KUAU YACHT CLUB AT THE 2013 ALOHA CLASSIC

 Photos by: Olaf Mitchell

Several members of “The Kuau Yacht Club” competed in the 2013 Aloha Classic wave sailing competition that was held at Hookipa Beach Park this year.

I had some time on my hands through that period so I went down and captured some of the action. 

I’m sure that there were more participants from the KYC entered in the event. 

Here’s a few of the ones that I did catch.

Russell Farot

Jake Miller

Casy Hauser

Matt Prichard

Kai Katchadorian

Ingrid Larouche

Sean Aiken

Click on the link below for more action shots of these six competitors.

http://rockerwaves.blogspot.com/2013/11/kuau-yacht-club-at-aloha-classic-2013.html

GOLDIE AND THE SEAL

Photo by: Ellen Black Wylde

By Olaf Mitchell
Last week we had a  Monk Seal visit us at the beach that I live at on the north shore of Maui.

My friend Tracy Harrap was attempting to launch her windsurfer as the seal was trying to come on to the rocky shore.

They  had a delightfully playful little encounter that was miraculously captured by Tracy's friend Ellen.

Tracy sent the images to me in an informal email and I am posting the text in the message just as I received it.

Tracy wrote,"Olaf.... here are those photos of the seal and me that I told you about."

Tracy also wrote,"if its not a dolphin its a seal.... pretty funny..... he came really close to me.. i wanted to give it a hug!"  but instead i said hello gourgous and gave it a playfull splash.... in return i got splashed back...(in photo)  that was the funny part and the face expression it gave me when i did that... and of course my face says it all.   I wanted out.. it wanted in ...who was in the way?.... the playfull splash may have been taken as..... "hey you..you in my way.... and the splash back... "what?..who u think you are... I want in"

Photo by: Ellen Black Wylde

Photo by: Ellen Black Wylde

Photo by: Ellen Black Wylde

Photo by: Ellen Black Wylde

Photo by: Ellen Black Wylde

Photo by: Ellen Black Wylde

Photo by: Ellen Black Wylde

ANOTHER GREAT DAY AT THE BEACH

This is a story that I posted on my blog about a fairly typical winter wave sailing day  at my favorite spot on the North Shore of Maui
http://rockerwaves.blogspot.com/2011/08/another-great-day-at-beach.html

MARK JOHNSTONE MAUI WAVE SAILOR AND MUCH MORE!

Mark Johnstone   Photo: Olaf Mitchell

I was hoping to get over and have a chat with my friend and sailing buddy Mark Johnstone before he leaves for the Waddell / Santa Cruz leg of the American Windsurfing Tour.

  Due to our hectic work, surf, and wave sailing schedules we didn’t get the formal interview done. I am sure that many of our readers know of Mark but for those of you that don’t, let me share a bit  of what I know about this dynamic athlete, artist and friend.

 

Mark Johnstone Photo Olaf Mitchell

Mark’s a very active and aggressive wave sailor! He and I sail together along with the rest of our crew most every day swell after swell year round at our favorite wave break at Kuau on the north shore of Maui.

Mark Johnstone

Mark Johnstone

Mark Johnstone

Mark Johnstone

Mark Johnstone

Mark holds the title of "Commodore" of the arguably prestigious “Kuau Yacht Club”.

Tom Krebs, Mark, and Mike Siopes  Photo: Olaf Mitchell

Mark and Art  Photo: Olaf Mitchell

 The KYC is the origin of the infamous, much coveted, and very controversial “Kuau Cup” Award and Party.

Sam Bittner Frank Sabb and J- Bird Photo: Olaf Mitchell

Dean, Olaf, Giampallo,and crew of KYC

Crew of  KYC  Photo: Olaf Mitchell

 Mark and the Crew  of  KYC  Photo: Olaf Mitchell

Mark  Photo: Olaf Mitchell

Mark and Dirt  Photo: Olaf Mitchell

When he's not shredding giant North Shore waves, Mark is the keyboard player for the world touring and Grammy nominated Mick Fleetwood Blues Band.

Mick Fleetwood Blues Band

He has had the privilege of sitting in with the likes of Carlos Santana, Boz Scaggs, Michael MacDonald, James Hatfield, Pat Simmons, Alice Cooper, John Mayall and numerous other world renowned icons in the music industry.

with John Mayall

with Carlos Santana

Rehearsal at Mick's. Michael MacDonald, James Hetfield of Metallica, Pat Simmons of The Doobie Bros, Mick Fleetwood, Eric Gilliom, Lenny Castellanos, Rick Vito, Mike Kroeger of Nickleback, and Mark Johnstone

Mark was an integral part of Mick Fleetwood's tribute to Peter Green and the early Blues years of Fleetwood Mac. Their CD "Blue Again" was nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best Traditional Blues Album" in 2009.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVX4ocBmJbc&feature=player_embedded

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0yKOJ3uGzU&feature=player_embedded#at=48

Mark’s other band “Wavetrain” plays every Thursday night at Charlie's in Paia.

