Author Topic: Maui finally!  (Read 7744 times)

SUPladomi

  • Rincon Status
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • View Profile
    • Email
Maui finally!
« on: February 12, 2022, 11:40:41 AM »
Hi all,

Starting out as a windsurfer and dreaming about the cover shots of windsurfing magazine, 30 years later I will finally be making the pilgrimage to Maui next week. During that time I took up kiting, SUPing, kitefoiling, and wingfoiling. After this trip I hope I will have added SUPfoiling and downwind paddle foiling.

Living in Vermont and caregiving for my parents for the last 5 years, I have luckily been able to get out here on Lake Champlain. However, I have not been in the ocean so I have had no surf time. SUP foiling was just taking hold then, but I didn't get a chance to try it. I can't wait to take my lumps and see what it is all about.

I assume that I will be going to the harbor to learn to SUPfoil? I will be staying for 2 weeks. Is it realistic to think I might gain enough skill to try DW paddlefoiling as well? Does DWPF require major logistics or are there short runs one can make? Any recommendations on where to rent gear? Is there any place that rents Axis foil gear?

While there, I would love to connect with any zoners that are so inclined.

Thanks,
Ace

PonoBill

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 25864
    • View Profile
Re: Maui finally!
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2022, 08:33:29 AM »
You can certainly try downwind paddling, but don't be disappointed at not being successful. the easiest run to try it on the southside, generally, from the Kealia ponds to however far you choose to go. Or you can do it with a wing and probably have a higher degree of success, starting perhaps from the Canoe Hale at the west end on North Kihei road and perhaps going to the Mauna Kai beach, as I did yesterday, or a slightly shorter run to Kalama Park. All that is pretty speculative--starting out at the top of the difficulty scale.

You can rent gear at High Tech, they have plenty of good stuff. I don't think anyone rents axis, there isn't really an Axis dealer here other than Mark Raaphorst who stocks some stuff.

Jeremy Riggs has been conducting free lessons in getting up on foil from flatwater in the harbor on Tuesdays starting at 9:00. The lessons are at the Canoe Hale, not the boat ramp. This is a critical skill for downwind foiling. If you can get up in flatwater you're ready to try DW. Not a prerequisite, but a much higher certainty of success.

The best place to learn to Supfoil is actually Ka'a point. It's a long paddle out to the reef, but there's a lot more room than at the Harbor, and a lot more catchable waves. You can spread out a good distance from everyone. Just pay attention to whoever is outside of you, and be careful about dropping in on people. You'll be surprised at how far away people can start and still be on a wave you shouldn't try to share with them--Foils are fast. I especially try to stay clear of the prone foiliers. though with my limited neck mobility I can wind up in the way of almost anyone as they suddenly appear in a wave I thought was empty.

I think you chose well, there's some fresh swell on the way, and the wind forecast looks good. February is generally a good month for both wind and waves. PM me when you get here and I'll try to connect. I'm in the water any day there's wind and waves, if my crappy knee permits and I don't have a PT session.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

surfcowboy

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 4929
    • View Profile
Re: Maui finally!
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2022, 02:51:22 PM »
I also don't want to dissuade you from trying but I'd offer that if you're coming from flatwater go somewhere where you can paddle out safely through a reef pass or harbor and get out in a little open water. Hawaii is a whole other world. If you can stand and paddle, then proceed to the next level, the flat water paddle up.

Downwinding is widely considered the hardest of all foil sports. We have amazing athletes here in SoCal who've spent months learning. That said, you've got a strong water background so hopefully you prove us wrong. Go!

What gear are you planning on using? That will also make a difference as well. We are seeing that surf gear and DW gear (especially boards) are very different.

If anyone can assess your skills and help you stay safe it's Riggs.

SUPladomi

  • Rincon Status
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Maui finally!
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2022, 09:13:11 PM »
Thanks for all the info Bill. I won't get my hopes up on the DWPF (thanks for the reinforcement Cowboy). I'm sure downwinging in real ocean swell will be frickin sweet anyway.

I will definitely hit Jeremy's clinic and have contacted him about lessons as well. I will be looking for guidance on equipment but hoping I can get away with one board for Wingfoil/SUPfoil/DWPF

Hoping we get a chance to meet up!

SUPladomi

  • Rincon Status
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Maui finally!
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2022, 09:04:25 AM »
I've decided to bring out the Axis 980/420 combo I got from Dwight in the late fall. Bought a mast and fuse and having it shipped out there. Is there a deccent used market for wingboards there? I've checked Craigslist and Friends of Kanaha and there isn't much. I think I'm looking for something around 100 ltrs that I might be able to SUPfoil with. Any other resources I should check?

spindrift

  • Waikiki Status
  • *
  • Posts: 49
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Maui finally!
« Reply #5 on: February 15, 2022, 05:44:27 PM »
It would be interesting to hear (and see) how you make out on your big trip to Maui.
Life Rewards Movement

jondrums

  • Peahi Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 894
    • View Profile
Re: Maui finally!
« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2022, 09:50:44 PM »
Are you crazy?  Maui is just about the best market for used foil gear in the world.  Nobody there ships because so much gear changes hands in person.   I regularly snoop on the maui craigslist postings just to see what I'm missing out on.  Yes, I'm nuts about finding deals on used gear.

Try this search here:
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/search/mau/sga?query=foil

Here are just a few of the search results from Maui that are fairly modern and would be good for wing/sup foiling:

https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/makawao-elua-makani-85l-wing-foil-board/7433731126.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/kihei-52x265-custom-kalama-foil-board/7444036132.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/paia-new-55-armstrong-80l-sup-wing-surf/7437439329.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/makawao-52-armstrong-foil-board/7441974067.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/pukalani-flying-dutchman-foil-board/7445373679.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/paia-naish-hover-foil-board/7445302539.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/paia-foil-wing-sup-flying-dutchman/7434567099.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/kihei-115-armstrong-fg-wing-sup-foil/7442333350.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/kahului-go-foil-wing-foil-board-56/7444112063.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/paia-wing-foil-board/7441373496.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/kahului-naish-wing-foil-board/7439042083.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/kahului-foil-board-naish/7438558458.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/paia-sky-solbach-custom-wing-sup-foil/7437438165.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/kihei-blue-planet-foil-board-98-liter/7436438945.html
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/makawao-wing-foil-equipment-kalama-naish/7433404348.html

SUPladomi

  • Rincon Status
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Maui finally!
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2022, 10:20:52 PM »
Well it looks like my search skills are severely lacking. Ha ha!

Thanks jondrums. I'll check out all those options!

PonoBill

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 25864
    • View Profile
Re: Maui finally!
« Reply #8 on: February 16, 2022, 10:39:13 PM »
If that doesn't work, Hi Tech rents boards. And if you need Axis stuff Mark Raaphost sells them, he's got a reasonable stock of stuff including small parts.

mark@oneflyingdutchman.com
https://oneflyingdutchman.com/axis-foils/
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

 


SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal