SUP Surfed Mokes and Flat Island

Saturday was a small surf day.  Got a few at the reef approaching Big Mokes - tried getting one in between the islands (but the swell was too small) - and I finished off by snagging several at Flat Island.

The tide was super low and several coral heads were sticking out of the water.  Definitely an incentive for wisely choosing your waves.

The GoPro was acting up so I didn't get any photos of wave riding.  

Fun session filled with microwaves (though I wish some swell would hit soon)!

The Re-Annointment of the Hooked SUP

BEHOLD!!! From the clutches of under-utilization due to family separation, then compounded by house hold goods shipping halfway across the Pacific Ocean, unpacking and organizing a new home, and finally (last excuse) having to re-glue down the deck pad-so-why-don't-I-just-go-ahead-and-install-the-masttrack-box-while-I'm-at-it - emerges the new and improved Hooked SUP!!! Marlon and I paddled SUPs out around Flat Island around lunchtime, and I brought along the whipping setup and a kayak spinning rig. I did manage to get a visual on two follows (papio), but unfortunately I didn't get to set the hook. I'm going to have to find the sea anchor I have so I can slow down my drift and spend more time casting. I'm looking forward to exploring the near shore zones with this board - especially under sail!!!

Family Surf Day at Flat Island

We packed up the van and headed over to Flat Island. The wind was offshore and light (at the beginning of the session). La paddled out on the Starboard Element, Marlon on the Wavestorm and me on the ULI Lopez Special Edition (Noe stayed back on the beach with Camille, Henry and Charlie). Small day but totally fun - especially with La out there talking smack and getting to see Marlon take on a new break!!! I'll let the pictures do the talking. What a perfect day!!!

Flat Island Excursion

Excursion for La and the kids... I took a nap! And I liked it!!! Actually while we were at the boat ramp, we saw the injured diver make landfall (check the news reports about the two free divers that got hit by a boat on Saturday).

Breaking in the New Paddle

I took the new paddle for a surf this morning at Flat Island. The wind was up so even the short paddle over to the break from the parking lot was challenging. Even with all that, the paddle felt really good. The shaft didn't even feel like it was deflecting at all (I was hoping for a little give - makes it easier for the shoulders and elbows you know). For the next paddle, I think I can thin down the shaft diameter even more. We'll see - for now, this one is a winner.

Paying Taxes

So this is a picture of the scrape I got from SUP surfing Flat Island on President's Day. Several years back, I put my knee into a coral head while kitesurfing nearly the same place - Kailua definitely collects it's due tax... Hopefully I'm paid up for a while. One consolation, scars are better than tattoos

Flat Island Microwaves

On Monday - President's Day 2015 - I surfed Flat Island over at Kailua. If you have been following this blog, you might remember that I surfed this same spot with the ULI FAQ I had. I thought it would be great to surf it with the GL. Random cool water shot from the GoPro Green Sea Turtle coming up for air There were some decent waves, but for the most part it was really small GoPro cameras are pretty funny - they make stomachs look much bigger than they really are, and they shrink waves. Charlie on a much larger wave (than what it looks like taken with a GoPro ;) I wiped out a couple of times - I hit some coral on the second one - I got a nice scrape on my lower right back right now... another story for another time, but the only reason I don't have a bunch of tattoos is because I have scars. And scars have real stories behind them (not that sappy crap the people on the tattoo shop reality shows come up with for their "reason I'm getting a tattoo). This ULI GL 9'0" is really something - overhead to ankle biters - it just works!!! After all this, now I want to come back and surf this spot with the ULI 14' Race Special Edition....