 

"Wavetrain" will be playing at the opening evening of the Santa Cruz AWT event along with
Kai Katchadourian (the third place winner at the 2010 Pistol River Wave Bash) on drums.

Kai Katchadourian Photo: Olaf Mitchell

 Mark  Photo: Olaf Mitchell

Kai and Mark  Photo: Olaf Mitchell

Mark will also be competing in the Santa Cruz and Maui stops on the American Windsurfing Tour.

Mark says, “This is more than just a wave competition, I believe this event represents something larger.  It is an opportunity for like-minded, wind-addicted souls to convene and perhaps get back to the reason we started on this journey.”

Photo: Olaf Mitchell

He goes on to say, “I am completely thrilled to be a participant and equally charged up to perform music at this event!









 Thanks to Sam Bittner for the invite and her stoke for the sport!

Mark and Sam Bittner  photo: Mark Johnstone

 A large contingent of Maui wave sailors (including Mark and myself) along a host of locals and other talented shredders all gathered on the Oregon coast last summer to participate in the 2010 Pistol River Wave Bash.  We had a great time ripping and celebrating the return of competitive wave sailing to the U.S.A.

Photo: Olaf Mitchell

This is what Mark had to say about the Wave Bash on the Rio Pistola, “The reality is that I have been hooked into the sport of windsurfing since my first taste at age 22.  That's how I ended up on Maui 9 years ago. Living in landlocked Steamboat Springs, CO necessitated annual trips to Hood River, Oregon to fulfill the need for consistent sailing conditions.  This journey was realized 9 times during my stay in the mountains. When conditions become hot and windless in the Gorge, wind seekers venture on to the Oregon coast.  It is peculiar to me that at this point I find myself going back to the land of sandy beaches, majestic headlands and frigid waters to participate in the resurrection of the Pistol River Wave Bash.”

Mark is sponsored by Simmer Style and the ocean and music community of Paia, Maui,HI.

When asked what his favorite quote was Mark   responded:
"If it sounds good, then it is good" Duke Ellington

I would like to wish, Good Luck and favorable conditions to Mark and all the participants in the
American Windsurfing Tour from us at Maui Ocean Sports Magazine!

MY PERFECT WAVE SAILING DAY

Story by Olaf Mitchell

The day was forecast to be very light wind and advisory level waves. I thought to myself, “ This is probably going to be another one of those days that there is too much wind for  surfing and not enough wind to wave sail”. As walked down the access path I noticed that the waves were defiantly substantial.  The few sailors that were out  were barely moving. I feared my initial feelings were true. I walked across the rocks and took a seat on the log that we use for a bench. I could sense extreme adrenaline from two of the guys that had just been out. They were boasting of biggest wave ever ridden and epic conditions. I ran back to my truck and quickly assembled my gear and ran back to the launch and rigged. The wind was light but steady and I sailed right out to the impact zone where I was denied passage but I persevered and made it out on my second try. It’s always tense making that first attempt at penetrating the white water when the ocean is big. I typicaly need to make a couple reaches before committing to a set wave. I sailed pretty far out to sea trying to calm my nerves and get my arms and balance under control. After my first outside jibe I noticed something very special. I was on a moving mound of water that was just developing beautifully the closer I got to shore. My first instinct was to kick out and settle in a bit before dropping in on a wave that size but it was just to perfect so I went for it. I was a bit early and that proved to be a good move and I stayed far enough in front of the peak that it was easy to navigate all the way to the right channel. I made my inside jibe and pumped my sail and stepped into the non planning 'sweet' spot on the board. As I headed back out to sea I was just hooting and filled with the adrenalized euphoria of a man that has just ridden one of the best waves of his life. This proved to be only one of many waves that were that were of that caliber (size and quality)! I sailed mast and a half perfectly smooth waves with good friends with a lot of aloha until near dark. That’s when the wind dropped off to near calm. There was just enough of a breeze to slog to weather. I was way below the channel. I also noticed that every one but two other sailors had made it in already. I thought to myself “Not this again, WHY, do I consistently make this same mistake? Here I am again, out in big waves with barely enough wind to move, desperately trying to get in position to make it through a very technical channel in the rocks!" . I actually made good progress and was soon in the position I needed to be in. I waited for the right wave to come. I wanted one that I could make the drop, go up and hit the lip, and then point using the power of the white water all the way to the big rock east of the mouth of the channel. All was going well until I was hit by a small rouge piece of chop that knocked me out of balance and I fell. I was in exactly WRONG place! The current in this spot outside the rock is famous for trapping tired sailors. It has a whorl pool effect that‘s nearly impossible to break loose from. I didn’t have to spend much time in that impossible caldron because the only thing worse than being caught in the swirling eddy is being picked up by one of the large incoming pulses and washed directly on to the large jagged rock. That is exactly what happened I didn’t even have time to say “OH SHIT !”,it happened that fast. The surge was large and powerful enough that it washed me and my gear completely over the large rock and into the rocks on the other side. I tumbled in some sort of controlled whirl, I lightly pushed away from the razor sharp edges. There is one benefit to the situation that I just described and that is after you make it over all those obstacles there is a direct flow of current all the way to the rocky beach! I was so stoked to be back on land and not even a scratch on me or my gear! My buddy Tom fell in the same place and he got trapped in that whirl pool. He was exhausted from the long big wave session. He tried to break loose for about ten minutes and then signaled for help. My buddy Dean put on his swim fins and swam out and helped Tom break free of the current. As I drove the old Maui High School Road  on my way home all I could think was “What a day!”

