Maliko Race Vid

[Just Cruising]

Hi Guys

Thought this vid showed some pretty epic bumps and runs.  I think it shows those of us who haven't been to Maui how crazy and challenging it can be out there.  Wind behind you with a massive swell over your shoulder, my legs feel sore already. 

Still going to try to get to Maui.  The giant hotels are too expensive and crowds do nothing for me so I might try renting a holiday home.

Apologies if this has been posted before as it is from a race last year.

[Kieranrsup]

A good way to get great, cost effective accomodating is via airbnb.
I did that last year and stayed in a house in Paia, central to everything. Worth a look.

[covesurfer]

Last year's July Maliko race was held despite the conditions, which included dirty water and some serious and very unpredictable waves. The guys that are shown in the video are the top of the ladder and make it look pretty fun. But some people had a tough time of it and I heard there were a few boards that literally got snapped.

The board that Kaeo won on was borrowed from SIC (Bullet 17 V1, production board) and I personally weighed it a week later at 42 lbs. On a day with conditions that heavy, the weight may have been a good thing. I paddled it down Maliko in light winds and sun a few days after the race and thought it was the hardest Maliko run I'd ever done. Kept telling myself that the board just won the race a few days prior and to quit being a wuss.

I had signed up for the race and was pretty stoked to do it. I've been out on Maliko on some big spooky days and I took a look at the brown water and waves that day and decided not to risk it. Seeing Cody on some of those big breaking swells, I have tinge of regret but I remember how it looked that morning. We were being skirted by a hurricane located off shore and the ocean and the weather were both looking very unpredictable and intense that morning (the race was in the afternoon). I remember thinking that there is no way they'll have it in these conditions.

This year, the same event is scheduled for July 12, next Sunday. Currently, there are two tropical cyclones forming in the eastern Pacific with the potential to directly impact Hawaii. So, we will have to see if we have a repeat of last year's conditions again. Me, I'd like to just see a beautiful sunny day out there with wind in the 30's.

[digger71]

808photo.me has some great shots from that race if you look on Facebook.  This one is classic

[photofr]

The last photo is "sick".
Great riding guys ! Thanks for sharing.

[PonoBill]

Anyone trying to figure out how you could break a leash on a downwinder only need reference the photo above.

Or this:

[covesurfer]

One of the gals from NZ that raced the Maliko in July last year told me on the shuttle today that only one guy broke his board and it was because he was too close to the reef.

Since I didn't show up, I don't know if that's true. Looking at the pictures on this page, it's pretty clear that it was wild and wooly out there that day.

If the tropical depression that has developed to our southeast continues as predicted, we are likely going to have a repeat performance for the race this weekend. It's still not forecasted with any certainty but it's very possible that we'll have SE wind (offshore/side shore), plenty of rain and some big groundswell.

BTW, I've been doing mega distance paddles (20 to 25 miles/day) for four out of the past 10 days to try and get prepared for the channel crossing to Molokai in another week and a half. On my second Maliko today, I totally blew my gaskets. No mojo, no speed, no strength. The wind was horrid, north at about 10 to 12 and there was a small north/northwest groundswell. It was the worst Maliko run I've ever had. And the slowest. The past six weeks or so have been unbelievably poor for wind here. They keep forecasting the trades to come back and we keep getting light sea breezes. There's a lot of regulars that are getting pretty grumpy.

[headmount]

Not me. Been hitting the pool for more kick sets.  Leg work out without the heat. 

If it goes north there won't be much wind, if south maybe.  Probably rain either way.  Thought rain would end this summer but it just keeps going.