Paraphrased from the review in the WSJ: An interesting Nature episode will be aired on PBS from 8-9 pm EST on Sunday, Jan 13. "Condition Black". In January of 1998, the largest waves ever recorded hit land on the North Shore of Oahu, HI. The beaches were evacuated as whitecaps of up to 40 feet came crashing in. But a group of fearless(?) surfers managed to get past the dangerous breakwater out to open ocean on jet skis, then surf the tremendous waves. They were riding waves the size of 10 story buildings. It is astonishing to watch. Mel *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Mel, It's called 'tow-in' surfing. They don't just use the jet skis to get outside, they tow the surfer on a rope and slingshot them into the breaking wave. These waves are so big that it is not possible to paddle into them unassisted. A group of these surfers recently came to the PacNW to train for this type of surfing and all the safety work it requires at Cape Disappointment: http://www.billabongodyssey.com/content/detail.cfm?ct=news&ocid=8 Here's a shot from a famous spot in NorCal: http://www.mavsurfer.com/mavsurfer_00/editorial/image_photo/mavericks_11_21_01/pages/burle_bomb3.htm A very well known shot from Tahiti: http://www.tim-mckenna.com/4345-70.htm Here's one from "Jaws", a spot off Maui: http://www.surfermag.com/news/index.shtml?section=news&content=jawsgoes Scary stuff... You could probably do it from a surf kayak with a big fin however without the availability of the knees to absorb all the chop that's present in these humongous waves, you'd be skipping like a flat stone... ...until you ate it in a very big way shortly after. Best, Thomas (depressed because he's not out in his surfkayak...) At 08:59 AM 1/12/2002 -0500, mel wrote: > Paraphrased from the review in the WSJ: > > <Snip> But a group of fearless(?) surfers managed to get past the > dangerous breakwater out to open ocean on jet skis, then surf the > tremendous waves. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 08:59 AM 1/12/02 -0500, mel wrote: > Paraphrased from the review in the WSJ: > > An interesting Nature episode will be aired on PBS from 8-9 pm EST on Sunday, Jan 13. "Condition Black". In January of 1998, the largest waves ever recorded hit land on the North Shore of Oahu, HI. The beaches were evacuated as whitecaps of up to 40 feet came crashing in. But a group of fearless(?) surfers managed to get past the dangerous breakwater out to open ocean on jet skis, then surf the tremendous waves. They were riding waves the size of 10 story buildings. It is astonishing to watch. Just watched it -- awesome! Big, big waves. You have to wonder how it would look in IMAX. Thanks, Mel, for tipping me off. I don't watch a lot of TV and would have missed it without your post. -- Wes --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wes Boyd's Kayak Place http://www2.dmci.net/wesboyd/kayak.htm Kayaks for Big Guys (And Gals) | Trip Reports | Places To Go | Boats & Gear --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I must agree, it was breath taking to see these guys drop off a clift of water and live! Since I'm outside of DC I'm going to check on the next showing at the IMAX theaters in the Smithsonian. John Blackburn Wes Boyd wrote: > > An interesting Nature episode will be aired on PBS from 8-9 pm EST on > Sunday, Jan 13. "Condition Black". In January of 1998, the largest waves > ever recorded hit land on the North Shore of Oahu, HI. The beaches were > evacuated as whitecaps of up to 40 feet came crashing in. But a group of > fearless(?) surfers managed to get past the dangerous breakwater out to > open ocean on jet skis, then surf the tremendous waves. They were riding > waves the size of 10 story buildings. It is astonishing to watch. > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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