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Dale Cook

For quite a few winters now Dale Cook has been a member of our core group of wave sailor’s at Kuau on the north shore of Maui.

 Dale’s extremely modest about his abilities, and a straight shooter. He’s family man and a very hard worker. Dale sails with us almost every day but he rarely gets to the launch site before four  in the afternoon in the middle of the work week. Launching that late can make for some sketchy sailing conditions.

I have had many memorable sessions both wave sailing and surfing with Dale.

Several of our sessions come to my mind and a few stand out like New Years Day 2010. We surfed some big glassy waves all afternoon with just the two of us out.  That magic session still comes up in our conversation from time to time.

Another surfing session we shared this season comes to mind. Dale, myself, and two other guys were surfing out at Noriega on a fast rising swell.  The waves were about head and a half high for the first part of the session and then the sets started getting exponentially bigger. We were all getting some great waves but getting clobbered by these sneaker sets that were just coming out of nowhere. We started sitting further and further outside and still getting caught inside. We all agreed that we had maxed out our comfort level and we were ready to paddle in and call it a day when we noticed a bump out on the horizon. We paddled out as hard as we could. I was a little further out and I narrowly made it over but Dale didn’t make it far enough. That wave snapped Dale’s board and he had to swim in with only half a board.

 When it gets real big you can always count on Dale charging the gnarliest waves. I have seen him drop in on some the most spectacular north shore monsters and make it time after time. In fact I saw Dale ride one of the best waves of the 2011 season at Kuau just about a week ago.

 Dale’s legendary in the Columbia River Gorge for his dynamic jumping skills. Click here to see why!

WM:   Dale, I’m honored that you agreed to this little interview.

Why don’t we get started with where you’re from and how long have you been wind surfing?

DC:    Olaf, I grew up in Vancouver, Washington

and I spent my summers in Hood River. I’ve been Wind surfing for twenty five years.

 WM:   What are your favorite spots to windsurf?

DC:   I sail in The Gorge in the summer and the north shore of Maui in the winter

.

WM:   Are there any highlights in your wind surf career that you would like to share with us, Dale?

DC:    Winning the “Gorge Cup” racing for years is a highlight and also I am proud of winning “The Blowout” eight times. That’s high on my list as well.

  WM:   What‘s next on your list of destinations or goals?

DC:   Destinations hum? I would love to travel to the Marshal Islands. My goal right now is to keep having as much fun as possible while raising my baby girl.

WM:   Dale, what do you think about The American Windsurfing Tour?

DC:  I think it’s awesome Olaf! It’s great to see Sam putting so much energy into promoting the sport of windsurfing. I remember one night about two years ago when me and some friends (including Sam) were playing poker. She informed us that evening that she was going to have a windsurfing contest. I thought she was crazy—but as you know, she pulled it off! It was a great contest and got everyone stoked on the sport again.

WM:   Dale what other sports are you involved in?

DC:   I am passionate about mountain biking, dirt biking, white water kayaking, and surfing.

WM:   Who are your primary sponsors Dale?

 DC:   Olaf I am sponsored by Sailworks, Roberts Sailboards, Anarchy Sunglasses, and Dakine.

 

WM:   What is your occupation?

DC:    I work for Sailworks in The Gorge and I do everything from testing sails, repairing sails, and customer service. During the winter on Maui I’m a carpenter.

WM:    How about relationships?

DC:   I’ve been married to Sonja for three years now and we have a 9 month old girl named Bela that keeps me on my toes.

WM:   Who are your personal heroes Dale?

DC:    Olaf, I have two personal heroes. First is my dad, he is great he either mountain bikes, kayaks, and windsurfs with me just about every day.  Also I’m inspired by my friend Bruce Peterson. He’s the designer of Sailworks Sails. Bruce taught me the go fast and jump high style of wind surfing that I love so much. We call it power sailing.

WM:   Do you have any favorite quotes?

DC:   My dad used to tell me,” If you’re not crashing then you’re not learning!”

"Sail your own style, and have a lot of fun!" I said that.

WM:   Thanks Dale!