Epic Conditions for Sail Testing
Blog by Tom
The new sample sails came in this week. First to arrive were the new Liquid crossover samples. I had a go at testing them on Tuesday but the wind died out before I got much done. I did manage to rig and sail both the 6.5 and 7.0 sizes. Pictured below is the 7.0:
Wednesday saw the latest wave sail samples show up along with a big swell and some good if a little gusty wind! The crew headed to the beach for an afternoon of testing and we managed to get 3 sizes on the water. Juan took a 4.2, Glenn a 4.7 and I rigged a 5.3 (I weigh about twice what Juan weighs!)
The conditions were epic! It was the perfect size of wave for Kanaha being head to logo high with the occasional bigger set. The wind was somewhat fickle and would come and go as it pleased. I rode the Starboard Kombat 89 for the first time, something I have been waiting to do since they first came in months ago! This proved the perfect choice for me and I had a great time with it. I found I could really drive a bottom turn with it and soon got the confidence to charge at the wave making some nice top to bottom turns. The Fire '09 behaved perfectly with that magic feel for down the line wave riding. All too soon I was worn out and having a hard time hanging on to the boom as my hands were tired. I took a break, but the wind faded and I had to smim out to catch a few last waves and then swim back in. It was totally worth it for the one nice logo high wave I caught and put a nice turn off the breaking lip!
If I can find any photos I will post. In the mean time there are some on GP's blog:
http://mauisurfreport.blogspot.com/
Testing will continue this week with Crossfire, Speed Demon and GPS sails to test.
Ola Helenius sent the below photos of the Sweedes in action. The first pic shows Glenn heading out on a 2009 Fire (all other pics show 2008 sails).
Thanks Ola!
The new sample sails came in this week. First to arrive were the new Liquid crossover samples. I had a go at testing them on Tuesday but the wind died out before I got much done. I did manage to rig and sail both the 6.5 and 7.0 sizes. Pictured below is the 7.0:
Wednesday saw the latest wave sail samples show up along with a big swell and some good if a little gusty wind! The crew headed to the beach for an afternoon of testing and we managed to get 3 sizes on the water. Juan took a 4.2, Glenn a 4.7 and I rigged a 5.3 (I weigh about twice what Juan weighs!)
The conditions were epic! It was the perfect size of wave for Kanaha being head to logo high with the occasional bigger set. The wind was somewhat fickle and would come and go as it pleased. I rode the Starboard Kombat 89 for the first time, something I have been waiting to do since they first came in months ago! This proved the perfect choice for me and I had a great time with it. I found I could really drive a bottom turn with it and soon got the confidence to charge at the wave making some nice top to bottom turns. The Fire '09 behaved perfectly with that magic feel for down the line wave riding. All too soon I was worn out and having a hard time hanging on to the boom as my hands were tired. I took a break, but the wind faded and I had to smim out to catch a few last waves and then swim back in. It was totally worth it for the one nice logo high wave I caught and put a nice turn off the breaking lip!
If I can find any photos I will post. In the mean time there are some on GP's blog:
http://mauisurfreport.blogspot.com/
Testing will continue this week with Crossfire, Speed Demon and GPS sails to test.
Ola Helenius sent the below photos of the Sweedes in action. The first pic shows Glenn heading out on a 2009 Fire (all other pics show 2008 sails).
Thanks Ola!
posted by Jeffrey, Glenn and Tom at
3/13/2008 09:50:00 AM
4 Comments:
Are those lower images from Kanaha? Wicked, I thought the wave height of that spot was like euro mush, but that doesn't seem to be the case 8-O
Yes, that is lower Kanaha. Don't be fooled it can get very, very big there. It takes a north swell as it is blocked from any west swell. Usually the swell has afair amount of west in it so it is a lot smaller than Ho'okipa.
wow thats big for the lowers!!!
Thats me on picture no. 2!!! Love how the colored shadow from the sail shows on the wave.
That was the most fun day during this winter's Maui stay.
Thank you guys for being so nice and making the best sails out there!
Jesper
Now back in rainy and not so warm Sweden
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