Category: Action

0809 Trip Day 13 | Maui

We started the day off again at the coffee shot getting some work done. I got to run into David and Rachael Hastilow at the coffee shop. They recently moved to Maui as David took up a new position at Cabrinha. We then ran across the street to Neilpryde shop to get fins and a sled for the ski.

It was back to Waiehu for another kite session. I swam out with the camera and Julien rode a 12m and surfboard again. There were a couple other guys at the beach this time. They were very nice and really good riders as well. Julien scored a couple good waves. I was out swimming for over an hour then headed back to the beach as I ran out of shots. I was going to go out for a session but the tide really backed off, and it became extremely shallow. We packed it up and headed back.

On the way home we stopped by Lanes to check out the kiters, surfers and windsurfer that were out riding. The waves really started to pick up by the end of the day, as the wind continued to blow. After that we headed around to the next turn, Hookipa, to watch the surfers. There were a ton of surfers out, it was still a bit disorganized but some were getting some good rides.

For all the pictures for Day 13, Click HERE.

0809 Trip Log:
Day1, Day2, Day3, Day4, Day5, Day6, Day7, Day9, Day10, Day11, Day12, Day13, Day14, Day15, Day16, Day17, Day18, Day19, Day20, Day21, Day22

January 8, 2009
0809 Trip Day 12 | Maui

Today was my first full day on Maui. What better way to start out the day than going to a coffee shop. Julien and I spent a couple hours getting some work done. Then we headed around Maui getting some errands done such as permits for the Jet ski etc… Julien then took me to Kite Beach to check out the scene, but there was no wind yet. The riding area was much smaller than i had thought.

We then cruised up to Waiehu again. It was windy enough to ride. But first we had to do a couple modifications and testing to a new design Julien is working on. Once that was done, he headed out on a 12m Liquid Force Havoc and a brand new out of the box LF Rawson Quad. I geared up with much thanks to Jerry Chalk, for loaning me his water housing. I swam out for about an hour and a half and practiced a bit with the housing. The waves were a bit smaller than yesterday and the wind was still straight on shore, but still was a good session.

After the session we headed back to the house to relax, download images and charge batteries. Later that night we went cruised back into town to grab some sushi and beers with Brazilian big wave legend Eraldo Gueiros. We called it a night after that and headed home.

For all the pictures for Day 12, Click HERE.

0809 Trip Log:
Day1, Day2, Day3, Day4, Day5, Day6, Day7, Day9, Day10, Day11, Day12, Day13, Day14, Day15, Day16, Day17, Day18, Day19, Day20, Day21, Day22

January 7, 2009
Beached Ship and Dirt Biking

On Saturday, I headed over to say hi to Drew who owns HIB (Hatteras Island Boardsports) to pick up some wax. We got to talking about how there are usually a couple crazy things that happen over the winter. The next morning I get a call from Jason and Sam that a sailboat had come ashore. I headed down to Avon to check out the scene. Sure enough a rather massive boat was beach about a half mile south of the Avon Pier. I stuck around for a little to take some pictures and see if they were able to get the boat off the beach with the dropping tide. They were unable to get the boat off the beach before the water dropped. We also found out it was not the captain’s first time getting in to trouble on his voyage from NY to SC.

I then wanted to practice some speed blur shots. I meet up with Jason to shoot some dirt biking. I had Jason drive around in circles so I could grab a couple shots. I was relatively happy with the results.

November 18, 2008
SW Session & Slick Shoot

The wind was up today. Another SW wind was apon us. Carrie and I headed out to do a downwinder fro SDA (salvo day-use area) to REAL. I put up a 12m Havoc in 19 knots and my wakeboard. We got about 10 minutes into the down winder when a squall came trough and it picked up to about 25 and gusts to 40. Needless to say I was bombing downwind. I could have my kite at 12 and would be standing straight up and edging against the kite. It was one of the scariest times on the water I’ve had in a long time. I had to body drag into shore to have someone land my kite. I then grabbed a jetski to go pick up carrie who was still out in the sound.

For the second session, I headed to the Planet with Bill DeGeorge and a couple friends from MI. I rigged up my 8m Havoc, just as I was about to get ready to launch my 8m’s bladder blew. I had to ride my 12m. Again after I got 15 minutes into the downwinder the wind really picked up again. Not quite as bad as last time but I couldn’t edge. By the time I made it to the planet slick (about two miles ahead of the crew) the wind died down a little and I did a bunch of speed runs trough the slick. I then bombed my way to the REAL Slick. My first jump in the Slick was probably the largest jump of my life. I jumped about 10ft from the top of the slick and landed about even with the goofy pool. I called it a session after a few more boost (Thanks for the photos Rob).

After I packed up my gear I headed back up to the Slick to shoot Brandon and Trevor. We spent about an hour riding while I tried to dial in my flash shooting with action.

November 16, 2008
Julien Photo Shoot

Julien and I did a couple shots before he left the Outer Banks. We did a couple lifestyle shoots, one under the Waterman’s Treat and then took a couple shots where we did one of the action shoots. For the action shoot we headed over to a dock to do mock wake skate shots. I’m pretty excited to try and get more wake skate shots at the different docks in Hatteras.

November 16, 2008
Slider Shots

Tyler of goodlifephotography.com grabbed a couple shots while we were out in The Slick over the weekend. I was very excited as i’m usually the one behind the glass. These were just the sneakers hopefully more to come soon. Thanks Tyler

November 12, 2008
Summer in November

Summer was back for a day in November. The SoutWest wind picked up around 1pm. Just before that Claire and I dragged out half of the REAL Slider Park up into The Slick. As the day went on the wind filled in more and more. It was a great day! The entire REAL Crew was out sessioning along with some out of towner’s having a ball. At one point I counted over 35 kites from The Slick as far north as I could see.

I pumped up early to take a few hits on the JWCF Slider before heading in to change my kite gear for a camera. I took a couple good shots before the sunset. This was a session needed by all, since the cold settled in the last few weeks.

November 10, 2008
Surfs up

Sam, Jason and Julien headed out for a quick surf session during lunch. I stayed about 20 minutes after deciding not to paddle out. I grabbed a couple shots of them getting the three waves in the 20 minutes of me being there. I get back to work to find out that it started firing after I left the beach. That is the way surfing seems to be, “you should have been here an hour ago the waves were pumping”.

November 7, 2008
Sunset at KP with the SBC Crew

Jason Slezak, Sam Bell and I drove down to Avon yesterday to meet up with John Bryja and the rest of the crew that came down with him to do the SBC Kite and Board testing for the SBC Kiteboarding Magazine. I also finally got to meet up with David G. Tran another fellow photog. We had a great time down there with those guys, checked out the incredible view from their house, the guys rode a sunset session at Kite Point, and even checked out a couple snowboard videos in the theater room of the house.

The session at KP was good though the light dropped out on us pretty quick. It was crazy having the editor of a magazine around for a shoot. The guys were pretty underpowered but the Cape Hatteras sunset was spectacular (as always), so the shooting went on. The only worthwhile shot I got was of Sam, which im pretty excited about. It’s a little strong on the flash but im still stoked on the shot.

October 23, 2008