sound is the swish of the blade entering, exiting or bracing on the water.  Paddling into the wind can have some hull slaps, but that can be greatly minimised by leaning fore and aft and by rolling the boat around to fit the motion of the ocean.  They are truly amazing into the wind.  Skis get more stable as hull speed increases.  Therefore, paddling into the wind is 'easier' because as the water is zooming at you, it makes the boat more stable.  Odd but true.   

Downwinding is a very different story.  Once up to speed, the stablility is ok, but if you stall at the top of a wave, they get tippy.  Naturally, that's when you'd like to get moving by paddling hard...


/ it must feel good having that first Maliko out of the way. /
 

Indeed. 10 minutes into the run I gave myself a 50% chance of finishing.  It was basically point the boat and hope for the best.  My biceps got sore from that run.  That means I was arm paddling - which means I was struggling. 

The south shore can have it's moments, but it ain't no maliko.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 02, 2012, 09:34:21 PM
Fun run today. Loving my new SIC F16 V2. It's not as fast as my Bullet, but it's an order of magnitude easier and works better with my whacky knee--I can keep my left leg planted and my tow on the rudder no matter what is happening. No more running to the tail every few seconds and hanging on with my toes while the board rockets down a face and tries to toss me off.

I fell in three times, and all three were because I was screwing around, not because the board tossed me. What a pleasure. I have huge confidence in the board already. After we cleared the inside reef at Kanaha I was thinking of heading back out and quartering through the breakers to take a look at the reef and the area we call Tidy Bowls just for the heck of it. That might be overconfidence, the swell was small, but it was still well overhead and breaking hard. I settled to running out to look at a long sliver of blue florescence I saw at the inner reef edge--yup, grey shark, about four to five feet long.

Nice easy run, Boyum was shepherding a newbie, but he did very well, so it wasn't a slow run. I only had to wait twice, and not very long.
Title: Race day
Post by: headmount on February 11, 2012, 07:08:33 PM
After participating in last nights politically orieneted thread in the deep dungeons of the Random category, I got a good nights sleep and woke up to PBill's request for a 8am drop off of my truck at the canoe club.  We raced today from Maliko to the Harbor.  It was primarily a OC-1 and surf ski race and they turned up in big numbers.  As the red headed step child they graciously allowed prone and SUP paddle boarding.  The turn out for SUP was limited to the few heavy hitters remaining on the island like MR, Livio, and Jeremy (pretty much in their order of finish).  MR finished first on his new invention, the Standamaran, a two- narrow hulled vehicle with a platform in between.  The conditions were inhibiting if you didn't have your bearings but there was good wind, incredible in Feb, usually considered the glassiest month of the year.  A fairly good size swell had waves breaking so far out, that you never seemed to be far enough offshore.  How big?  Well an OC-1 and a SUP were annialated at the Pier ONe wave outside the harbor entrance.  Like I've posted  before about big days, looking about a mile ahead was very prudent.

I enter these races to conquer my nerves and each race usually gets better but today my legs were shaking before the horn.  Fell just outside Maliko and took till Hookipa to get into an easy rhythm  and relax.  Ten miles is still a long race for me so I try to pace myself.  Parts of the course were great and other parts, I couldn't buy a glide.  But I had a beautiful Dutch gal right next to me and that kept me focused to the end.  LaPer carried a camera on his surf ski so hopefully  he gets some great footage of the race.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 11, 2012, 07:54:37 PM
Rough, tough. Fell eight times, HM beat me and so did Devin and Sharon though I had Sharon beat until I started falling. Would have finished even further back, but once we got inside the breakwall I unleashed my flatwater grunt (it's about all I've got) and ran two guys down.  Finished about a hundred yards ahead of them.  The shoulder that I fell on last week didn't like the strain. It's going to be an Advil night.

This was a minimal chicken course. I could have been a little further out a few times and might have been faster a little further in. Or I might have been tagged and dragged.

(http://www.kenalu.com/wp-content/uploads/kenalupics/chicken.jpg)
Speed and heart: I fell eight times--way too many. some of them were so lame I groaned when I got back on. My heart rate was off the charts for me, I NEVER hit 150. I was definitely coming apart toward the end.
(http://www.kenalu.com/wp-content/uploads/kenalupics/maltrack.jpg)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 11, 2012, 11:31:52 PM
Fun race for me.  My goal was to stay outside, and in the boat.  It's my third maliko in the ski, no falls today.

The video shows the start of the Sup's.  When they were off, the boats began to paddle out to our start.  It's not the best footage, but it's something.  HM and PB are in there.

I reset the camera at our start, but, as usual, the best stuff begins just as the camera shuts off (at 30 min.).  I need to research a way to extend the shooting time.  It was really good across the reefs.  Very, very good day for me.  

3rd ski maliko, MCKC race (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK6Zi_omIiU#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 11, 2012, 11:51:50 PM
Nice shot of the start.  Loved the other boats when they were right up next to you close.  That's the key.... close.  Yep you were cooking and Bill and I took knives to a gunfight.  You had that great glow at the finish.  Thanks for the vid.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 1paddle2paddle on February 13, 2012, 01:12:54 PM
LPB, sorry to nitpick, but did you notice how your stroke on the left side is more vertical than on the right?  I think I did (still do?) the same thing, I believe that is common to people who go from OC-1 to ski, an unbalanced stroke.  The goal is to get the paddle entry as vertical as possible.

Of course the bumps are not the easiest place to practice one's stroke.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 13, 2012, 02:58:24 PM
Feel free to comment on my technique, I'm always open to suggestion. 

Yes, I'm well aware of the imbalance.  That's what the camera is for, to help me gradually move up the elbows, straighten the wrists, etc.

Paddling oc-1 for about 18 months before switching to ski has it's drawbacks.  As the months go by, I can feel the changes to a smoother stroke.  The muscles are gradually changing to reflect the ski motion.  It just takes time. 

As you accurately predicted months ago, I'm not doing oc-1 at all anymore.  The scorpius is gathering dust.  It's going away as soon as find the time to polish it up.  Really don't want to sell it, so many great memories in that boat...   

The videos I post are actually not an accurate view of my average stroke technique.  As you mentioned, downwinding is not a good time to focus on perfect form.  The needs of balance and steering with the blade far outweigh ideal form, particularly for a novice.  Remember also that I very seldom see big north shore rollers.  I'm basically scared out of my mind when on the north shore...  The horizontal stroke is just a natural reaction.  It will get more vertical with experience.  The clips I post are only the most visually exciting parts of the run.  Lot's of boring footage of me paddling with a 'better' stroke never make the cut.   

The big advantage of oc-1 before ski is the ability to read the ocean.  I can't imagine how hard it must be to learn downwinding and ski at the same time...

Another hurdle to the balanced 'vertical' stroke is my imbalanced body.  My left collarbone is actually in two pieces.  The right shoulder has some decades old rotator cuff scar tissue.  I also have arms that are very long for my height.  Great for basketball, not so good for pushups...  The shoulders work really well - no pain - no complaints at all.  But at 51, it's taking some time to undo the ravages of youth.  Remarkably, it's all going in a positive direction. 

The great thing about the human body is it's ability to regenerate cells.  My connective tissue is gradually re-organising itself in a more balanced fashion.  Thanks in large part to the demands of the ski.   

Resistance stretching, a minimal amount of core work and cycling work great for me.  So very lucky to be able to get in the water every day.  That's why I moved here.   

 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 13, 2012, 03:38:36 PM
Nice not to be the only one that gets the crap scared out of them sometimes. Maliko runs look so benign in the videos. It's not until you look ahead and see 30 foot waves breaking outside your current position that you really get the ol' sphincter slamming shut.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 1paddle2paddle on February 13, 2012, 04:21:54 PM
LPB, I probably should have started my post with "do you notice how vertical you get the paddle on the left side..." acknowledging the marked improvement you have made over the past several months.  But funny how improving the one side doesn't necessarily mean both sides benefit.  I agree, probably something that has to do with not starting at age 14, where the body simply learns without having to think about such things as a "balanced" stroke.

PB, your point is well taken.  The thought of getting rolled by 20+ feet of charging whitewash while paddling doesn't seem like a whole lot of fun.  The videos never seem to provide the entire experience.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 13, 2012, 06:34:06 PM
Ok, hold on now.  This will be my last post over here on the winter maliko thread regarding ski stuff.  I'm moving any further posts over to the ski thread. 

Kind readers, never associate me with any '20 foot this or 30 foot that' on the north shore. I'm far too wise to get anywhere near that stuff. 

This recent race found me WAY outside.  It was dead low tide, with the potential for random sneakers on the outer edges of camp one or kanaha.  I didn't see hide nor hair of ANYTHING up ahead, nor outside.     

My fear is from spilling over, period. Even in the deepest water.  If you are a novice in a ski and you are spilling, you are doing it wrong.  New guys in skis getting worked at maliko are the stuff of legend.  I ain't going there.  Certainly not in a race. 

I find it difficult to explain (to anyone not a beginner on a ski) just how freaky they are.  Nine times out of ten (at my skill level) it's better to hold back, aim the ski correctly and let the ocean push you into a glide.  IF you get that part right, they gain speed quickly.  The hard part isn't catching swells, it's deciding what to do next.

You want to grab a faster link?  Be my guest.  I only go there when it's the lesser of two evils. Sometimes, if the sea really gets going, it's safer to get your speed up to survive. (If you hold back, you may get twisted by a following swell.)  It happened all across kite beach.  Frankly, I was uncomfortable.  I don't like to be so close to wiping out.   

I got some great glides at speed on the big swells.  Passed a few girls in oc-1's. Wow, I'm such a stud.  ::) 

I was giddy after the race because I didn't fall. Not  because I raced any breaking waves.

Copied, pasted and Boldfaced for emphasis:

Kind readers, never associate me with any '20 foot this or 30 foot that' on the north shore. I'm far too wise to get anywhere near that stuff.

Nice not to be the only one that gets the crap scared out of them sometimes./  It's not until you look ahead and see 30 foot waves breaking outside your current position/

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/ok.gif)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 13, 2012, 08:31:57 PM
Sometimes it seems there's just no such thing as far enough out. I did my usual chicken line, but when I came across upper Kanaha that damned sneaky spot popped up outside me. I was WAY out and it was another 100 yards further. Fortunately it reforms and turns into a swell again when it gets past that tabletop. I've got to find that reef and get some visual coordinates for it.

I also found myself looking at a tunnel of waves and wave backs ahead when I got further along, had to head out again to be certain not to get tagged. And then when I got to Kite Beach I saw that guy get pounded at Pier One. Gulp. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 808sup on February 13, 2012, 09:42:33 PM
I was kiting sat. at pier one. I didn't see any paddlers so figured the race was over. When I returned  to the beach a friend of mine was there. He had two skis on his rig. I asked him about the race and if there was any carnage. He told me about the oc-1. It made me shudder...
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 1paddle2paddle on February 14, 2012, 10:58:22 AM
I got some great glides at speed on the big swells.  Passed a few girls in oc-1's. Wow, I'm such a stud.  ::) 
You can take down the elephants later. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 18, 2012, 03:57:34 AM
Good fun at maliko.  NW swell was going down, wind was good.  As usual, I was way outside as I approached the reefs.  I jumped out and started the camera when the swells began to get steeper.  Super fun day. 

maliko 2-17-12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA9zvvuX98I#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 18, 2012, 07:32:30 PM
Good run today with HM, Victor, Buzzy. Smokin' wind and nice texture. A big squall ran over us and made everything kind of round and smooth without diminishing the wind. I got some really good runners in the squall and actually seemed to be gaining on everyone, then just before turning in for the run over the Camp One reef I had a fairly violent interaction between a little sun-induced vertigo, very poor choice of lunch and a surprise in the form of a big swallow from a camelback that turned out to be full of spoiled Coconut milk (when did I put THAT in there?). That did NOT work out well.

Then I got slammed coming over the outer reef--big ol' wave that I almost made it onto the shoulder of but instead got nailed by a wall o' whitewater. Got pushed too far in to make the inner reef channel so I would up floundering across the inner reef on my belly, holding the board fin-up to preserve my rudder, getting pounded by little waist-high waves.

What an ignominious end for a run that started so well. Ah well, it was still fun. Tomorrow ought to be rockin'
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 18, 2012, 08:48:13 PM
As PBill posted it was smoking and anyone who got out there today (there looked like quite a few) got to experience Maliko at close to its best... in Feb. no less, usually the calmest month of the year.  We usually get conditions like this around late March. But I'm not complaining.  Today was one of those days that all the so so days pay for.  All the practice pays off and you felt like it  was a do no wrong day.  We lucked out and got out of the gulch with a big clearing and the wind smoked right out of the gates.  A squall, like many that had rolled through all day, finally caught up with us and was so heavy, you couldn't see the coastline for a few miles.  Squalls usually cut the wind but today it only smoothed the surface off and made things even better. 

