Big Wave News

Monster waves hit the North Shore

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 December, 2009 : - - On a day when giant surf pounded Oahu's North Shore, one wave at Waimea Bay stood above the rest. 'It broke about 100 yards outside of the surfers', said one lifeguard who estimated it at higher than 40 feet (face value). 'Everybody in the lineup was cleaned' he said.

About 20 surfers were in the water and that some 10 boards were damaged or broken by the wave. In the aftermath, lifeguards on a personal watercraft pulled about 15 surfers out of the ocean. "It was the biggest wave," said Sylvain Cazenave, who was taking photos when the wave hit.

Cazenave, who has been visiting the North Shore from France every year since 1980, said the surfers could not get out of its way. "Those guys were paddling very fast, but they all got nailed," he said. "Many boards were broken."

Whether it was to ride the monster waves or to watch others try, thousands flocked to the North Shore. "It's the kind of high surf that we only get once or twice a year," said Ocean Safety Capt. Bodo Van Der Leeden, of the North Shore district.

Some waves at Waimea Bay were coming in with 40-foot faces, he said. "That's as good as it gets at Waimea." Other North Shore beaches were washed out because the waves were too big, Van Der Leeden said.

Read the full article at Honolulu Advertiser  |  Related article Santa's Gift - Big waves

     
          Christmas Day spectator crowd at Jaws              Jetskis look like snowmobiles on Christmas Day
photos Amanda Cowan/Maui News click to zoom 

Santa’s present to big-surf fans: Giant waves at Jaws

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 December, 2009 : - - Peahi - Large surf hit Maui's north shore Christmas Day, luring tow-in surfers as well as hundreds of spectators who made their way down to watch. At Jaws some spectators arrived before dawn to claim prime positions for viewing the waves and riders.

There's a tradition with Christmas Day and big waves, said a spectator. "You get Christmas right here in front of you, plus surf and beautiful sun." About 20 tow-teams were at Jaws by mid-morning. Haiku resident Tim Siver, whose son Luke was among the surfers, estimated the surf at 35 to 40 feet at the wave faces. "This is medium-sized for Jaws," Siver said. 

Earlier this month, when big waves also hit the north shore, Siver said another son, Levi, was surfing Jaws when he had both air vests blown off. Personal watercraft hit the rocks at the shoreline and were destroyed while trying to reach Levi, who managed to grab a personal watercraft to get out of danger at the last moment.

Full article at Maui News

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