Thought I'd start a thread to keep some of you who are interested, up to date with what's happening over here in Hawaii. Below are the boards my friend Michelle and I have been paddling on our daily 4.5 mile (still haven't converted that to km's yet ?) downwind on Kauai. The one on the left is known on the island as "The Fridge". It's owned by a local guy named Kamueia who won the 10 mile race on this board last weekend. He's done Molokai on it and apparently lead the whole way only to be passed at Portlock (about 2km from the finish). It was surposed to have been made by Naish about 4 years ago. She's 14' and very stable and can move pretty fast in all conditions.
The board I am holding on the right (excuse the hat) is an F16. (This board came 2nd in last weekends race) The first time I have ever tried one of these and what can I say..I am in love !! This thing catches runs so well, is stable and is really fast. I've also never used a Garmin Forerunner before but had one today. It's about 20 knots coming alittle too much from our right side and 1.5 metre swell. We averaged 4.8 mph and maxed at 7.6mph. There downwinds here are so much fun. If I lived here I would definately do them everyday.
We have also been surfing each day on a 10'6" Naish, a 12' Laird Softtop/Hard bottom and a 10'6" Hypr (Danny holding in 2nd photo). And that is a Monk seal lying on the beach just left of the blue beach chair. There were 6 on the beach that day. They swim up to the beach and then the "Seal Protection Volunteers" have to move all the humans and their towels/chairs/umbrellas really quickly so that the seals can come up onto the beach. Then they put a barrier around them to stop the people from getting too close. Pretty cool. Also plenty of huge turtles in the water and plenty of whales breaching past you during downwinds. Life is good. Bye for now from Kauai.
Hey, that looks like you are having a cool time, I bet the scenery on those downwinders is mind-blowing.
About the Seal - I never realised they wore bikinis 
What a magic place, am keen to visit at the end of the year, any tips on some good local accomadation?
Nice hat Sue....
very jealous , it's been so long since I was over there. "The Fridge" what is going on near the tail , it looks all sectioned? Have you got any shots of Danny busting it on the Sup ?
Rob
Hey Sue there is a couple of aeriels on that F16 that need you to cut them off!!!!
Sue whats that hand brake looking thing on the F16 ? Is it some sort of foot operated tiller.
Thanks Sue for the updates and pics.. It looks like you're having a great time.
If you see Summer in your travels send it back to Melbourne.. It's nicked off on us again.. 
DJ
Jenkz...I'll get the names of some local accom for you today and post it. We are staying with friends at PoiPu which is on the south side of Kauai. A couple of good local surf spots and great downwinds as the trades (NE/NNE) are right behind you. About 1/2 hours drive is another good surf bay (it's like a big U) called Kalapaki. The other day there were 14 SUP's out there. A little crowded but very friendly. On the North Shore, a town called Hanalei, it's about 1 hour drive. Beautiful little town, lots of cute little shops and local craft. Danny surfed it yesterday and found some of the crowd not too happy to see him out there. They are all excellent surfers, never miss a wave, never fall off so it's somewhere I personally won't be going out in. But at the other end of the beach there is a nicer more welcoming break for us beginners. I'll post some photo's if we go back up there.
Just Wrong..you're a funny guy 
Piros...The lines at the back of "The Fridge" look like lines of inlayed resin ?? There are 9 lines. Not sure what's going on there. I will ask Kamueia when we drop the board back. The Fridge looks like an Aussie lifesaving Mal. Square edges and flat bottom but it goes really well.
I have no photo's of Danny surfing as I didn't bring all my good camera gear over. Thought I'd bring the kids instead. Too much lugguge. He is going out right now for the 4.5 mile downwind on the F16. His first time on one and he's wearing the Garmin so it will be interesting to see what speeds he reaches.
The Avenger...the rod you see on the F16 is the steering system. You use your left toes to move it. Push right/Go right. Push left/Go left. Yesterday was the first time I have used a steering system and it was a big help especially and the start and end of the run when you have to go side on to the wind in a 1 metre swell.
DJ...weather is beautiful here. Sorry 
Bye for now...I will post more pics as I get some.
hi sue ,that board looks fantastic i guess there very little pivot turning going on 
i've been to north shore kaui and your right ,the locals there are locals and want to keep that way , they get plenty of kooky mainland americans staying at he ritzy princeville resort which is right in front of the main break ( you can thank christopher skase for that he built and owned it before he died)..doesn't matter in the big picture there are plenty of islands worldwide for everyone ,
the best one is the one i live on
just a quick question is that mega board heavy ? your seem to be holding it easily,
tom
Sue it looks like they have cut it to adjust the rocker ? You're right where too and not too surf over there , they get pretty defensive about there breaks.
Keep the picks rolling in and when you drive past a "Jack In The Box" drop in and eat a bacon and egg breakfast pocket for me , you will need to do a 10 mile downwinder to burn it off but I loved them [}:)]
Rob
very jealous , it's been so long since I was over there. "The Fridge" what is going on near the tail , it looks all sectioned? Have you got any shots of Danny busting it on the Sup ?
There's no news on the home front Sue, just the usual preseason stuff. Now i know why you crossed over to SUP. ...hahaha
Cheers Rambo
Spent the day on the North Shore of Kauai at Hanalei. A very cute little town and one of my favourite places in the World. The main strip is about 150 metres long. No curb and channeling, no traffic lights, no advertising, no fastfood chains. Just little local shops and cafes in old Hawaiian timber buildings. The town is surrounded by huge mountains and waterfalls and lush vegetation. It's where they filmed "Jurrasic Park" on the Napali Coast (You can see the start of it in the pics below). You drive your car right onto the little beach and paddle out 3 minutes to the break. (To the right of the pics). Today was 6 foot face right handers and about 10 SUP's out at all times, though about 40 came and went throughout the day. Everyone from 3 yrs to 70 yrs, experts to novice, all types of boards. They are just everywhere. I managed to get out the back and sit and watch the big boys surf right by me and the waves are about 150 metres long from way out the back. (Sorry I'm not too good at surf talk..just trying to paint a picture ??). I only wish I had a waterproof video camera to capture it all.