I've done this run a few times and just enjoyed the conditions rather than try to navigate something that I couldn't see.  Knew it would clear and then I'd deal with it.  Well the clearing did break and I waltzed right into an outer reef peak and got knocked off.  Grabbed the board on the fall and the wave just pushed my whole sloppy package sideways.  Managed to pull myself on and stand up again, riding the wave same in across the reef without checking for hat and sunnies.  Looked down after I was across the reef and the adrenaline subsided.  Nothing.  Spent a few minutes trying to locate my Union 76 orange float ball on my sunnies but it must have been on the outside side of the break, about 50 yds and a shitload of white water away.  Still I felt fantastic about the run.

PBill's mistake is well worth listening to.  Eating a (was it pastrami?) sandwich before a run like today is pretty much the same thing as former NY Giants, now NY Jet WR Plexico Buress shooting himself in the leg before a playoff game.  (which I guess is the definition of the word he used... ignominious ) A smoothie a few hours before and then only liquids after that.  Digestion of heavy food isn't going to happen out there.
Title: Re: Race day
Post by: blueplanetsurf on February 18, 2012, 11:24:05 PM
The turn out for SUP was limited to the few heavy hitters remaining on the island like MR, Livio, and Jeremy (pretty much in their order of finish).  MR finished first on his new invention, the Standamaran, a two- narrow hulled vehicle with a platform in between. 


We had a great conditions here on Oahu today, too.
I'm amazed that Mark beat Livio on the standamaran in a downwind race, must be a new prototype.  Do you guys have pictures  and/ or can you report more about it?
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 19, 2012, 01:30:37 AM
No info on the standamaran.  I too was surprised that he's doing maliko's with it.  It certainly wasn't flat that day.   

Wind and swell was excellent today at maliko.  Here are some clips from the run.  It's the outer reefs at kanaha, across to the lead in to the harbor.  Big fun.

maliko 2-18-12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJdoKCwenX8#ws) 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 19, 2012, 09:51:12 AM
The wind stats when our crew went yesterday was 26-35 at the airport but I think it was even stronger up by Hookipa.  Gusts seemed to pile on top of gusts and there was blistering mist ripping off the surface.  It was a great day for SUPs as well as ski and OC-1s...  So far it's a monsoon this morning tho I'm seeing my first sun break.

LaPer loved the vid as it showed some elevation this time when you were on top of some hefty ones.  Vid pixelated a few times on my playback at 1080.  Did it do that on your end?  Glare was still kinda cool which reminds me to find a new pair of sunnies today as mine got lost yesterday.   Buzz uses cheapies but I like good ones for as much exposure as we get.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 19, 2012, 12:18:37 PM
Yes, the pixilation was in the original, not sure why. 

Glad you like the video.  I'm bummed the color washes out when the glare overwhelms the camera. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 808sup on February 19, 2012, 10:11:59 PM
Twas' a good day to head to the tanks instead of grinding the last 200yrds. in the harbor. The wind was in abundance and the glides were nonstop from start to finish. I had to stop several times to wait for another paddler. Once while waiting I just stopped and held my paddle in the air. I actually caught runners like that for a least a mile never paddling.  I think with a bigger paddle/sail i could ????
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 19, 2012, 10:39:01 PM
Yeah, it was fun. It was a gorge downwinder on Maui. I spent most of my time just hanging on. Got into a couple of BIG swells that took me a mile. Rocking and Rolling. It was a blast all the way to kite beach. I was too far outside coming in to the harbor. I should have curved in towards Kite beach and run along the break wall and Pier One, but I thought the outer line would be safer. Wrong, the waves were quartering towards me and bouncing the nose of my board around. I finally just did a Pocahontas to get in the mouth and then the awful grind mentioned elsewhere. Great run though. Fast and fun.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 20, 2012, 05:55:32 AM
Sunday's run.  Classic summer conditions.  Big east, no NW swell.

maliko 2-19-12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPhZ-GavDqM#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 20, 2012, 06:49:17 AM
I was thinking "that doesn't look much like my run" when you got to the Kanaha section and it got a lot more frantic. Some big drops there. I need to try curving in to get the Kite beach/Pier One current and swell today, my chicken line isn't working.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 20, 2012, 09:47:29 AM
 Glided into the harbor yesterday entrance feeling pretty revitalized, turned the corner and what should have been by all rights a small lee pocket behind the wall, wasn't there. 

The 40mph E wind that we had the whole run was somehow peeling along the inside of the breakwall right into our faces.  No refuge anywhere.  I couldn't figure out how it could be that way except that f##kin cruise ship must create some kind of vortex that turned the wind inside the harbor straight f##kin offshore.  Thought for an instant to fall off the wind and go to the boat ramp and walk back to the car but then thought about the wind over there and how there would be no refuge, no safe place to put the board, possibly a worse nightmare.  So I got down and prone paddled into this maelstrom, tried to stay close to the wall and hopefully get some reprieve but the wind sometimes drove me dangerously towards the pilings or the secret agent that was next to me.  Got behind one pier where there was a little pocket of protection.  Huffed and puffed with the secret agent.  We knew that as soon as we went around the corner there would be constant fire and no resting.  Finally inched our way up towards the back of the ship where there was some lee but the ship's thrusters were blasting and the water was like boiling all around the back.  Big stink too.   

So I was forced to cross over what I dreaded most, that open stretch between the boat and the inside pier.  The reason for the dread was that constant tornado like gusts were ripping huge areas of water off the surface.  Was on my knees for a low profile but still got lifted off once and flung.  Lost 50 yds or so.  Then drifted sideways with very little forward.  Thought I would end up near the rocks in front of Harbor Lights condo and walk up but finally there was lighter wind the last 30 yds. to the beach and was able to paddle back to the canoe club.  The rudder had been full torqued the whole time.  Didn't think it was doing much but someone else, who had no rudder, did get blown down the beach, almost to the rocks and walked back up.  Never seen it like that before.  Pretty wild.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 20, 2012, 12:31:43 PM
Nice description of the maelstrom inside the breakwall.  Our shuttle group left about an hour after you and we missed the worst of it in the harbor.  Mark R. had done a run, he was on the shuttle and told Kai 'as soon as you clear the gulch, just go.  The NW swell is gone and you don't want to be outside today.'  That's all I needed to hear.  Sorry to hear that even  past the breakwall it was so hellish.
  
Kai started behind me and glided through (on oc-1, what an amazing sight) the wall about the same time I did.  He stayed pretty close to the wall.  His line went out a bit as we approached the ship.  I hugged the wall, ran up to the stern of the beast and braved the thruster wash.  A security guard usually yells at me if I'm within hailing distance, but they were curiously absent.  Ralf Sifford (very experienced on paddleboard) was just ahead of me on his bullet.  He was taking no chances in the middle of the harbor.  He hugged the ship standing up and immediately proned it across the maelstrom off the bow of the ship.  I was really spooked going across that in a ski, remounting may have been a real hassle.  

Alan Cadiz was on the shuttle too.  He had done a run with Mark R. and was pissed that his headmount go pro had fogged.  He said he had some great footage, all ruined.  He too commented on the hellish harbor, even took some video of the ship tornado.  I'm on the shuttle at one.  I'll shoot some of it - if it's relevant.
        
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 21, 2012, 05:05:50 AM
The cruise ship was stirring up trouble in the harbor again Monday.  It wasn't worth posting though. 

Another fun day, about the same conditions.  It seemed wilder, but I was steering around more, attempting to match the lines of the others.  Much more work for me - great training.

maliko 2-20-12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOF5sZgVA3k#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 21, 2012, 09:15:34 PM
To give you an idea of what's been happening here the last four days, yesterday was 30-40mph from 1pm to 5pm. Gimmie shelter.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Argosi on February 22, 2012, 11:50:11 AM
To give you an idea of what's been happening here the last four days, yesterday was 30-40mph from 1pm to 5pm. Gimmie shelter.

OK that makes sense. I was looking at the videos and thinking that it was pretty big out there. Sure looks like fun if you've got the skills to handle it.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 22, 2012, 07:12:29 PM
And again today... it's just a shout away.  Don't need an iPod.  Had the Stones belting Gimmie Shelter for today's run as well.  Soooo perfect.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 23, 2012, 09:40:56 PM
Wind was supposed to drop again today and maybe the wind speed was tiny notch lower but gliding was still in the great category.  This is an epic stretch of Maliko... in feb no less, not the lion of March.  Cold tho.  Every morning has me wearing long pants and long sleeves.  Moana Kea, on the BI, has a snowboard-able base. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 24, 2012, 12:42:30 AM
It looked flat from my house, so I took Diane for a beach day and wound up surfing knee-high kiddie waves at Puamana and Launiopoko. Oh, well. I've chosen poorly before, likely will again. Sure has been a good Feb.

I actually got some stinkeye, in little fricken' kiddy waves. Weird. Had to call them on it. I mean, damn, I coulda been out there on a pool toy. .
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 24, 2012, 10:22:22 AM
Wind was supposed to drop again today and maybe the wind speed was tiny notch lower but gliding was still in the great category.  This is an epic stretch of Maliko... in feb no less, not the lion of March.  Cold tho.  Every morning has me wearing long pants and long sleeves.  Moana Kea, on the BI, has a snowboard-able base. 

Hawaii is quite amazing isn't it?

http://www5.uhh.hawaii.edu/~webcam/mauna_kea/ (http://www5.uhh.hawaii.edu/~webcam/mauna_kea/)

This recent wind episode has been epic.  I'm so lucky it coincided with a week off of work.  That video of 2-19 still blows my mind.  We did a 3:30 shuttle, wind was still very, very good.  I wore the head cam.  The video isn't worth posting on the zone.  Lot's of glare and it's kinda boring.  The ski was up to speed on most of the bumps, so it appears small and slow.  But it wasn't.  It was a very fast run for me.  Super fun.  Harbor was jammed with oc-6's training.

Heres a link to the vid if anyone's interested.  Beware though, I need to figure out how to add music...

http://www.youtube.com/user/lorenco31?feature=mhee (http://www.youtube.com/user/lorenco31?feature=mhee)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 1paddle2paddle on February 24, 2012, 12:11:48 PM
LPB, I think the camera on the back of the boat gives a bit better perspective (and no breathing noises).  But if I do that the GoPro might not work so well with the super wide angle view.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 24, 2012, 01:28:15 PM
I agree on the boat mount perspective.  I like it for the obvious reasons; technique, waves look bigger, etc. 

The head mount has advantages too.  The ability to frame other paddlers may be helpful.  It's good training for me to relax my shoulders - neck and scan more.  It may also be helpful for landmarks.  Whale action is what I'm really hoping for.   

The respiration is solid evidence that struggling is hopeless.  It was very obvious a few days ago with some oc-1's.  Relaxed tempo and respiration had me run up on them easily.  Attempting to drop them by increasing my effort didn't work. 

Hmm, sound is such a great word.  I wonder if PDX can triple pun it.

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/sound600x460.jpg)   
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 26, 2012, 09:44:47 PM
And yet another day in Feb which is going down as one of the best stretches in some time.  Today wasn't perfect because a hefty groundswell grew today, crossing surface conditions a bit.  But wind was nuking.  Steel grey sky and very intense.  Got to Maliko and blazed out with a few OCs and LaPer on his surf ski.  We both packed cameras and LaPer was kind enough to hang with me and get a few shots.  Only got a few of him since he hung behind and shot me more than I shot him.  Editing now but pleased with the picture in the poor light.  My Canon is at F2 at 24mm focal length.  And SurfCowboy's no fog strips worked perfect.  I also tried this coating called Raincoat which I was pleased with on the outside of the lens port.  Drops were still there but very cohesive and didn't disperse a blur around them.  Some refracted a little rainbow.  My mount on the front was solid but most of my footage was boring when there was no one in front of me.  So my video will be short ... which is good.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 26, 2012, 11:04:18 PM
A fine run indeed. I originally planned to take some visitors along--friends of Mr. Greatdane--but they want to go Monday instead, which is probably a good thing. I'd say today was a bit much for Newbies. I dropped into some swells that felt bottomless. I was playing with staying high in the swell, and got some of the longest rides ever. About a half mile from the harbor I dropped into a giant and it just kept going and going. I though it would take me all the way in. Not quite, but pretty close.

Biggy got mugged by a whale that held it's fin over his boat. Sounded very familiar. They might be trying to collect tolls or something, though I'm still going with the idea that it's Boyum's fault for zipping by a calf.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 27, 2012, 12:24:53 AM
Here's sunday's run.  An experiment to see how my camera worked with new mount set up and low light  (high cirrus) conditions.  No frills, no music, just the facts.  The clicking noise is my two Union 76 foam float balls (in case the camera falls out of the housing) tapping against the camera housing like castanets.  So if that bugs you, turn off the sound.  I went out with LaPer with his surf ski which is like taking a knife... you know the rest.  You can see him slip away very fast when he bags a good one.  Wish I could have gotten more of his take offs.  Liked it when he was close. 

