First video and first Hookipa working

Spent a bit of time out yesterday with the GoPro HD camera on..
came up with a little bit of footage

http://www.vimeo.com/11183291

So the day after our last attempt at sailing Hookipa, we had another shot in much more favourable conditions the wind was up about 23 knots and the waves were actually pretty solid probably about mast high, but so powerful! It’s a really fast wave that throws the lip so hard.


So even when the wind is that strong, the inside along the rocks is so sheltered and light! You will see from the video of me swimming how strong the current rips you along the reef edge it makes it hard just swimming!


So Myself and Phil ventured out while James found his skiing skills not so useful in the surf and struggled to get out of the break!


It was super busy with the JP & Neilpryde shoot with pro sailors throwing moves I have only ever seen on videos - on every wave! All the current pro sailors like Victor, Kauli, Swift, Levi, JP, Campello but also all the old local guys who were going even bigger! Guys like Mark Angulo were so amazing to watch!
I got some really good waves and even shared a sick wave with Jason Polakow with the chopper right down in front of us filming him!


I started getting a little more confident and started hitting the critical section..
I took off on a nice wave about ¾ mast, got a few nice turns on it and then lined up a big smack on the close out section… I left it too late and as the lip threw over it caught the tip of my mast and snapped all my gear around me before I even hit the water!


It’s so powerful!


I swam in, it wasn’t too bad of a swim and the rocks are actually big round volcanic boulders so they are pretty gentle on the feet! I re-rigged with another mast and went back out and had an awesome arvo session!




The end result of a solid working at Hookipa.. the lip hit me as I top turned too late and broke my mast just from the impact from the lip! Had a fun swim in over the rocks



Forward loop bailshot


We have had a few sessions at Sprecks which is the majority of the video, its right in front of our house and is really fun jumping and side shore wave riding. It has been good to practice starboard tack jumping – and giving James a chance to find his windsurfing feet again!
This arvo looks great for Hookipa so keep posted for more photos!