| ~ The Social Diary ~ the on-line magazine covering High Society ..& more ____________________________________________________________ Water Sports News from Hawai'i
by
the Social Diary Hawai'i & Water Sports Columnist Sonja
Evensen
Oahu is probably the island most suited for any of our water sports…with the best waves, variety of breaks for all levels, and enough wind for kitesurfing. I might go out on a limb to say that it sometimes rivals Maui for windsurfing, (Backyards is practically empty these days) though Maui has long taken the seat as the Mecca for windsurfers.
(pictured here - Norwegian born, now a Hawaiian local, Sonja Evensen charging down an overhead wave off of Diamond Head, Oahu)
As far as waves go, there is no such thing as a secret spot anymore, but there are numerous less-known breaks all along the way that used to be people's backyard favorites. Those days are over. Well, at least the local residents get the first crack at it before the word gets out. To name a few of those cherished spots, I will rattle of some names such as: Silver Channels near Mokuleiea, Rainbows on the NE side, Mokuluas, Toes, "Secrets" (no secret anymore), China Walls, Rabbits, and Suicides to name a few around the island. (It will be your job to figure it out.) Some spots are easily accessed but others might either require a boat or a long paddle, or a local knowledge of where to get out.
Surfing has become so mainstream that almost anywhere you go will be crowded, with a fair share of aggression happening when people feel territorial. Typically the North Shore or even the West side has been known for fights in the water, but it happens everywhere. Who doesn't know what "stink eye" means? It's probably the last look you'd get before getting "cracks"---and the old movie "North Shore" and others has made almost caricatures out of those types. Indeed it happens, but it is mostly about respect. Most people are still very friendly, if approached respectfully.
Let me switch gears and talk about the kitesurfing scene, the last of the -'surf' vehicles to hit our waters. Windsurfers have become a rare breed and most of them have switched over to the newer version. There is less to carry, it's easier to travel, and you can go out in more conditions. You need less wind than a windsurfer, and it takes less time to become proficient. But wait, there is a catch. It is very expensive (though prices have come down a bit) but still a kite will cost in the $800 range. Then you find out you need 3 of them!
More….. Important people in Sonja's life
include: More of Sonja's friends .... Artist Jeannie Chesser, mom
of former pro surfer Todd Chesser, who died surfing several Here is a video clip of one of my best
friends, Erik Eck. I think this is probably the
most radical footage of how kitesurfing can go wrong. At a 2001
event on the North shore, Erik caught a gust of wind when he was
trying to land his kite on the beach and was lifted up two hundred
feet in a thermal. But he managed to bring the kite back down
and only dropped hard the last forty feet, walking away unscathed.
Thankfully his cool-headedness saved him. This is the guy who
taught me how to kitesurf. I almost quit after this happened to
him. This is the link to Surf News Network (SNN).
I do radio reports for them a couple of days of the week. SNN
is the most information-rich surf reporting site in Hawaii. Surf
News Network. My favorite charity is to send some kids
to a good school in Micronesia. There is no fund yet established
for this. I do this on my own. My favorite organized charities
are: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/
Warning ** photos, video and writing on this site are the copyright of the author, The Social Diary, San Diego Social Diary, margomargo.com and Margo Schwab. no reproduction of any part or parts is allowed without written permission by Margo Schwab
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