Feb LaPer surfski (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANOYUw6fryc#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 27, 2012, 12:27:09 AM
Fun times again, east wind has been excellent.  It sure is tough to stay close out there when it's windy.  I tried to catch Alan Cadiz when he went by, but he was gone pretty quick.  He really flies in his xm.  It sure is cool to see yourself in video, thanks for that.   

maliko 2-26-12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2P9XnUFLAE#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: DavidJohn on February 27, 2012, 04:02:25 AM
Great vid.. Hey Bill.. Lucky all the water you lift when you paddle falls back in the ocean because you'd have it emptied in no time..  ;D  ..... Just kidding mate..  ;) .. It's a bugger what the camera catches that you don't want it to catch.. Looks like a wild run.

DJ
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 27, 2012, 08:42:37 AM
I've been giving him grief about his stroke, and of course he tosses more water because he's using a Ke Nalu and we just both switched back to Molokais for downwind and surfing (I still use a Maliko for flatwater). Bill is the perfect example of "pull past your feet with a Ke Nalu and you're shoveling water".  But I'm not making too big a deal with him about it because if there's any swell he kicks my ass.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 27, 2012, 10:18:15 AM
Yeah my stroke is never good but yesterday and any day that I'm shooting vid and my mind is on video, it's even worse.  Yesterday was challenging with the crossing surface and it threw my timing off as to when to paddle.  I end up rushing it at missed opportunities and start chopping wood.  My camera set up is two pounds and even as far back on the board as it was, I could feel it.  Also had to be careful when I switched as the camera mount was right in the whack zone when I changed sides.  But I'm going to try again today maybe in the back and not try to keep up with Larry's ski.  Hey LaPer why didn't you running me over make the cut?  That would have looked cool.

DJ... it did look like I was emptying the ocean but you know how vid reduces the appaearance of wind speed?  It was really windy and any water leaving the surface was going to lift off dramatically.   You've got a great mount and hopefully I can find the right spot on my board.    What did you think about the image quality on the vid I shot?
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 27, 2012, 10:59:31 AM
I don't know about you guys but I'm not buyin' any of that. He always looks like a sternwheeler going past. Problem is he's always going past.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 27, 2012, 11:16:21 AM
Yeah my stroke is never good but yesterday and any day that I'm shooting vid and my mind is on video, it's even worse.
Don't be so hard on yourself HM, the clips of your less that ideal recovery is an isolated incident.  Your stroke looked much better in the vast majority of the footage.
Hey LaPer why didn't you running me over make the cut?  That would have looked cool.
It's not that exciting.  it's just me zooming up behind you, slamming on the brakes and jumping out of the boat just as it touches the bullet. 

A turtle fooled me Saturday.  I thought for sure he looked right at me and dove, then he surfaced again and I nailed him.  After feeling bad for the turtle (it was huge, probably didn't care) I worried about the boat.  It was fine - didn't even chip the gelcoat.  If I ever hit an sup, it's going to leave a big hole.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: JonathanC on February 27, 2012, 02:07:50 PM
Great vids thanks guys, just ignore them Bill, they're very mean and someone has to be responsible for maintaining global humidity levels ;D

Hey L, did a 15 mile solo ski the other day, had a friend drop me off for a downwinder. Really gave me a chance to take my time and start to get my head around steering the boat by leaning rather than trying to stop it broaching on the wave using the rudder and bracing. Suddenly all became so much smoother, faster and way less effort, started so get some insight into just how fast these things really are.

This is going to become very addictive!!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 27, 2012, 11:25:08 PM
Monday and it's still rolling.  To the oil tanks with Pono.  Took vid and some of Pono and Devin who appeared out of the blue.  Dark skies but F2 with 24mm focal ain't bad.  Just doesn't have that cozy sunny feel.  But learning angles right now.  Too tired to edit so some time tomorrow.

SurfCowboy, if you check this, yes those tiny little strips move all around inside my housing but never in the way of the lens... so I'm good tho a little bigger would be better.

Tomorrow I gotta rest.  Starting to feel broken down a tad.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on February 27, 2012, 11:30:52 PM
Yeah, I'm hurting all over. That was a fun run though, some big drops. Hope that one monster wave with Devin comes out.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on February 28, 2012, 01:00:23 AM
I was looking around for you guys, but didn't see anyone.  Fun run, but it seemed like a lot of work.  Maybe the E and NW swells conflicting.  I've been feeling a bit tired too.  Winds are scheduled to pick up.  I'll rest when the wind stops.   :)     

maliko 2-27-12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3I-s1OmAjs#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: DavidJohn on February 28, 2012, 05:33:31 PM

  What did you think about the image quality on the vid I shot?


The image quality was good... I liked the vid but it was a little hard to see.. It was a good view of the others while they were in shot.

What happened to your shoulder mount that you were working on?

DJ
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on February 28, 2012, 08:05:26 PM
DJ...Well the trouble with board mounts, as you well know, is staying together with subject.  That was really difficult because LaPer was in a ski, the fastest thing on the water.  It's much better when you have two SUPs... like yesterday's vid  which will post soon.  But although the conditions have been pretty good down winding the skies have been dark.  And that's why I asked about my image quality.  My Canon S100 has a F2 lens at 24mm focal length.  A Panny or Nikon waterproof P/S would look pretty weak with these recent skies.    Everything looks great when it's sunny so I was curious if you could tell.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on March 10, 2012, 06:34:06 PM
Today was very intense.  I was at the canoe hale at Kanaha all morning with all of Buzzy's ohana and extended ohana.  Spoke for my long time friend, paddled out with all his friends and said goodbye.  Over our shoulders, Victor and I couldn't help but see what was happening in the ocean.  Wind speed was 30-40+ mph.

So we left our friends and about around noon we launched.  Maybe the heaviest run I've ever experienced. Legs were already jelly from the morning's emotional ruin but conditions were so intense, you had to focus or you were done.    Long stretched out glides but crossed up with a very large groundswell.  Got bucked off hard on a few high speed drops from those crossed up swells but it finally evened out and before we knew it, we were down to the point where we had to cross the outside reef.  So just past outside Sprecks we made a dash for our usual channel. 

Our luck was bad and a looming set forced me to take the first wave in order to not get annihilated by the rest. Made the drop with back foot on the leash plug but speared up to my knees on the second suck out... .  Cord broke in an instant. Hat glasses blade, all gone but at least we were thru the impact zone.  Came up thrashed but saw my board and began sprinting for it before it blew away.  Victor's leash had held and he was about 30 yds ahead of me.  Seemed to be gaining on my board when a gust  seemed to boost it into an uncatchable (swimming) speed.  Victor fortunately had the  angle on it and snatched my board or else I was swimming all the way to shore. 

Got to my board and  we paddled together with a thirty yd spread upwind... looking for my gear.  Found the sunnies floating like they were designed to do, but the paddle was no where in sight.  Kept up the search (it was my prize KeNalu) for a half hour, just about to give up, when it popped up five yds from me.  Truly amazing. 

We got knocked around a bit on the camp one reef as well but finally made it back to the service and all our friends at the canoe hale.  Minus another hat that sank... Home now and absolutely ruined.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on March 10, 2012, 08:38:12 PM
Nice write up HM, thanks for taking the time.  To say goodbye to an old friend at the beach then paddle out into that big, windy maliko is a lot.  The run itself was enough to wipe me out.  Good work to find your paddle.  Either you're part bloodhound or Buzz pushed it to you...  

Deepest condolences to all that knew Buzz.  I usually try to think of him as I pass by kanaha, but the ocean had a grip on my attention.

Video is dumping into the editor now.  It's only the first 30 minutes, which is relatively uneventful. The real excitement starts as you start to whack the lefts going across the reef, usually at the 30 minute mark for me.  Unfortunately, I didn't record any of the good stuff.  I wasn't going to risk jumping out to reset the camera.  

Wind was cranking east when we went, and I mean ripping.  We all paired up today.  It wasn't planned, but once out there, it was understood.  Definetely not a day to be alone.  We had a great line on the harbor entrance from camp one in as it went ballistic.  Crazy big waves with wind shoving you in.  

Wind and waves are predicted to go down tomorrow, which is fine with me.  I have a feeling it won't be much smaller than today.  10 of 10 today.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on March 11, 2012, 01:54:24 AM
maliko 3-10-12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ZwfZRxZ_c#ws)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on March 11, 2012, 10:05:33 AM
It's leash check time.  Had mine break yesterday at the little string connect that goes into the swivel.  I doubt it broke all from yesterday, maybe, but checking for frayed connections is smart and can save you from a nightmare swim.  Fortunately having a partner yesterday served me well. 

I wish I could figure out how to connect the blade to the board for these  separation types of situations.  I always swim sprint for the board without the blade and until yesterday have never had problems prone paddling upwind once I retrieved my board to find the blade.  But yesterday had too many long periods where my blade could be down in a trough.... unseen.  I finally lucked out finding it but hate depending on luck.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: starman on March 11, 2012, 10:35:02 AM
Well instead of a leash for the paddle how about a bright colored donut floaty thing that slips over the shaft. That way the paddle may make it to the surface quicker..
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on March 11, 2012, 12:19:25 PM
Sam Pa'e had a neat trick for swimming with his paddle.  If I remember correctly, he would use a big carabiner on his fanny pack.  The blade would drag behind him and he could swim much faster.  

Here's what I do.  Short bungee with two loops taped to the center of my paddle.  Pull tab in case of emergency.  Carabiner is on back of pfd.  If my leg leash breaks and I need to swim, clip on the paddle.

As for using a leg leash and a paddle leash, it's very controversial in the ski world.  Some do it, but they are very experienced.  Some very experienced guys say it's a bad idea.  I agree with the latter.  A tangle can kill you.  

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/002600x339.jpg)

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/001600x336.jpg)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on March 12, 2012, 02:29:04 AM
Great condiions today.  Here's a clip of kanaha.

maliko 3-11-12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA50gbVkh_k#ws)

Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: powderskierman on March 12, 2012, 06:59:21 PM
I have had a few great runs with HM.  My most memorable was on I think my 4th ever downwinder on Butch's big blue.  It was an insane day for me, crazy mixed up swells and gusts over 35. 
I'm from Pittsburgh and lived in the mountains most of my life and this was my first trip to Maui and my first experience in the Pacific.  I forgot to mention, I can't swim to well.  HM and friends call me Pohaku.  Needless to say, I was gripped.  We get to outer sprecks and HM yells to me to look outside.  I just roll over what I considered a huge wave.  It ends up taking HM out and I'm paddling as fast as I can to get outside.  I can't see HM and get on my knees and try to look back for him.  I still don't see him.  2 minutes pass but they felt like 10 to me and I still don't see him.  I figure I'm %^&$# and I'm trying to remember how to get to the channel.  HM finally show up, I'm like, what happened, he says I lost my lucky hat and was looking for it.  It is a Baldface hat which I'm a part owner of and I say, $%#$ dude, I'll get you a case of hats.  All was well and I got through camp one with no trouble, I think because of the huge adreniline rush.  Scary but great run that I will never forget.  Thanks HM!!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on March 12, 2012, 07:36:37 PM
Fun on the Southside today, Steve Gates from Hood River is here with his Daughter Erin and son-in-law Rob, so Rob, Steve and I were going to do a Maliko, but the rain squalls were killing visibility and blocking the wind at times. So we did a southside run from the boardwalk to Makena Landing. Knuking all the way to Sorrentos, then past Four Seasons it picked up again then turned outside just before Makena. We went early--like 11:30 or 12:00 and that's too bad because it was filling in nicely when we left Makena and was blowing like crazy at the boardwalk when we got back. Did the board switch there--wasn't thinking.

I rode my Bullet, and had a tough time with balance. Probably fell 20 times. I've gotten used to the F16 and being able to stand in one spot--I planted the nose of the bullet in a lot of wave backs.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on March 17, 2012, 11:07:36 AM
In two more days, we who SUP DW will be jumping back to the spring and summer report, where in our absence, surf ski discussion has had an elongated hijack.  I hope the surf ski stuff remains because their input is very intriguing.  Any way you get down this coast with a paddle is intriguing.  

Pono Bill was concerned this winter about lack of glassy surf days.  I told him some winters are like this... and then he got his wish... for the first week in Feb.  Glassy clean waves.  But the last five weeks since have been almost non stop epic downwind conditions with several days topping 40mph.  Maybe the best stretch I've seen.  Sure, there have been whales and rogue waves  to steer clear of on the outer reefs but the overall wind speed has been spectacular in what is usually the calmest part of the year.  WHo knows what spring and summer will bring in this topsy turvy year?  I'm just thankful for what we have had this winter.  This stretch of coastline when the wind is strong, is a wonder of the world.  

