The North Shore of Maui has been recognized as one of the world’s premier destinations for wind sports since the early 1980s. It gained notoriety when windsurfers discovered the perfect combination of wind and waves at breaks like Ho’okipa. Its status in the world of wind sports was further cemented as it played a prominent role in the growth and devlopment of kite boarding in the mid 1990s. The 1990s also elevated Maui’s North Shore to prominence in the sport of tow surfing. The best tow surfers in the world were drawn to the massive waves of Jaws off the coast of Haiku. In the last few years, the sport of stand up paddle boarding has exploded and this stretch of coast was once again a focal point for the growth of a water sport. It is safe to say that the waters up and down the coast from Paia have been a center of board sport innovation. Up until now, the one area where North Shore of Maui has lagged in international prominence has been in the art/sport of conventional surfing.

This may be changing as the spotlight of surfing’s media is starting to shine on the North Shore of Maui. Surfer magazine recently named Paia one of the ten best surf towns in America. The towns were selected to the top ten due primarily to quality of life and quality of surf. The truth of the matter is that the area has always had a devoted crew of surfers. Some were born and raised locally while others migrated here for the surf. The surf population was over shadowed by the international prominence of Maui’s alternative water sports. The recent success of Maui North Shore surfers have made the local surf scene hard to ignore. Rippers like Ian Walsh have been recognized on the global stage for their skill in all conditions of surf. The younger generation is making their presence known as well. There is no better example than Haiku’s Kai Barger winning a world junior championship earlier this year in Australia.

I am sure that there are some mixed emotions among the local surf community regarding Paia’s new found publicity. While the attention is welcomed for the area’s up and coming pro surfer’s, I imagine some are wary that the publicity may add to the crowds at local surf breaks. Regardless of the media spotlight, the world class combination of wind and waves along our stretch of coast will draw those that appreciate an ocean sports lifestyle. Combined with the unique culture and lifestyle, it isn’t much of a surprise that Paia’s notoriety has expanded to the world of surf.

The Paia Youth and Cultural Center will be hosting its 12th annual beachfest from 7:00AM to 6:00 PM tomorrow at Paia Bay. The beachfest offers competitions in bodyboarding and surfing. If you are still interested in entering, you can register on the beach for $30 tomorrow morning. Contestants get a t-shirt, a plate lunch and entry into one division. Contestants may enter into multiple divisions for an additional $10 per division. It should be a good event with plenty of waves. We will be in the tail end of a high surf advisory tomorrow so there will be a few bigger sets for the kids. Come by Paia Bay tomorrow to check out the action!

The North and West Facing Shores of Maui will be going under a high surf warning tonight at 6:00 PM. That means wave heights of 25 feet or more for north facing shorelines and wave heights of up to 20 feet on west facing shorelines. Casual beach goers should be aware of large shore break and strong rip currents through the weekend. That being said, the waves should be quite the spectacle this weekend and into next week. These are the type of waves that are big enough for Jaws to break out in Haiku. It also appears that we are getting into a sustained big wave pattern through the next week. A second slightly smaller big wave event is expected on Tuesday. Then a third swell is expected for late next Thursday or Friday. While it can be difficult to predict wave heights a week away, the initial forecast suggests that this third event may provide the biggest waves yet. Stay safe and enjoy mother nature’s show over the next few days!

The sound of waves crashing is growing louder along the North and West Shores of Maui tonight as the national weather service has announced the season’s first high surf advisory. High surf advisories are announced along the North Shore of Maui when wave heights top 15 feet. Wave heights for this swell are expected to reach between 14-18 feet at selected breaks and outer reefs. This swell is going to have island surfer’s happy. That being said, beach goers should exercise some caution while near the ocean. Dangerous shore breaks and strong rip tides can be expected. Surfers who venture in the water should know their limits. I hope everyone has a great first swell of the season!

September is the time of year when the Hawaii’s North Shores see the start of the winter surf season. As we enter fall in the Northern Hemisphere, storm activity becomes more pronounced in the North Pacific. These early fall storms start to bring waves to our Northern and Western Shorelines. The winter season is the season that brings big waves and talented surfers from all over the globe to Hawaii. True to form, the last couple of weeks have seen a few stronger storms that have brought small waves to the island. This morning, it felt like the first real day of the winter surf season. While the waves were not large by winter standards, calm winds, glassy waves and the hope of waves to come brought the masses out to the surf lineups.

For me, it was my opportunity to ride my favorite winter surf break. I can’t claim to be a big wave rider or a great surfer for that matter, but I do enjoy the winter waves and the chance to see friends out on the water. All of the regular crew was out at my break this morning and we all shared big smiles and a handful of small, but fun waves. Let’s hope that this winter brings ample waves and lots of fun for everyone.

The 3rd annual Naish Maui International Paddleboard Race is happening today along Maui’s North Shore. The event runs from Maliko Gulch down to Kahului Harbor for a length of 9.54 miles. There will be three separate categories for the race. There is stock 12′ paddleboards. There is another unlimited paddleboard category which includes stand up paddleboards of 13 foot or less and paddleboards 12 foot or longer. Last but not least is unlimited stand up paddle boards with all boards 13 feet or longer. The race starts at 1:00 today and it should take racers anywhere from an hour and a half to two and a half hours to compete. Traditionally, this time of year is an ideal time for racing along the north shore coastline. Tradewinds help competitors catch extended rides or glides on open ocean swells. Today will be a little more challenging as trade winds are lighter than usual. That being said, they are currently blowing stronger than forecasted. It has been amazing watching the growth of stand up paddling in the paddleboard racing scene. Billy and I were among the first couple dozen of people that regularly were making coast runs on stand up boards. Now there are literally hundreds of enthusiasts who have joined the sport. It should be a fun albeit challenging race for the competitors.