Laird Hamilton's father Bill was out there with his old Golden Retriever catching some great waves on a SUB with no paddle. We met eyes and said Hi. Me trying to look cool and not fall off my Laird 12' Softtop ?? Laird was apparently out yesterday and while on the same wave as a long board friend of mine, passed him his paddle and said, "here try this man" as they were on the same wave.
Back to Oahu tomorrow night to surf Waikiki at night on a full moon. Apparently a cool thing to do??. And we just checked the surf report here. This Thursday is forecast a 12-18ft Hawaiian, 18-30 feet Face on the North Shore. So they may be calling the "Eddie Aikau" on for next weekend which will be amazing to see. Bye for now.
Thanks for the awesome reports, please keep them coming. One more thing to add to your first photo of Hanalei; Back in the sixties there was a song by Peter, Paul and Mary called "Puff the magic dragon" - that first line of green hills in the background is Puff.
LaPerouse Bay - Do ya mean the mountain range was the inspiration for the song?
Or is there lots of puff growing up there?
Awesome pics thanks Aussie wahine - keep em comin!
^I wish I could say both, but the government has driven the latter underground - literally.
On a more positive note, I hope this thread gets to see pics of Oahu's north shore macking.
Further north of Hanalei are two amazing surf spots, tunnels and cannons. I've never seen them with a giant swell running, but they are probably similar to everything else up there - stunning.
Oh my God Sue - what a trip the family are having ! It's Kim ( TCO - Nat's sister ) here. Am so hooked and in love with my SUP now also .... so have not been doing half the outrigger pre season training that I should have, as I am out catching waves all the time on my SUP. Am so anti training in the Tweed river when the points have been such fun ! Am busting to do a SUP downwind one day, as I know that I will love that element also. Cannot believe the size of the F16 you are holding. See you aroud maybe when the OC6 marathon season starts. Keep chalking up the good life over there.
have you done the full moon paddle yet? we are planning the same thing here just waiting for the right moon and tide.
Nice to hear you guys are having a great time. I was on oahu just before xmas, caught the pipeline swell and had some amazing sup waves at himalayas and a few other spots. I was lucky enough to get a 9'6 and 10'6 Naish dropped off and they got used every day. I had 7 surfs in one day, staying right in front of a few great breaks I couldn't stay out of the water. Looking forward to supping with you on the sunny or gold coast one day if you ever come home. Go well. Fun little moment with Laird hey.
Hey piros, full moon paddle could be suss with all the bities at the moment. 3 underwater grey mozzie bites in 2 days, they've got the whole east coast covered.
have you done the full moon paddle yet? we are planning the same thing here just waiting for the right moon and tide.
I forgot to say, that 4.5mile padlle equals 7.2km. I love the picture of dan walking past the car on the beach with the break out the back, so Hawaiin it hurts to look at it. wish i was there with you.
have you done the full moon paddle yet? we are planning the same thing here just waiting for the right moon and tide.
Oh what can I say Sue, and I am sure anyone who have been to Hawaii would understand,I WISH I WAS THERE OR STILL WAS! Sue, the pic's on the beach are PINE TREES where the Irons brothers live and surf,we stayed at the Princeville not cheep but worth every cent/dollar/hundred/grand,but really worth it!We found the locals really nice folk and super helpful,we met a guy at Bubbers Burgers who worked in the bank down south,I told him how much it was for a cab (sues taxi)into town,he couldnt believe the cost and loaned his pickup to use for three days.How good was that!Would'nt happen on the main island!
Well didn't end up surfing at night on the full moon. Got back from Kauai that afternoon only to find a Kona Wind, which means it's from the South which means it's wind blown, choppy, no wave crappy ! Even though I was disappointed the highlight of that day was seeing Laird at the Kauai airport. Nearly ran him over on a pedestrian crossing. 
Photo's below are after another race yesterday. 8 mile from Makai Pier to Kailua on the east side of the island. Conditions were flat, hot, no wind, no runs. I met alot of these paddlers afterwards. A great bunch all offereing me to take their boards out but unable to with the kids on the beach with me and Danny M.I.A. He was racing OC1 and had an unfortunate incident with a 3 foot rouge wave off Rabbit Island. Only one canoe length off the lead.
First place in the SUP was the Camo board. Not sure the brand. Looks alittle like the Fridge with the square sides. I think it was home made. 2nd was the blue 14' Vortice (Guy who won last weeks race). 3rd the Girl on the Infinity 12'6". Then next 3 places were Jimmy Lewis 12'6". Notice where they put their race numbers which I think is a cool idea.
Last shot (boards leaning up against the trees) is at a friends house on the beach at Hawaii Kai where we had a bbq last night. Unfortunately my camera battery went flat about then. Bye for now
1st Place Camo Board (Norm Bradley)
2nd C4 Vortice
12'6" Infinity
12' 6" Jimmy Lewis (Jeff Chang)
Kailua
A friend's Quiver
Great pics ... really enjoying them and thanks for sharing them with us
I've been to Kauai and Maui its been a while though ,we how only go to Waikiki been there heaps and look like going back later this yr.
Keep the photo's coming ...... and get those batterys charged up quick!
Boylos