So spring means the rest of the paddling world begins to focus on rough water paddling.  The paddling 'season' will restart.  It could continue to be fantastic but will be a little like having to sing after Jessica Sanchez on American Idol (my wife watches it, but yeah, the girl sings awesome)

Pono Bill will soon give us the slip and return to the summer wind machine in Hood River.   LPB, will stay and at some point switch back to SUP... maybe.  My bet is one run on his SUP and he'll jump back to his ski.  There are a few others that report in these threads and I hope to meet all of them.

Lost a very good friend to a heart attack on the run this year but on runs since, I've felt the spirit and energy of his presence... so I got that going for me.  Gunga Gunga Galunga
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on March 18, 2012, 10:36:26 AM
Yesterday I did a run with Jeremy and Jill.  Went early enough to avoid the glare and Jeremy took a camera to coach Jill.  He is in absolute control out there and it's really amazing to take a drop and see him in your peripheral vision right next to you.  Also it's a rare time to see one of the top paddlers in action for an extended period of time since he's hanging back to shoot video.

 Jill will of course always be my ultimate hero.  She was the ER nurse in '07 when I went in for my A-fib and diagnosed and attended to me immediately  ... when time was of the essence.

Beautiful run and when I was all wrapped up, Keith called hungry for a run so I went again with him.  Launched at 3:30 which is usually kinda late but it was still cranking and the grain on the water was perfect, altho heavy afternoon glare was hard on the eyes, even with sunnies. 

Another old hang gliding pal lost his surf ski on his run.  He made it in, I know that much, but no details.  Apparently dehydrated and  exhausted.  If you come one here with a surf ski, check out what guys like Eric and LPB have as accessory equipment.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on March 18, 2012, 12:58:48 PM
Just got word that Doug had hypothermia after his swim. He's ok, not sure if he's still in the hospital. 

His boat washed up at kanaha, destroyed.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on March 18, 2012, 06:27:39 PM
Doug got knocked over by a wave about Sprecks.  No info on why he separated from his ski.  He had to swim in to kanaha.   

His paddle was found in the water by oc-1's.  He was very late, so the fire dept. searched with the helicopter.  At times, the helo was right above him, but could not see him, (white rashguard).  Hypothermia, dehydration, exhaustion.     

I'm not sure where the boat washed up.  Maybe over by ledges.  It's in the grass at the harbor now.

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/2012-03-18001600x312.jpg)

A young strong oc-1 padddler busted a cable and finished early at kanaha.  He was able to phone his friends from the water.  He tried to secure the rudder with rubber, but the knot failed.  He and the boat are fine. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: pdxmike on March 18, 2012, 07:41:30 PM
Another confirmation of something that gets mentioned often in rescue situations--how difficult it is to see people in the water. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 808sup on March 18, 2012, 10:54:06 PM
The wind this yr. has been as good as you could ask for. The run's that I had yesterday and today were both really fast. The harbor was outta control today blowing nearly straight in your face! The exhaust from the cruise ship only added to the misery >:( I did see the mangled ski on the lawn and wondered what happened. Glad to hear he made it in. I'm sure we haven't seen the last of our winter swells. At least I hope we will see a few more....
Title: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Southbay on September 29, 2015, 12:25:31 AM
Being that it is nearly October, I figured I would resurrect this thread.  2012?  Must have done alot of Kihei runs last few winters! 

So today was wild....Not crazy windy 20+, but plenty of swell, so it was not really white capping.  The shuttle up was pretty empty.  Me, Devin, Vitea and a Tahitian friend.  Paddled out of the gulch and the glides were better than Saturday, but still not great.  Definitely feeling like winter.

Devin past me around Baldwin after a fall, and I could not catch her the rest of the run.  Her line looked a little inside, but I was already behind, so I couldn't waste time chickening out!  Around Upper Kanaha a set stacked up and I knew it could be close, but if I caught the first one I could skirt the reef and get out of harms way.  I caught the first one, went right hard and took it as far as I could, but it was not quite enough.  The one behind it was already feathering.  Luckily it was still just at the top, not breaking top to bottom.  I turned so it could hit me straight.  I ran to  the back of the board to keep from pearling and paddled hard.  It was a large wave, but it was still in deep water, and I was able to catch it and not get knocked off the board.  I turned right as hard as I could manage and went down the line.  The wave was starting to bend in front of me on the reef.  I was really flying down the line!  Wanted to  pull off, but also didn't want to get clipped by the one behind it.  As is started to  bend too hard, I pulled up and off, and was out of danger.  It was a 5 wave set, but the Upper Upper Outer reef was behind me and I was in the clear. 

I finished a few hundred yards behind Devin.  Damn she is fast...As we were paddling through the harbor I saw a big splash about 100 yards behind Devin and 100 yards in front of me.  I looked up and stared hard on the spot.  I have seen big rays in the harbor, and they can splash around, so I was concentrating hard on the spot and again a big splash.  Now I started to veer out away from the splash just in case it was a shark, and BOOM out of the water comes a easily 10 foot shark.  It was no BS just like the footage of the whites eating seals, completely out of the water and sort of spasming in mid air.  I am NOT saying this was a white shark, the water on Maui is like 84 right now, so very doubtful, but it was grey and white and flying through the air.  I didn't want to yell and Devin and have her slow down, so I just paddled hard and fast.  Careful not to splash, just clean and fast!  Devin had no idea what was behind her.  Vitea and his friend were about 10 minutes behind us and they also saw it. 

Very exciting day for poor wind.  I could go for some more of the traditional downwind thrills, but all in all a exciting day on the water.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on September 29, 2015, 01:05:55 AM
Yeah I forgot about this thread even tho I started it.  Last week we had a four day 'trend' out of Maliko but the wind has shifted notably to a more northerly direction favoring the south shore.  Cove, Victor and I went there and scored today and I was very happy to avoid any  leaping sharks that Southbay reported.  Who knows what this winter will bring.  It certainly has been an odd summer.

Nice save and drop-in Southbay!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on September 29, 2015, 12:16:45 PM
We need to resurrect this thread. Resurrecting anything at my age is good.

Southbay, YIKES, you had an eventful paddle. I saw your cars at the harbor when I drove past. We got a total bonus on the southside. We launched from the canoe club across from Suda's Store around quarter to three. We paddled straight out about 1/2 mile or so then turned left. HM, Victor and I all stayed close together for the whole run. It was literally nothing but three or four strokes and surf, connect, surf, connect on big, fat, smooth rollers for miles. The kind of FUN that downwinding is supposed to be about.

I already posted a report on Saturday's run down Maliko on the Smokin Spring and Summer Maliko thread. It was rugged and satisfying because it was difficult and required skill and judgement to pull off. But I'm not sure I had that much fun. On the other hand, I AM sure I had fun on the southside run.

The shark story is disturbing for a number of reasons. First, I have, on at least four or five occasions, seen something huge jumping out in the middle of the basin between the ships and tugs (the outer east end of the harbor) out of the corner of my eye and also have seen the same thing out in the middle of the outer harbor.  Whatever I saw, it was BIG and came clear out of the water. Then, a couple weeks ago, paddling harbor circles in my outrigger, I saw a smaller shark eating what I presumed to be a turtle for about 15 seconds. This one was about 70 feet away from me and probably just a reef shark - only 5 or 6 feet probably. But the thrashing was continuous and determined and 15 seconds seemed like a very long time to watch this. Anyway, that is tres spooky.

Great report SB. Maybe try for SSide again later on today....
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on September 29, 2015, 03:14:59 PM
Could be a spinner--they jump pretty high, and they get to about ten feet. Pointy nose, thresher sort of tail. they hang in tropical waters. The high jump specialist is the shortfin Mako, but they like cold water. Coulda been a white. Temperature doesn't matter too much. It's colder down where they live. If it looked like this...

(http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/files/2011/07/shark-breaching-picture.jpg)

...run.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Southbay on September 29, 2015, 06:02:04 PM
Just looked up the Spinner Shark, and the description of how it feeds seems correct, but the coloring looks like a gradual Grey to white, and the shark that I saw was very distinct grey and white.  If I was in the mainland I would have thought white shark for sure, but this picture of a Tiger is exactly what it looked like.  Not sure if they jump?  God I hope they don't...
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Southbay on September 29, 2015, 06:09:27 PM
More Pier 1 footage:  https://youtu.be/k542g_M8m6M
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on September 29, 2015, 06:46:07 PM
Oh yeah, they jump. Not really high, they aren't that fast, but they get their body out of the water. I saw one boot a turtle ten or so feet in the air once. Didn't see the shark, but the turtle looked like a big green frisbee. This blonde girl that was surfing next to me (Blonde, I swear!) said "I didn't know they could do that."

Spinners actually look almost uniform grey, though their bellies are lighter.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on September 30, 2015, 09:28:14 PM
Went today on Maliko. Very light attendance on the shuttle.

It looked on the light side for wind on the ride up but there was actually still plenty of swell with head high to overhead waves at Ho'okipa. The bay at Maliko was still nasty brown and the water was dark paddling out. Once outside the gulch, it was evident that the big east windswell was still running full steam. I'd estimate the swell at 10 to 14 feet which is still quite significant.  The wind was due east and fortunately, it was much better than it looked from shore. However, it was immediately apparent that this was going to be another rugged run where the swell was a huge factor, no pun intended.

Trouble was, there was a significant amount of north in the swell and you did not want to be inside with that much water moving around. So, the order of the day was to stay outside and surf right, which was really tough. There was a lot of surface chop and some nice easterly surface waves that were probably 4 to 6 or 7 feet. These were on top of the big 12+ foot rollers so it got pretty damn difficult to make connections, stay upright, keep your line and read the water.

I had managed to chase Ralf out of the gulch and start just behind him. Surprisingly, we finished very close together - which is unusual. Ralf is typically 5 minutes or more ahead of me. But, as I mentioned, it was technical, bumpy, and rugged. Not a day that you could make great time. Ralf can break an hour on a good day but today we both paddled an hour and seventeen minutes to get to the harbor. Slow going. Although I never did put many connections together today, I got a lot of really fun drops and surfs. One big bomb but lots of the smaller stuff. The wind turned out to be excellent for much of the run. There were places it was light and even almost non-existent, but for the most part, it was solid high 20's or even +.

What a difference paddling these conditions compared to doing Kihei runs the previous days. No question Maliko makes you a better paddler but I often feel like I'm just surviving the run rather than shredding and surfing like I feel on the south shore. Glad to say that there were ZERO JUMPING SHARKS on today's run. I'm ready for a few more on the south side again. A little bit of Maliko in today's conditions goes a long way for me.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 07, 2015, 12:36:56 AM
First Maliko for me in a few months and very good.  Fair east swell running.  Wind was light for a few miles out of the gulch then lit up the rest of the way.  Looked forward to paddling with my pal PBill but he removed himself from the mix farting around... his second day back. 

Wintery conditions.  You had to be weary of outside sets off uppers and tomorrow will probably be even more sketchy with a NW swell added in.  SOme zoners from Oahu coming over so that should be fun....
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 07, 2015, 04:14:55 AM
Sorry about that. It looked pretty flat here about the time I figured you got in, but then it picked right up and I was kicking myself.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 08, 2015, 08:05:08 PM
A year from now will be election day but today Southbay and I went down wind in full winter conditions.  Swell was supposed to drop but was even bigger than yesterday, a day I passed on because too much swell.  But we went today because we were ... nuts.  No problem getting away from the shore with east winds which felt good since rather hefty bombs were rolling under us on their way towards shore.  Wind was spectacular out of the gate and even though surface was a little  crossed up from the swell, drops were breath-taking and smooth until you got lifted up and out. 

Elevation changes were significant.  Southbay was just ahead of me in a trough and it seemed I was around 50 feet above him.  The ups and downs are a real workout on your legs.

We were outside beyond any threatening bombs and had a long cut left to do at the end to finish at the oil tanks.  But surf provided a quick traverse.  One wave covered around a half mile. 

We were buzzed when we got in.  Big water means safety first or maybe second or third... maybe fourth.  Here's a pic Southbay took.  I was surprised at how clean a shot his i6 takes.  I have one and will have to try it.  Anyway you'll notice that there isn't any flat horizon behind and that's the way it was.... long slopes.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 08, 2015, 08:57:41 PM
Those are nice photos HM but they barely capture the energy out there today. Great color. Launching a little behind you guys, I think the wind was maybe a notch more steady with some great gusts. I opted for my OC1 and when I saw how the conditions were shaping up as I returned to the harbor to catch the shuttle, I was kicking myself for not taking my standup.

