Sat, 11 Sep 2004
Life is good when you can find the time to fly first class direct from LA to Maui airport, and in thirty minutes from landing have a van with a bunch of the latest windsurf gear and directions to the best windsurf spot in the world.
Kanaha Beach Park is like no other. This park is setup like it was made for windsurfing. The beach park has lots of parking, grass to rig on, shade trees, showers, and a sandy beach to launch from, but the best is the wind and waves. My experience sailing Kanaha was far beyond my wildest dreams, but it took a couple of days to get a feel for the small gear.
The first day was far from comfortable: I rigged a Gastra Manic 4.5 with a Hi-Tech 82L board and headed for the beach. I launched between Uppers & Lowers and took off like bat out of hell! I had to keep my knees bent just to stay on the water! By the time I got to the blue water my arms felt like they ware going to fall off; the reach seems like a mile or two out from the beach.
The Gear first day: my harness lines were 24cm and I'm used to 20cm.. I had to muscle the sail the whole way out, so I head back to the beach and find my self doing the walk of shame, in Maui. It's time for lunch! For the first three days I sailed, it was always something; the harness lines are too long, too small of a board, to big of a sail, I can't hold on. I just want to go surfing and try it tomorrow. Did I mention that Kanaha Beach Park is the best?!
By the fourth day I decided to try gear that I was more familiar with, so on the way to the beach we stopped at Neilpride Maui and got a JP Freestyle Wave 84L. Now I will have a good day sailing! JP, Gastra 4.7, my travel [harness] lines - I had a Redbull and headed to the water. This day was mine but while in the shop I heard a guy say that the first swell of season was here. The days before had small 3 to 4 foot waves, no problem. Boy was I in for a surprise! The waves that day were averaging 10 feet to mast high, and good bumps in the channel. Was it time to try a little wave sailing? I had a great day, and the only thing I changed was my fin. Every day from then on was awesome.Besides windsurfing and surfing the time in Maui was filled with good times and good friends. I had invited some friends from the Wind Junkie clan (Mark & Lori) to join us on the trip, and it made the trip even more enjoyable. Friends to sail, surf, shop, and barbeque with, what more could you ask for?! See "Paradise in Kihei" here in the Haul-Ass for their experiences in Maui.
Just a little thanks to the Crew that helped us at the Hi-Tech shop. They were great! Not only did they help us with gear, they let us put a Wind Junkie sticker on the front desk, and one guy bought a windsurfing sculpture from me. [Kevin is our sculpture artist - ed.] Stoked!! I also had a good experience at Neilpride Maui, and I was able to sail some of the 2005 gear. We are going to plan our next trip to Maui for 2006; can't wait!!
Maui is "no ka oi"!
--Kevin
