THE LATE SESSION
5pm: The late session is often the best and today is no exception. With the winds swinging slightly more offshore and cleaning up the waves in the process, there are some really sick waves to be ridden late in the day as the sun starts to fade behind the West Maui Mountains down the coast. While many guys are fatigued from a whole day on the water, the smart and the patient ones can now score their fix without quite so many sails on the water.
5.30pm: Back on the beach most sailors take their time de rigging while they talk story about the day gone by. Wooden slats are set over the steel guard rails at the top of the car park and this is where most people sit and catch up with friends post session. The craic all goes on here, normally led by Ricardo or Kai Katchadorian on who was going the hardest or had the biggest wipe out (also normally Ricardo!). Chances are the conditions will fire again tomorrow and we will all go through the same routine over again in the morning. Ho’okipa may be overcrowded and a tough break to conquer but nobody will ever argue that it does not deliver the goods, time after time and that is why many have made this place home and photo shoots keep coming back year after year.
6.45pm: The sun finally goes down and the last surfers catch that one last ride!
7pm: The gates at the top of Ho’okipa Car Park are locked and it is a wrap for another day at the world’s most renowned windsurfing break. That same routine has been taking place at this beach for the past twenty years. A tribal gathering of windsurfers and surfers, sharing these incredible waves deep in the heart of the Pacific Ocean.