Today was probably the biggest conditions I've seen in my boat and it was technical and spooky, but I never had any drama. I did paddle somewhat conservatively as an ama down crash was a definite possibiliy on some of the big bombs - not something I wanted to test out. Drops were huge and super fun, especially at the upper end of the run. I was nervous with the size of the east windswell and a respectable northerly groundswell about the reef at upper Kanaha, so I made sure to stay far outside. It's tough to see far ahead in big swell when you're sitting down. On the standup, you can see where it's breaking and choose your line as needed. In the boat, you don't want to make the wrong call since a big breaker could pretty much dismantle you if you had some bad luck. As I made the run towards the harbor mouth, it was apparent that Pier One was showing some surf as well. I just made sure I ran far enough west and had an absolutely awesome last section towards the entrance. Lots of fun bumps in there.

I thought it was a great run, even with the big windswell and choppy surface but it was a bit sticky. I managed to come in just ahead of the fast standup girls but only because I was in the boat. If I'd been on my board, they would have trounced me. 

Hats off to Mr. HM and SB for braving the line into the oil tanks today. There's more of this on tap I think. I'm hoping the swell comes down a tad but I don't expect it will.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: TallDude on November 08, 2015, 09:07:25 PM
Those ain't no bumps and troughs... I've been In some deep troughs where it seems the world disappears, but those rollers are crazy huge. You got to feel pretty small out there.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: SEA on November 09, 2015, 12:04:37 AM


Well our first time doing Maliko was Saturday (yesterday ) and Victor opted to take us in at Oil tanks , it was pretty rough with some good size swells coming from N.west as well as from the east . We got a late start and it felt pretty sticky out there. definitely had many bumps to ride but was not stringing many bumps together , was just trying to figure out the water and bumps there. For me not knowing where to come in through the surf was the hardest part of the run ( never paddled or surfed the east side before :) and by the time we got down to angle in towards the tanks it was blowing hard at our left side as we were quartering in past Kanaha before Pier 1. I was also using a fixed fin 14 and I'm definitely a rudder man :) it was challenging but super fun. It was a workout on the legs for sure. was a good initiation run for me and my two buddies from Oahu , none of us had ever done Maliko before today. Gavin said as he took us to Maliko that it was blowing 38 to 40 earlier but might have been 35 , we got a late start maybe 1:15 or so .

Today was even bigger with open ocean swells coming from the north but it did not seem as windy as yesterday . I saw victors line and some of the time he was hugging the surf line , but i know how victor is so I stayed outside of him and played it safe , it was super fun and challenging out in condition on a board I have never paddled before :)  Today I stayed closer to victor and was able to get a better visual on where he was heading in , although he was far enough away from me that I had to choose my own line in through the inner reef before Kanaha park.  we cut it shorter today as we had to be at the airport  at 5:30 and we never launched till about 1:30 !!

Since I never paddled Maliko I have nothing else to go by but last 2 days and according to Victor it was challenging with the waves and east swell and strong winds. My legs are still sore as I type this at 10 at night :)  Good news though wind is supposed to be 25 mph from east tomorrow here on Oahu so we doing a run about 9:am Im gonna be fried after tomorrow :)

Big Mahalo to Gavin for shuttling us in his Truck and lending us a board and for Victor taking us 2 days in a row and loading up and lending us two boards. He even lent me his new 14 footer to ride today , so I was over cautious coming in through the waves :) never like ding his new board.  What an initiation weekend !!!

Sorry you couldn't make it  Bill was looking forward paddling with you , there will be a next time soon :)

I think next time Im gonna rent a goofy foot bullet from Scott up at SIC :)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 09, 2015, 12:46:33 AM
I guess you didn't get my cell number in time.  Yeah today was a heavy day to initiate.  We went earlier because my partner and I had afternoon duties and launched with many OC-1s at 12. 

SEA I didn't know what your board situation was.  Yes next time get a rudder board from SIC.  Something you're used to.  But those Brian boards Victor has are pretty good.  Light and quick off the line though not as much carry as a longer board.

Next time for sure.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 09, 2015, 06:53:48 AM
Geez SEA, you jumped right in on the deep end of the pool.

Yeah, Victor is nuts. I would never follow him on medium big days like this weekend. He doesn't have any wave fear.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: SEA on November 09, 2015, 09:30:36 AM
Yah sorry Bill i got your number when I got back to oahu , i didn't have my computer on maui and never went online to zone while up on maui .  I missed my bullet for sure , but I had a blast and would like to have done the full run to Harbor , but next time.  Also really want to do a south side run sounds so much fun !!!

Yah P.B  victor is good fun nuts?? ,  but what a great guy , and I've been surfing my whole life and felt very comfortable out there. Just coming in through surf was a trip cause i have no clue where the reef runs and what to expect . so i was constantly looking a half a mile to a mile down line sizing up where the set waves were breaking and making sure I was a little outside was all good. It must be crazy when waves get 15 feet or so can't really come in through the reef and gotta go way outside to get into harbor ???

You guys are blessed for sure Maui is an awesome place , last time i was there was 18 years ago !!! sure has grown :(    I 'm coming back soon for sure :)

about to go do a run out ay Hawaii Kai wind guru calling for 25 to 30 from east :) going to be like that all the way to next week , sucks living in Hawaii yah ??
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: digger71 on November 09, 2015, 09:46:39 AM
How is it coming in at Oil Tanks with a decent N swell running?  I've come in at Kanaha with headmount before Olukai and run all the way to the harbor, but not there.  Does is save some time and avoid the cross wind paddle across the harbor?
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 09, 2015, 09:48:48 AM
Thanks for the report SEA, I love paddling with Victor, but, I'd make sure he was way to my left following him on a bigger day down the north side. He loves to play the edge of the reef whereas I prefer the safety (aka chicken line) of being further outside. HM has scared me going in at oil tanks too - we've nearly gotten creamed a few times, but somehow, we always managed to slide in unscathed. I know that kind of luck doesn't hold forever!

It's not just the inside that becomes sketchy when the Winter swell gets bigger or the angle changes, the outer, outer reef at Kanaha, which goes far beyond what you'd expect, will light up on the sets when it's big. Getting caught in the wrong place at the wrong time could be beyond ugly. Some of us call that area 'the valley of the shadow of death'.  You might scoot through between sets and never even know there are breaking 20 footers coming through. Or, you might scratch for the horizon to try and go around, then sharp turn back for the harbor entrance. Or, you might get unlucky. Winter can be rolling the dice on some days.

South shore is an absolute blast to paddle but the wind is so east right now, there is nothing but a bubble over there. It would have been fun to meet you guys and paddle, although with the conditions being what they are, the harbor line is more to my liking than chancing the reef. We are due for more strong trades here too, all week. Enjoy!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 09, 2015, 09:55:42 AM
How is it coming in at Oil Tanks with a decent N swell running?  I've come in at Kanaha with headmount before Olukai and run all the way to the harbor, but not there.  Does is save some time and avoid the cross wind paddle across the harbor?

Yes, it saves time and the x-wind paddle. 'Depends' regarding your first question. If you know the reefs, depending on the swell size and angle, it can be a no-drama return.

I've almost gotten caught in there a couple times as I am not very familiar with the lower end of Kanaha. On those occasions, it was flat and then a set would roll in and you'd look to your right and see walls bearing down on you as you traverse some very shallow water with a sharp reef under you. I never knew how strong the motivation could be to run and not fall no matter what. Then, when you get near the beach, you need to be aware of the old, partially submerged tank traps from WW2. No showers or amenities like grass to set your gear on when you get out either. On the other hand, if you really HATE the harbor......it can make sense.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Southbay on November 09, 2015, 10:06:23 AM

How is it coming in at Oil Tanks with a decent N swell running?  I've come in at Kanaha with headmount before Olukai and run all the way to the harbor, but not there.  Does is save some time and avoid the cross wind paddle across the harbor?
On the other hand, if you really HATE the harbor......it can make sense.

The best part coming in at the oil tanks is not having to do a half mile flat water slog right at at the end of the run. 

Yesterday I said to HM "ending here definitely ends with a adrenaline kick." 

And he calmly said, in a way that those of you that know him will understand, "well yeah, it's winter and that's what it's all about.." 

Duh kid!  Haha. Good fun Maui!

Pono, where you stay?  Cove, you fucka...

 (http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/09/58f691a54e60cbe0b8df9b51522b2fb0.jpg)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 09, 2015, 10:13:04 AM
Can you go today SB? Thinking about 1pm....

Wow, cool pictures from yesterday!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Southbay on November 09, 2015, 10:19:07 AM
I wish....I think i am out till Wednesday.  Forecast look really good all week!

Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 09, 2015, 10:36:23 AM
My arm is all better but I'm committed to a 3:00 PM appointment. After that I'm clear for the week. Should be some good Malikos this week, I'm champing at the bit.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: coldsup on November 09, 2015, 10:42:12 AM
So here's a vid LaPer and I did yesterday.  Really difficult positioning so that the camera points at the subject (LaPer)  He's zigging left when I'm right and so on.  Felt like some fighter pilot video game only I was trying for "camera lock" with my tail mount.  Had some Malolos hit me in the shins but the camera had heavy water drops on that clip.  You see me splash back with my blade to clear it.  Anyway paying attention to the camera took my focus off trimming the board sometimes and you'll see it bury.  We went again today, high cirrus so no good for camera but a fantastic run where I didn't have to think about the camera angle.  Anyway here it is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FqPo6XE37w

Just caught up with the vid.....how good does that look!

Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 09, 2015, 01:05:11 PM
Great camera angle! Yep, that looks like primo conditions. Wonder if LPB will bring his Bullet over, it looks like he had it figured out pretty well. Love some of those shots, amazing!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 09, 2015, 04:21:10 PM
Nice job. Yep, thet thar wuz a Maliko. Good music too, I always feel on a biggish day that I'm halfway between jungle fever and a Hawaiian war chant. You gave me a stiff neck hanging on a couple of those drops, I was shoving forward pretty hard considering I was sitting in a chair.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 09, 2015, 08:36:46 PM
Jimmie Hepp caught me strolling on by during the Aloha Classic windsurf contest. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 09, 2015, 09:12:40 PM
^^^^^Nice photo bomb.

It looked smaller today, and the wind looked like it was cranking but as we drove up towards the gulch, the clouds thickened and it looked like we might even have to paddle. As in hard.

Fortunately, it was not what it appeared from land. The swell looked a bit tamer as we paddled out, LPB and Banana Bruce in their boats and Devin and I on stand ups. Could not believe on a day like today the shuttle only had four of us.

I was anxious to turn downwind and start catching bumps since the wind was kind of weak. I need not have worried. The wind built into solid low 30's I'd guess, and that by the time we got around Baldwin Beach. As we moved down the coast, the swell got seriously huge, BIG NE windswell. The current was taking us in but the wind direction made it more than easy to go right. By Camp One, I saw big breaking waves on the outer reef again. I stayed outside and had a no drama passage. Man, it was fast. The big bumps were easy to get into and to stay on by steering with the rudder. There were some doubled up steep drops that you barely had to paddle into, the wind would fire a serious gust and you'd be scrambling to the tail as fast as you could.

When the time came to head towards the harbor, there was no problem. The swell and wind were lined up at a perfect angle to make the entrance with lots of surfing. I could see Devin ahead of me and she'd let the easterlies push her pretty far towards the far jetty. She had to work hard to get in. I stayed upwind of the entrance and let the wind and waves help get me in, just clear of the upwind jetty. The harbor itself was one of the worst paddles I've ever had. The wind was screaming, funneling past the docked cruise ship, making for an awful 12 minute paddle from the mouth to the beach.

Everybody finished stoked. It was a great Winter run. What a crazy year, super strong easterlies in November, HUGE NE windswell and a definite lack of surfing waves on the horizon. After the hot, windless late summer. Uggh, I'll take this anytime.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: LaPerouseBay on November 10, 2015, 07:00:50 AM
Super fun run.  Big ramps covered with white streaks.  I thought is was raining for awhile, but Devin said no - no rain.  I guess the drops flying past my head were spin drift from the foamies behind. 

The ENE swell is reading bigger today, so check your leashes.
 
http://www.surfline.com/surfdata/forecast_buoy_detail_new.cfm?bid=51205

Amazing conditions.  Truly spectacular.  Sheesh, I was holding back speed for safety in the ski, but the wind blasts were forcing me to charge.  So fun.  Very addictive.  I train for days like that.  My body was ready but the mind needed to cut loose.  Usually the other way around.  Maliko is unreal when it rips straight down.  That was a good day for a speed run. 



 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko reported
Post by: Off-Shore on November 10, 2015, 07:24:32 AM
"My body was ready but the mind had to cut loose"

Exactly how I felt today. We had 50kph / 26 knot winds today with a side ocean swell coming from left to right. The conditions were so good I got up at 5.30am to go before work and the conditions were so good I managed to go again after work. The difference was the light. After work it was nearing dusk and whilst my body could feel what to do, my mind bottled out in the semi darkness and I lost connections and eventually fell. Funny how the mind works..  But there is always another day!  :D
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 10, 2015, 08:52:06 AM
Well put, LPB. That is exactly how I felt yesterday. My brain got in my way, when I could turn off the noise and relax, I had much better results. I kept finding myself looking around at these giant peaks everywhere, marching down the coast, while the wind was blasting me along and thinking, how can humans even be out here when it's like this? Then I'd thank Mark Raaphorst and charge on before my mind would get in the way again.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Southbay on November 10, 2015, 11:49:20 AM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D

1:30 at da tanks.

