Originally posted by: Stark
where's apoppin when you need him?
Stuck in a "war" thread. P
ANYWAY . . . Maui gets much less surf than Oahu as it's swells are "blocked" or "shadowed" by the other Islands in the Hawaiian archipelago.
In the Summer, Maui get it's waves - USUALLY - on the South shore. The Summer months are usually much less "consistent" than the Winter months . . . sometimes it goes "flat" for weeks at a time . . . the largest surf may well be "trade-wind swell" on the EAST side of the Island (or the hurricane swells that usually hit the Big Island best).
Now April is the TRANSITION month - most of the surf will probably will still be on the NORTH shore - BEWARE! it can still get very large and dangerous (as can the South shore but it is much less likely in April). Check with the LIFEGUARDS before entering the water. Or you can call (808) 596-SURF(7873) for a surf report that is updated 3 times a day and with a forecast at 7PM for the following day -
BEWARE, they use the Hawaiian Scale - a "4 foot wave" is 6 to 8 feet from Top-to-bottom.
IF you are LEARNING to surf - go to a surf school for at least a day to get the principles of "standing up" much easier. THEN - when you have mastered the BASICS - find a break with a LIFEGUARD and very tiny waves until you are SURE of your water skills.
If you want to surf you have 2 choices - (well 3, but let's stick to surfing with a board) - LONGBOARD (standup) or BODYBOARD (lay down or kneel). Learning to bodyboard is INITIALLY much easier (you have swimfins if you lose your board) and you can have "fun" the first HOUR . . . stand-up surfing takes a bit longer to master.
A break "like Wikiki" is IDEAL to learn to surf. I cannot give you too much more info as I am most familiar with Oahu . . .
Good luck learning, have fun but be AWARE that entering the surf brings with a certain element of danger that common sense can minimize to NEAR zero.
eDIT:
There is a surf contest on the 19th at Hookipa, so the surf must still be somewhat decent. But Hoopika gets taken over by windsurfers in the afternoon. So I'm wondering if there is another spot close by that I could easily get to for the afternoon, and that would have decent, rideable waves when I'm there.
Hookipa is a "dawn-patrol" break - it gets "blown-out" usually before noon. There are other breaks nearby but they are usually NOT for beginners.
You were lucky last time trying to surf North Shore . . . I would NOT recommend surfing there until you are CERTAIN of your skills and CERTAIN the surf is not going to "rise suddenly" and you get caught in a situation that may be life-threatening. STICK TO LIFEGUARDED BEACHES!!!
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