Kai's aeirial at Mavericks.

[PonoBill]

Really? Above the lip on a face that size? WTF.

[southwesterly]

... And that hollow.

Nikki Brooks on both photos.

[surfcowboy]

On the day the comp was shut due to it being too big, he's playing. So wild. Next level.

[eastbound]

what an excellent photo of kai--who is an exceptional unique athlete--but also excellent is the second photo, where the interior of the wave is so clear--window into a wildassed world!

[eastbound]

i put kai and alex honnold in the same boat--guys who are executing some of the most amazing athletic feats ever

if either of them dies, we will all be a part of it---but wow are they amazing--and both athletes are beyond well-prepared for the risks they take, but the risks are certainly part of what compels us to watch..........

my daughter had the good fortune to meet, interview and publish a piece on alex honnold---if kai gets involved in a feature film someday i'll put her on him!

btw--see the film "free solo"--seems just another climbing film, but it it so not--it's a film rich with climbing and natural mountain beauty, but also with human issues that surface in context of this guy's incredible mind and body, what he chooses to do with it, and how that affects his world and the people around him--as well the audience to his feats.

apologies that this is a bit highjacky

[PonoBill]

On the day the comp was shut due to it being too big, he's playing. So wild. Next level.

Wild indeed, and certainly next level, but that was tow-in. There's been a lot of criticism about these contest being canceled or delayed when conditions are too big or crazy, but the contests are paddle-in surfing, and the risks are different.

[Admin]

btw--see the film "free solo"--seems just another climbing film, but it it so not--it's a film rich with climbing and natural mountain beauty, but also with human issues that surface in context of this guy's incredible mind and body, what he chooses to do with it, and how that affects his world and the people around him--as well the audience to his feats.

Not to hijack your hijack but did you see Dawn Wall?  Incredible.

[kayadogg]

btw--see the film "free solo"--seems just another climbing film, but it it so not--it's a film rich with climbing and natural mountain beauty, but also with human issues that surface in context of this guy's incredible mind and body, what he chooses to do with it, and how that affects his world and the people around him--as well the audience to his feats.

Not to hijack your hijack but did you see Dawn Wall?  Incredible.

Highly recommend both of these. Couldn't wait for Free Solo to come out. Honnold is not of this world. Caldwell is close to that too. Pretty amazing stuff.

[SaMoSUP]

Saw Free Solo and thought about this comparison with big wave surfing. I think Alex wins hands down.

If Kai surfed 120ft wave with no leash, no pfd, no jet ski to pick him up at the end it may come close.

But the fact that Alex is the only human known to ever climb El Capitan "free" all 3000+ feet without dying, while there are dozens who have done things similar to Kai says a lot.

[Admin]

Saw Free Solo and thought about this comparison with big wave surfing. I think Alex wins hands down.

Absolutely.  Look at what these guys are doing (in terms of nutsness - yeah, its a word) and it is no comparison.  Same with the Rampage guys.

I love this stuff. No index finger, no problem.

[addapost]

I love watching Kai surf. The kid is so talented. That ride was spectacular! But Honnold? What that dude does is not human and really isn't comparable to surfing- even big waves. Big waves can hurt if you blow it and of course it is possible to get killed but it really isn't likely. Dudes get macked all the time and come out relatively ok. Solo climbers are going to die. Period. There are other climbers who have done similar climbs, they just didn't have a film crew or a social media presence marketing their efforts. That is not a knock on Honnold, I love the guy and hope he keeps safely doing climbs I can enjoy watching from my chair but it is the current reality. He is public and marketed so we know about him but others have done very very similar stuff. Go read Jon Karkauer's account of his solo climb up the Devils Thumb in the late 70's. Or read Mark Twight's early accounts of some of his solo's in the Alps almost 30 years ago. The mind control these guys have is insane. Anyway, right now I can't decide if I want to go surf or ice climb.

[SUP Sports ®]

Kai has definitely proved that he is in the top league of multi-sport waterman on the planet...mind blowing performances...he's always been SUPer stoked and humble...it's been really fun to watch his progress...definitely a great subject for a feature film...

[Weasels wake]

On the day the comp was shut due to it being too big, he's playing. So wild. Next level.

Wild indeed, and certainly next level, but that was tow-in. There's been a lot of criticism about these contest being canceled or delayed when conditions are too big or crazy, but the contests are paddle-in surfing, and the risks are different.

Agreed, tow-in gives you much better maneuverability, and guts.  When he was killing Pe'ahi last month, amazing everyone, that was also a tow-in sesh.  But that doesn't take anything away from his amazing talent.

[Beasho]

Haley Fiske was on of the few 'surfers' to realize that Kai's aerial Prowess comes from his varied background - Specifically Windsurfing.

His 20 foot drop down the face at Jaws on his tow-in was little more than a Windsurfing Aerial without the sail. 

Not that it makes it any less impressive rather the traditional surfers originally shunned all the aerials when windsurfers have been flying off the face for more than 20 years. 

[SUP Sports ®]

Kai can prone surf big waves with the best of them...
Not to take away anything from Billy Kemper's WSL win at Jaws Challenge last month...but, there are lots of people that think Kai won the event...check out the vid comments and elsewhere on the internet...etc...regardless, it could have gone either way...

Check out the barrel ride at 1:42...



In this interview Kai states how all of the other water sports that he is involved in (insert long list), prepared him for those huge waves and that huge air drop at Jaws...and, he's not done in the big wave aerial department...



https://www.facebook.com/WSL/videos/wow-kai-lenny/295399197746355/

Phenomenal big wave riding...the stuff surfing cartoons used to be about...;-)