 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 10, 2015, 01:30:08 PM
Wind looks good today, but what's with that NNE swell? Geez, some of the sets coming through are big enough for Peahi to go off. I thought today was supposed to be smaller? The wind is cutting on and off with the showers. Plenty strong when it's on, but bobbing like a rubber duckie in the middle of heaving Camp One sounds a little "interesting".
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 10, 2015, 01:42:27 PM
Trade swell from days on end of wind. Just checked Kanaha, it's better down here. Sunny and the wind is still cranking. It is probably fine to go if you stay outside. The swell must be bending in on the reefs because according to the buoys, it's relatively short period but hefty windswell. No groundswell to speak of. I want to get wet, going to go windsurf maybe.  :P
Buoys 8am
Pauwela
9.7ft @ 10s from 57° (ENE)
3.4ft @ 6s from 77° (ENE)

Barbers
4.1ft @ 7s from 143° (SE)
2.3ft @ 16s from 198° (SSW)
1.6ft @ 12s from 194° (SSW)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 11, 2015, 12:10:59 PM
Crazy fricken' weather. Storms blowing by my house are so thick I can't see the water. Shuts the wind off 100 percent--what I can see looks like a lake in a rainstorm. I'm on the shuttle for 1:00. Hope I don't regret this.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 11, 2015, 09:30:50 PM
Tough one today. Kind of sporty from the gulch to Camp One, then the drops got so deep there was no wind at the bottom of them. Every canyon I dropped into had something big and lumpy running sideways across the bottom, so no hooking things together, just drop, turn and stop. Kind of exhausting.

Then I got to Kahana. What a clusterfuck. crazy swells running in every direction, including an occasional swell right out of the north that was really big. No idea where that was coming from. It was so crossed up that there were no swell lines--just peaks everywhere. I fell seven times just from my board getting shoved sideways out from under me. Frustrating.

Then I got close to the Harbor--seriously crossed up, pier one going off really big. So big I could hear it thump. Then a tug and barge came out of the entrance and started turning east, right towards me. Okay, I was out pretty far. So sue me.

I started to run for the jetty, but then Pier one thumped again. I figured I could dodge around the barge even if it got close, but if I got caught inside at Pier One there would be no dodging. I cleared the tug and barge with a few hundred feet to spare. Then I saw the second tug and barge  coming out of the north, heading for the entrance. Great, I needed to race a tug to the jetty. I got almost to the entrance and fell. So, do I sit tight and wait for the tug to go in and maybe chance a close encounter as he maneuvers in the heavy surf? The Tug was about two hundred feet away, making for the entrance and obviously planning to come close to the south end--where I wanted to be. I decided to go for it, got back and caught a few nice bumps, wobbled a bit but made it in, made the turn into the slack water and started paddling like mad for the piers so I could cut across to the canoe Hale without getting in the tugs way. He came in pretty fast, but I cut across well in front of him. Frantic end to a pretty screwed up run.

Oh, and I saw a big tiger off Spreks, apparently chasing flying fish. I didn't know they did that, or maybe the malolo were just nervous. They were exploding all over the place, I looked to see if an ono was chasing them and spotted mister stripy in the face of a swell. Big buggah--12 to 14. I turned my head to follow him as I went by and of course I fell in the water. What a bozo. Pretty quick about getting back on the board though.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 11, 2015, 11:32:09 PM
I would have to offer that having today as your first Maliko run in six months may have contributed to the experience you found yourself having PB. Honestly, if today had been my inaugural run down Maliko after being away for six months, I probably never would have had the guts to even paddle out.

It was a very big day. It's been a big week and the wind swell has been running for days while the trades that are fueling it just get stronger. The end of today's run had to be 40 knots of wind. Yeah, I know that means like 45 mph. It was screaming for the last few miles. My Garmin had my last mile at an average speed of 8.0 mph, and that was in big, gnarly waves that required full attention surfing a 17+ foot board down them. It wasn't a run I even thought about speed, more like staying on my feet, not going over the handlebars and not getting hurt when I did fall in.

But, this was my fourth run in the big stuff over the past week. It was not nearly as horrible as it could have been. Yes, the windswell was ginormous, I am not exaggerating to say that the elevation changes at times looked and felt like 25 to 30 feet. But there was little groundswell and there were some extremely smooth, well spaced rolling bombs that, with 30 mph+ of wind, you could get into again and again.  It felt a little unfair at times. These are not average conditions nor are they common.

SB and I travelled together for the entire run today. It was really good to have someone close by. Fun to hoot at each other and know that someone else was out there if anything went awry. You needed to stay far outside off Kanaha to avoid the huge swell breaking on the reef as it bent and jacked. As PB said, Pier One was another sketch zone. With the wind being so strong and so easterly, it was important to stay far enough west to avoid Pier One while making sure you didn't end up overshooting the harbor entrance.

To add to the mayhem, a barge was coming out just as SB and I neared the entrance but our timing was good, he was out before we got there. Unfortunately for me, I cut my finger open somewhere off Kanaha and it kept dripping blood. Then I fell in the maelstrom that was the harbor mouth and split my big toe open. It started bleeding too. The harbor looked horrible with the super strong easterlies but SB and I hid along the breakwall and scratched far upwind before harbor security came flying down the dock with their lights flashing. At which point I abruptly turned right and headed downwind for our final beach landing point. Turned out perfect. As we were rinsing and telling our war stories, two more barges came in, the second was a big one and it took up nearly the entire outer harbor as it was being maneuvered by two or three tugs. Of course, that was the one PB got messed up by.

My little wounds will heal, hopefully the toe won't take too long. It ended up being fairly deep and bloody. I did a major wash and soak when I got home. Don't want to chance an infection. Here's a few pics that SB took....
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Off-Shore on November 12, 2015, 07:01:59 AM
Awesome commentary as usual. And GREAT pics! Looks like you're having epic conditions, similar to us..

I did not see any tigers or barges today, but did manage a before and after work downwind. An in-shore one in the morning and an off-shore one late afternoon. Life is good when the wind blows..
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 12, 2015, 07:55:36 AM
Nice reports gang.  That's why I like the oil tanks. Great pic of Cove, by Southbay. 

PB  Welcome back.  My son had his big 40 yesterday and it was extended family day for me.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 12, 2015, 10:20:22 AM
You might not have liked the oil tanks yesterday, the reefs were firing at a 45 degree angle. Whacky and a little unpredictable
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Southbay on November 12, 2015, 11:38:41 AM
Yesterday was super fun, in a glad I'm still alive and hope I can keep it that way, kind of way!  You guys going again today?  I have the board on the truck....not sure I can swing it, but I'd like to try  ;D
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 12, 2015, 07:25:05 PM
Went with Boyum and Peggy, fun run until we turned in to head for the tanks. Everything was going great when my knee suddenly went wonky. Didn't hurt, just didn't have any strength or stability. I Pocahontas'ed for a while until the knee recovered, and then surfed to the oil tanks. Caught a couple of really nice waves coming in. Ran to the tail and hung out as passenger.

Really wasn't bad coming in to the tanks, but we almost screwed up the line. Thought we were far enough out to clear the corner, but the ENE wind and ENE swell pushed us too close to the reef. Had to scratch out for a while, and still got pretty close to getting clipped in the corner. There were some big sets.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 12, 2015, 11:15:02 PM
My fault making PBill wait for Peggy when she slipped behind.  PBill was on a great roll and I shoulda let him keep rolling.  Waiting on your knees isn't good for the knees.  Mine felt a little weird after waiting as well.  But just wanted to keep everyone within eyesight. 

Loved the end.  Rode across the kite beach break again on one wave like Southbay and I did on Sunday.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 13, 2015, 05:30:41 AM
I was good with waiting. It was a good day to stick together. Not super scary, but rough enough to make a broken leash a possibility. I was recovered from the wait when the knee started to go, and I got it to behave itself by kneeling for a while, so it wasn't the wait. Just coming apart a little. I think it will strengthen up with a few more runs.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 13, 2015, 12:36:36 PM
SB and I went too, shuttled it on a late shuttle. She ran at 1:30, giving us a launch time around 2.

It initially seemed less intense than the previous days but by the time we got down the coast a ways, it was still like marching with a herd of elephants. There was a little less wind and more countercurrent and our time ended up six minutes (!) slower than the previous day.

I had fun yesterday, I was a little less on the edge but I missed the 40 mph gusts that made dropping into everything a piece of cake. Yesterday required some paddling. My toe bandage held to almost the harbor. I was able to get the tape wad into my pocket so it wouldn't end up as fish food. It looks like the wound is going to take another few days to really heal so I need to wrap again and be careful if I go today.

Lots of rain squalls upstream that look like they will affect Maliko today. Forecast is for diminishing number of showers as the day goes by. I'm ready for a nice south shore run anytime now! Maliko has really been on fire for the last week and I'm starting to feel the fatigue. No complaints, as long as it lasts, it's all good!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 14, 2015, 06:24:58 PM
Covesurfer got a B-day present today in the form of an unreal downwinder.  What a day.  25-35 during our run.  Very intense and nerve racking at times.  Exciting until uppers when I started to feel like the Midnight Rider wondering if I had a silver dollar left in my pocket.  Split the outside point and inside break with potential leash breaking sets all around. 

Launched at high noon which turned out to be lucky since on the drive back up the wind had taken at least a 10 mph drop.  Winter is here with all its intensity and unknowns.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 14, 2015, 06:30:50 PM
Looked awesome from my house, where I was practicing my stroke with a pressure washer. Monster east swells with wind stacking them up and big, fluffy whitewater everywhere. Looked like a sheep ranch. The ENE swell looked terrifying. Booming over the island.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 14, 2015, 08:21:34 PM
Maliko was a birthday gift today and best of all, I had a no-fall run. Under the conditions we had, I'll take it.

It's been a gnarly, intense week out there. Super fun because the wind direction and horsepower but not ever a walk in the park. Very challenging. We may not have much more of this cycle left. I had to fight my good sense to not go out there in such wild conditions but I'm glad I went. I didn't have a single un-fun run.

I have to say my Bullet was remarkable and confidence inspiring. I don't think I would have done nearly as well in conditions like we've been having on my F16. I would have gotten bucked off even more. I'm still stoked about a no-fall run today after yesterday being a rest day. Sometimes you have to slow down to go faster.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Southbay on November 14, 2015, 11:23:18 PM
Did the 1pm today. Looked down the hill and saw passing showers. Text Kathy and she said she was taking her boat. I hadn't been in my boat in a couple months, so I decided to do the same. Showed up at 1240 to almost all boats. Jeremy was on his OC-2 with a writer from Distressed Mullet, Kai Bartlett was there with his new wife and then Kathy, LP and I rounded out the crew. R2 was the only guy on a SUP. Looked like I made the right choice. The drive up there looked pretty good. Plenty of whitecaps and strong winds. Big east swell breaking on the outer reefs, but nothing beyond what this wild week had already thrown our way.

The paddle out of the gulch was tough. How Kathy and LP do it on the skis, I have no idea. I was leaning heavy on the ama. Looked like it was gonna be all time.

Kathy and I turned down at the same time, with LP behind us and Kai's boat was still on the trailer.

It was harder than it looked. A lot of big swells rolled under me. Lots of current running against us. It was tough to link glides, and the big ones took a ton of work. The waves really jacked up across the reef at Kanaha. Some crazy drops for sure. I had to paddle right to then bank left to drop in, then go right again to keep from going in too far. While I was doing one of those, my paddle was on the left and I could feel my boat start to roll. I tried to get the paddle to the right, but I was not quick enough. I ended up going over and under the boat. Thank god I had a leash, and it held. Long remount with the ama up wind, but I finally got going again. I think that is about the time LP caught me. I looked inside and LP was chasing Kai way inside of me. That looked like fun, so I tried to go inside further. By the time I got there Kai was long gone. He is so fast it is hard to describe. I guess "like your standing still" is a pretty good way to sum it up.

Anyway, fun run. At 1:05 it was slow for the boat, but still a good day on the water.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 15, 2015, 12:16:34 AM

Anyway, fun run. At 1:05 it was slow for the boat, but still a good day on the water.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think what you meant to say was "At 1:05 it was slow for MY boat, but it would have been fast for Cove's boat."

