PHOTOS: Wind Interferes With Expected Break At Jaws

By Madeline Ziecker

Jaws breaking on Tuesday, January 31. Photo by Thomas Salahub.

Waves at local big wave surf spot Peahi (Jaws) were smaller than many expected this morning.

While Peahi has seen days in previous winters with waves reaching over 50 ft., today’s moderately-sized waves were assessed by regulars as “underwhelming.”

Still, plenty of Maui surfers paddled out into 30 ft. (Hawaiian) waves this morning with some success, even though blustery offshore winds presented a challenge for those who were paddling into waves without jet-skis.

A talented line-up of surfers were seen battling the tall waves, including Albee Layer, Tyler Larronde, Matt Meola, Dege O’Connell, Greg Long, Sean Walsh, DK Walsh (who was doing water safety because of a recent surf injury at Jaws), Isaac Stant, Nakoa DeCoite, Dusty Payne, Joao Marco Maffini, Grant Baker, Jeffrey Rowley, Nicolo Porcella, and Francisco Porcella.

Albee Layer. Photo by Thomas Salahub.

Some of these surfers were seen being blown back off of the crests of waves as they were trying to drop in, halted by the force of the wind.

Surfer Matt Meola’s only ride of the day, around 10:30 a.m., resulted in a very messy tumble into a large wave, and his favorite board broken.

Meola says it’s hard enough to catch waves by paddling in without jet-skis at Peahi, but when tradewinds are introduced, it’s all the more difficult.

Brothers Niccolo and Francisco Porcella had more luck during their session than the rest, sticking with towing to combat the wind which allowed them to catch some of the best waves of the day.

Matt Meola's board, broken by the "Jaws" of Peahi's waves. Photo by Madeline Ziecker.	ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD Photo by Thomas Salahub.
Photo by Thomas Salahub.	Francisco Porcella. Photo by Thomas Salahub.