It's ok. I had a 1:10 on my board, with no falls. Did I mention that I never fell today? It was my freakin' birthday, all the way around. Maybe we go again soon. It was gnarly enough the last few runs that I'm no longer chomping at the bit. I'm ready for a nice, super fun south side run. Like that's going to happen anytime soon....
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 15, 2015, 08:55:26 AM
Looks like another gnarly run today. I'm still going to be spraying. I have to get the walls prepped for a paint job on Monday--the window of opportunity for good help is small on Maui right now, all the construction people are swamped. Got to fluff up Ponohouse to look it's best for photographers and prospective buyers. Not that it really needs it. Such an amazing house and location. By the way, we're swamped with limes, lemons and papayas. I need to start sticking some in the car to give you guys. I can't believe how stuff grows here. The Kaffir lime and Meyer Lemon we planted last year looks like a ten-year-old tree. Even our gardener is blown away.

Anyway, it's 6:50 and the wind is howling. Looks rough as hell. The ENE swell is good sized, it's still blasting over the top of the island. In fact you can barely see the island. If it was coming from the north like that I'd know Jaws was pumping.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 15, 2015, 06:01:51 PM
This is what 30-45 looks like from up towards the gulch.  Another very intense day.  Keep your board pointed straight and keep your line solid.  Get myopic and it's all good.  Start looking arond and it's damn scary.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 15, 2015, 06:02:53 PM
That white spot isn't rain.  It's a wind pulse or white squall
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 15, 2015, 07:11:20 PM
I tried to take a picture this morning, but my iPhone camera didn't do it justice. I need to get out the telephoto and get a picture of the waves smashing the island. I've never seen it do that with so much drama except sort of for the 20 foot days when Peahi is cooking.  But these waves are coming ENE and blanketing the island--it's barely visible. It looks like a small pile of rock until you get out in the water close to it. The top of the island is 30 feet out of the water.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 16, 2015, 08:32:44 AM
 It felt like we were being pelted by spindrift. Your body alone becomes enough sail that you're essentially windsurfing during gusts.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: yugi on November 16, 2015, 11:21:46 AM
yeah!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 18, 2015, 10:21:33 PM
The intense cycle appears to have at least suspended itself, maybe ended. Today was the first run I've made since Saturday, which was huge. Sunday was also very big and HM went. It may have been the best day of all. Yesterday, Monday, was light and the huge trade swell seemed to dissipate quickly. 

The wind came back today, low 20's, a far cry from the 40 mph white smoke at the peak of the last wind cycle. Maliko was super fun, not too chopped up, solid breeze, good bumps. I guess after the past 10 days of so, it was nice to just have a fun and relaxed run. I took my OC1 although I think it was good enough to do standup.

The top was nice, lots of good, connectable bumps. The last section, while decent, had pretty light wind and I ended up paddling hard for the last couple of miles. It paid off in the boat as I was able to keep it surfing but it was definitely some work.

For being such a solid day, it seemed so laid back. That's because of the intensity of the conditions preceding today's run.  Today, the outer reef at Sprecks/Kanaha was like summer and there were no surprises. Pier 1 was not breaking. Nothing but low stress fun. It may have been our last run for a while but we'll see if weather predictions for rain are correct. You never know here. Thank you Maliko, for a walk in the park, for a change.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 19, 2015, 07:40:11 AM
2K looks good for today too. Then nada. Some swell towards the end of the week, chree to fi.
Title: Cluck, cluck, cluck
Post by: PonoBill on December 10, 2015, 09:06:36 PM
I chickened out today. Wonder if anyone went. Shep sounded like he was straining at the bit. I checked out the gulch, we could have gotten out. Zero, nada, no room for error, but there was free space between the whitewater and spray coming off the rocks and the breaking wall of water coming into Turtle Cove. So doable, not even really hard, though if you got screwed up and got pushed into the cove for a microsecond, you'd need a new board.

then I went to Hookipa and looked down the coast. Lit up like Christmas, but the outer line was clear. No place to come in other than the harbor, the reefs were breaking with at least 15 to 20 foot faces, but stay outside and it would be fine. Scary, and no place to stop or rest, but no worse than we've done in the past.

Then I went and looked at the entrance to the harbor. Pier one was breaking huge--tow-in size, but rolling through the channel and smacking the jetty. The reflected wave off the jetty was almost as big as the breakers. But the harbor mouth was clear, though the energy coming through was "impressive". The line would have to be from the outside, and no dinking around, but feasible.

So I added it all up, and it wasn't much different from some of the hairball days we've done, but I spent too long thinking about it. If someone had just said "don't be a pussy, let's go" I would have gone. But as it was I chickened out. Ended up doing a slow but fun run on the south side. Good thing I at least got that or I'd be unbearable.

Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on December 10, 2015, 10:27:19 PM
I got some pressure from Southbay to man up and go Maliko but I had already checked it with bino's and yep, lit up for Christmas is a perfect description. Yes, it looked doable but the risks go up substantially if things go bad.

South side was better than I expected. When we were getting ready to launch at the top, the wind seemed to be getting lighter and lighter.  Kathy, LPB and I paddled pretty far outside. I just kind of followed them. I asked LPB what happened to the wind and he said, 'it just went away for a minute, it'll be right back' and, it did come back! Nice run with better conditions the further we went. We were lucky to get it.
Title: Re: Cluck, cluck, cluck
Post by: SCruzSUPr on December 10, 2015, 10:31:21 PM
Good thing I at least got that or I'd be unbearable.

PB  I got news for you.  Gettin' that downwinder didn't help much... you're still very close to unbearable.  But we luv ya just the same.  Hoping it gets better over the coming days.  They're saying it's gonna get HUGE here in Santa Cruz tomorrow... we'll see. 

Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on December 11, 2015, 07:39:26 AM
We don't lack for big surf, but the wind is on it at 20+. If this continues I'm going to start windsurfing. Or maybe kiting. I'll do it dammit, you hear that wind gods?  I'm not kidding.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 808sup on December 11, 2015, 08:38:16 PM
My take on Kitesurfing. Be very careful or like downwinders,you may become addicted. I am , and love it! I call it lazy mans surfing. No duck diving,no. Crowds ( down at pier one ) and more waves. Tow in surfing without a ski😀
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 808sup on December 26, 2015, 09:17:16 PM
Well, after hearing about the challenges you guys had yesterday on the south side I was a bit relieved not to have even had the opportunity to go. Family and food made it impossible to think about it. Glad you all made it in safely. Today was a different story. I monitored the conditions on both sides all morning. The north shore was a mix of rain/ wind and the south shore was glass. At noon it was time to make the call. The cams showed wind on the south side but it was way outside. Then suddenly the clouds and rain on the north shore disappeared and the wind appeared to be blowing decent enough to give it a go. Glad I did! Arrived at maliko as a group of oc-1s were heading into the water. Jumped in and shadowed them all the way to oil tanks where I veered off and finished my run. Nothing big like last weekend but wind all the way start to finish. The smaller bumps Allowed opportunity to work on making reads and connections . sometimes the large stuff just has you trying to stay on top your board. Surprised I didn't see another sup but I had fun. There is always tomorrow 😉



Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on December 26, 2015, 09:44:17 PM
Good for you 808! Yeah, after yesterday, I wasn't exactly rarin' to go, although a group of us including Headmount, Pono, Southbay, and a handful of others did the same thing you did. We all watched both sides until early afternoon. HM was ready to roll on Maliko but I checked the cams and while the bottom half looked ok, the top looked pretty light and I just couldn't get that excited.

I ended up going for a bike ride out to Waihe'e. I ride down past the golf club to the beach where I can scope the conditions pretty well. You are really close to the 2 mile buoy there, north of the harbor entrance and you can look straight up the coast towards the run. It looked decent but on the lighter side and there were still lots of showers around. Guess I was ready to use anything as an excuse to pass. Maybe tomorrow, although the surf on the north shore is supposed to come up by morning.

Sounds like you had a good run. Reading your post makes me wish I'd gone. I'm still a bit spooked from yesterday I guess.  :o
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: yugi on December 27, 2015, 01:42:14 AM
My take on Kitesurfing. Be very careful or like downwinders,you may become addicted. I am , and love it! I call it lazy mans surfing. No duck diving,no. Crowds ( down at pier one ) and more waves. Tow in surfing without a ski😀

word

Ultimate travel toy if destination is a windy spot. But we drift...
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on December 27, 2015, 07:51:19 AM
I thought everyone was crazy for not doing a Maliko yesterday, it's looked great at Ponohouse, but I did a Costco run with Diane and discovered what was holding everyone back--light and outside, mostly blocked by the squalls. Still, it looked fine to me. Better than hanging around working on my books (though I did have kind of a breakthrough on Riding Anouk, the sequel to Riding Sophia).

Today is likely to be a down day too. The big wind off to the east for the last two days has got the east swell up huge. Short period, 11 to 17. That means it's going to breaking everywhere in strange directions. Could be cool, could be dangerous as hell. We'll see.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: 808sup on December 27, 2015, 12:57:22 PM
Today is likely to be a down day too. The big wind off to the east for the last two days has got the east swell up huge. Short period, 11 to 17. That means it's going to breaking everywhere in strange directions. Could be cool, could be dangerous as hell. We'll see.
[/quote]
I'll let you know...
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on December 27, 2015, 07:45:42 PM
Southbay and I went with JL and Gavin.  Exciting day that had your total attention.  The bottom end got really epic with glide fields setting up one after another.  Sun glare was significant on our line into the tanks and as I approached reef and surf line, I didn't pick up on how quickly I had entered the impact zone.  My glide turned into a set wave, bottom sucked out before I could get an angle on it, board slammed hard at the bottom, went sideways and I went flying.  Remounted adrenalized and finished. 

Southbay was attentive and pulled back on a potential big one and he of course smoked us all.  Ralf and Bruce went into the harbor and reported waves entering the slot.  So even that wasn't easy street.  Oil tanks was max size surf crossing the reef today.  Paddlesurfing in late December is full on.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on December 27, 2015, 07:47:50 PM
Wind jacked from 20 to 35 while we were on the course.  Surf also jacked.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on December 27, 2015, 08:33:24 PM
I surfed on the southside this morning. Small (waist high) but fun. It picked up a little  but three hours was good for me. Went to get some lunch and maybe surf more, discovered Diane was on the SS too, so we had lunch. As we left I noticed the wind line had moved in. This is starting to get repetitive. Went and checked it out at Sorrentos--lo and behold, smoking and right down the middle. Called Boyum, no answer, called Gregg, and he told me folks were trying to get in touch for a Maliko, I waffled, but I was already there, so we did a SS.

SS was fun, but I screwed up at the top. Lesson two of check wind and swell direction before you commit. With the hard offshore direction a couple days ago fresh in my mind, I didn't want to go to the ponds. We launched at the Hale. Onshore, moron.  The Ponds would have been a perfect run, as it was we had to scratch like hell to get out, but then it lined up good. I was tuckered from the paddle out and started doing that desultory lame-ass paddle for bumps thing, but after Greg got well away I woke up and started going for it. Much better.

Some tourist called 911 I guess, saying we were getting blown out to sea. The ran a fire truck out to the Hale and sent out a jetski. The lifeguard must be a newbie. He was sure we were in trouble. Gave Gregg some shit for "leaving his buddy behind." Chan would have blistered his butt. A nice scramble for the lifeguards though, they like using their toys. I asked a few years ago if we should call in and tell them when we were doing a run, but they said they'd have to roll out anyway.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on January 31, 2016, 06:38:32 PM
First Maliko in a dog's age. Man am I out of shape. Surfing a lot just doesn't give the same workout, even though I never sit down.

The first half was straight rock n' roll, I was having a great run. But then about Spreks it started getting a lot more crossed up and challenging, and I started falling. My back got stiff and my right calf started cramping. WTF? I adjusted my pace a little, concentrated on catching bumps and stretching out the ride, and cleaned up my stroke. Much better. I looked up ahead and saw a big breaking wave. My first thought was "how is outer, outer, upper going off in the moderate swell". And then I looked at the pier and realized I was inside the line to the crane. I was right over the reef. I decided to skim the reef since I was already there. Bad idea, a few minutes later I had a huge face bearing down on me, already feathering. I turned straight up it and paddled like mad, certain I wasn't going to make it and I was going to need a new Bullet. I tipped over the edge and fell off backwards, but I bounced off the tail or I would have gone upside down and backwards down the wave. All the time I was praying the big brother wasn't right behind this guy, and it wasn't. Got my shit together and paddled straight out. Just about got to the harbor when I got a fierce leg cramp and toppled off the board.  As i was crawling back on shep yelled to me and blew past on his canoe.

Made my way in. Nice run. I only need 249 more of them to reach my distance goal this year. Not too much to ask.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: stoneaxe on January 31, 2016, 07:14:36 PM
Kinda weird being 58 and wanting to be like your big brother when you grow up....... :)
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on January 31, 2016, 07:55:29 PM
So, today was the first Maliko run of 2016. Woo Hoo!

We have had terrific surfing conditions with waves and no wind. Today, we were in-between swells and, like a miracle, we had smokin' easterly wind. Maliko was on! Only 6 of us showed up for the shuttle but Kelly seemed stoked to run us up to the top. Four of us in boats, LPB and Kathy in their skis, Southbay and I in our OC1's and two peeps on standup, PB and Southbay's buddy, Jamil.

It's definitely been awhile since I've done a run, a couple of weeks to be exact. And, I haven't done a Maliko run since early November. Still, I didn't feel too bad and going in the OC1 gives you a lot of surfing advantage over standup. Kind of a nice way to ease back in.

Conditions were smokin'. Wind was pretty much straight east, there was even been a bit of south in it. I went waaay outside and I was being extra careful to steer well and never get the boat 'out of shape' - out of the perfect window where it doesn't round up on a wave face. The wind got weird as I got closer to the harbor entrance, probably due to the ESE direction. The waves stayed good all the way, but you had to paddle hard to get into them as you got on the inside, unlike on the rest of the run where you were fully exposed to the wind.

Some of the drops were unreal, 10 to 15 feet I'd say. And big, smooth, and pretty steep slopes to run down. Super fun but definite potential for boat carnage with poor technique. I spent many waves fully stretched out, my back on the deck behind the seat. Lots of fun. I managed a 1:07 without putting in serious effort. I think it would have been a record time for me if I hadn't gone outside so far but I did not want any drama.  Just surfing the boat and surviving. Hope this is a sign that 2016 will be all-time for downwinders.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on January 31, 2016, 09:31:51 PM
Here's a little video from today. This so does not do the conditions justice but it's still cool, at least I think so...https://vimeo.com/153730872
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on January 31, 2016, 09:42:23 PM
You must have taken that "go until you see Waikiki and turn left" advice seriously. I never saw any of you guys until I saw Shep just before the harbor, though I started with a big lead. I knew you would all go by. I guess my "hug the reef" line wasn't popular.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Off-Shore on February 01, 2016, 03:47:07 AM
Here's a little video from today. This so does not do the conditions justice but it's still cool, at least I think so...

Those look like awesome conditions and you had some great glides. Nice to see some OC action for a change. Thanks for sharing Cove!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on February 01, 2016, 10:57:25 PM
In watching the vid and remembering the lines I took, I realized that I pretty much went straight down or at a very shallow angle on most all of the glides. I've found that angling more, whether on the standup or in the OC, gives you faster overall speed and allows you to make better connections. So, typically, I try to avoid going straight down the faces and instead try and steer a line across the waves.

However, although you can't tell from the video, yesterday's drops were so big and so fast that I was very aware of the danger of getting rounded up at high speed (due to loss of rudder, from high speed cavitation or because it simply came out of the water), possibly resulting in a major and potentially disastrous crash. A friend on O'ahu just broke his boat into 5 pieces in an 'ama down' cartwheel on a large wave face that he was trying to angle across. So, I was being extremely cautious. I also took a conservative line, far off-shore, to avoid any large, rogue surf. I was by myself, no other peeps nearby, and I knew a broken boat would mean a very long and dangerous swim.

Of course, the fisheye GP lense makes it look like a 2 foot lake swell but it was big, steep and very fast.  When you are by yourself, you are also very aware of the ocean's size and risks involved in playing out there on Neptune's magic carpet ride.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Southbay on February 02, 2016, 09:28:29 AM
You look like you are going right alot.  I seem to only over turn when going left...strange feeling being a goofy foot and preferring to go right!  haha.  What kind of boat was your friend on Oahu in?  I find that Kai's boats (Kai Wa'a) are much better at staying up on the swell.  I borrowed my buddies Pueo and it was super easy to catch a bump, but seemed to side slip down the bump to the bottom.  IDK, not good enough to really handle either boat, but that what it felt like to me.  You are looking good in the vid.  Dam good time too!  I had a couple really fast miles that day, mile 2 I did in 6 min 14 sec, which is damn fast for me.  Hoping maybe a Kihei run tomorrow....keep up the filming!

Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on February 02, 2016, 10:22:40 AM
Wow, SB, 6:14! That's over 9 mph average!

My fastest was Mile 4 @ 6:45, which was 8.9 mph average. But, I really was holding back a lot. If there had been a few others close by, I would have pushed it and no doubt set a personal record for the run. A 1:07 while you're holding back is still pretty fast and almost every mile was well over 8 mph average.

I'm not sure if having the XM at my weight is such a good thing when it gets really big like Sunday. More volume makes the boat skip on top of the water when you really get it going. The XS would be a better fit for me. Even when I'm wearing my winter fat, I'm still only about 153 lbs which is pretty light for an XM.

Interesting observations about the Pueo too. I have never paddled anything other than Pono's big full Scorpius and my XM. I need to try some other boats, but I'm especially interested in the XS. Kihei is going to rage on Sunday it looks like. Frontal passage on Saturday is supposed to leave us with strong, dry, north winds on Sunday. It will probably be a day for standup downwind on Kihei. I'm down for going in the boat whenever there's enough to push us even a little bit. Let me know if it's looking good and I'll rally.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Southbay on February 02, 2016, 11:55:17 AM
What about the race saturday?  West winds?!? WTF
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: covesurfer on November 13, 2016, 08:05:22 PM

Today we got a break from the large swell that has been hitting the north shores of Maui for the last week or 10 days. And, the wind that has been holding off for the past 5 days or so, allowing for some epic surfing conditions, came back nicely today. We're briefly right in between our last major swell and the forecasted 13 to 16 foot monster swell that is supposed to hit us this evening through Tuesday. Maliko looked like a summer day, small leftover surf and wind from the ENE at 20 to 30 mph. Pretty much perfect conditions for a Maliko run. And knowing that it would be a very brief window to make a run, was motivating.

Despite that, not a lot of folks interested in paddling today. Three of us rallied and self shuttled to do the run early afternoon. Devin and PB were all in for it. We launched around 1:45 and Pono took the lazy line, turning down almost as soon as he was out of the gulch. On the south shore, that would be the 'chicken line' but not so on the north side. The further inside you are, the more you are likely to encounter, from breaking surf to diminished winds and more current. Not always, but this time of year, it's a gamble. Devin and I went pretty far outside, at least 3/4 to a mile out, and then turned down. I think the outside line qualifies more as the chicken line.

Graciously, Devin gave me a nice head start of a couple minutes. We stayed outside pretty far and it was lighter wind, maybe 15 to 20, but great bumps, all the way to Camp 1/Sprecks. Lots of fun, but don't stop paddling! At Camp 1, it really started to kick and the bumps got really good and surfy as the wind piped up to about 30 mph. Around Kanaha, Devin finally caught me, but the conditions were so good that she didn't blow by me until almost the end. Of course, she's on a 14' while I'm on a Bullet 17. Check you ego at the door paddling here, there's plenty of peeps going to blow your doors off  ;D

Pono stayed on the more inside line the whole run and told us he'd had to fight the push onto the reefs as he got on the lower third of the paddle. There was definitely enough north in the wind to make the outside line a bit friendlier, especially at the end when you could finally turn down and run for the harbor entrance with absolutely lined up wind and swell.

Awfully fun to go with these two characters. Wish PB would be around longer this year but I'm going to make a nuisance of myself and get in his program as much as I'm able.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: yugi on November 14, 2016, 05:22:32 AM
What's Devin riding?
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 14, 2016, 09:16:20 AM
That was fun! I had a few spooky moments, the swell that came last night and is pounding pretty hard this morning was preceded bu the super long period stuff, which can break at upper Kanaha because the ramp is so long. A few serious bombers missed me by not very much. If I'd been tagged it would have been time for a new board, and maybe a long swim in. Then Outer, Upper, Upper went off a couple of times. I was well inside it, but it broke while I was going by and scared the crap out of me. Reformed before it reached me, as I thought it would, but geez, that's a horrible looking thing to see on your first run of the year.

I had no business being so far inside, and it was slower because I had to keep scratching out. the wind and swell were conspiring to shove me onto the reef. But lots of fun all the same.

Devin figured out why you were so insistent about waiting for her to get back from the south side--you didn't have to drive me back to the crapmobile. I guess I better do some work to that thing, it might have to last more than just the next few weeks.

I think Devin is actually on a custom 15 with Bullet rocker. Perfect size for her.
Title: Major League Maliko
Post by: PonoBill on November 27, 2016, 07:12:25 PM
Boy, that was fun!. Bill Boyum and went about noon, set up to come in at the oil tanks since the cruise ship was in the harbor. The wind on the north shore has been off the charts lately, blowing night and day and fetching up 2000 miles of gnarly wind swell. We haven't done Maliko runs because the storms coming through make the surface just insane. Today was no exception, though the storms were far out to sea. Not much groundswell from the north, but the east wind swell is fricken' huge. The rock island off the end of Uaoa Bay is my swell gauge. when the north swell is crashing over the top of the 30-foot high island, Peahi is breaking. Today the east wind swell was smashing over the rocks, throwing spray three times the height of the island. I've had Ponohouse since 1999 and I've never seen that before.

I wanted to go, but I was a bit nervous. Looking at the ocean on the drive to the harbor did nothing to calm my nerves. Huge. Fricken' huge, and blowing like stink. When we got to Maliko Gulch the mouth looked like the gates of hell. OK, yeah sure, let's paddle into that.

Once we got out and I started catching bumps in the immense conditions, I was nervous and tight. I fell three times right away.

the key to doing a big Maliko is to be loose and charge hard. If you go slow you're like some loon doing thirty in the middle lane of a California freeway. If you charge hard, you're going about as fast as all the scary shit around you--like trucks, only twenty feet high. And when you drop into a big swell and see all the crazy crap down in the trough, jinking and popping, waiting to smack into you, if you're going fast enough, they're all moving with you. You have time to react and steer--though steering is a little challenging when you're balanced on the tail of your board, going 20+.

Once I got going well, and stopped screaming "HELP!", I started having fun, and one big drop led to another. Pretty soon Boyum and I were flying. I'm sure he couldn't hear all my yelling, but I was crying havoc and having a blast.

We rock and rolled all the way to Kanaha, where we had to turn in. The wind was due east and decided to double in speed just to fuck with us. I convinced myself I was going great when I got hit from the side with ten feet of whitewater. So that didn't work. I Pocahontas-ed my way over the reef, and then got up in time to catch some nice refracted waves that had faces and everything. Rode a few pretty much all the way to the beach, then fell one last time just to maintain my humility just before I hit the beach.

Boyum and I were babbling like kids. Great run, and we didn't die or nothin'.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: Argosi on November 27, 2016, 07:57:45 PM
Wow, sounds like a downwinder to remember. Gotta get one of those on video so the rest of us can enjoy it also!
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 27, 2016, 09:39:35 PM
It was a day things could go wrong if you didn't play your cards right.  We thought we stayed well outside the outer reefs but still saw a few breaking just inside us at a certain point. 

After we got the boards on the truck, I exhaled and felt like I'd gone 15 rounds.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 28, 2016, 09:02:49 AM
I read that again this morning and realized I made it sound much worse than it was--not ten feet of whitewater. they weren't breaking waves. I meant a ten-foot windswell with whitewater on the top. Still knocked me off my feet, but there's a world of difference.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 28, 2016, 09:04:01 AM
Dave Kalama was out on an OC-2 and called it as heavy as he'd ever seen... which is something.  Another pal of ours, a regular and strong downwinder, broke his leash outside Sprecks and had to swim in.  He's searching for his board on the shore of West Maui but given that the east swell was over ten feet, his board is probably trashed.  PBill and I stuck together which was, as our friend Randy found out, essential.  But we're both geezers and carry no bravado of a lone lion.  I knew if we watched each other on day like that we'd have a prayer.  Jesus sure wasn't going to save us.

We also both checked our leashes..  in fact PBill wove another leash inside his coil leash for the double effect.  I picked the threads and dirt out of my velcro. 
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: headmount on November 28, 2016, 01:17:08 PM
Randy's board, which was a loaner from JR, after it ended up on the east shore of West Maui. 

So much for the idea of West Maui 'catching' you if you just sat down and gave up.  It would catch you like the slaughterhouse.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: digger71 on November 28, 2016, 01:24:40 PM
Unreal!  Based on the swell you are talking about I am guessing he was pretty far out when he got tagged.  Where was he swimming in when the lifeguards found him?  Guessing he would have drifted almost to Kanaha in those wild conditions.
Title: Re: The fall and winter Maliko report
Post by: PonoBill on November 28, 2016, 05:54:30 PM
Randy's board, which was a loaner from JR, after it ended up on the east shore of West Maui. 

So much for the idea of West Maui 'catching' you if you just sat down and gave up.  It would catch you like the slaughterhouse.

Obviously a warranty issue.

I'd rather get caught in DOH at Sand Piles than continue unimpeded to Tahiti.
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