Jaws Round 2?

By Carlos Rock

Jaws. File photo by Pomper.

Another big northwest swell is expected to bombard the islands and could produce another chance to ride Jaws.

Thank you El Nino weather conditions for continuously pumping out swell after swell. This winter has already been epic, and we’ve only just begun.

Remember, its still October, and with another 20+ foot swell arriving, this winter could very well be the most Jaws will ever get ridden.

More importantly, it could be the most Jaws will ever get paddled into. If it does break, and continues to break throughout the winter, look for rides of the year going down in every session as the Maui boys cement their place in surfing history.

What is crazy about surfing right now is, it is the best it has ever been. No one could have ever imagined doing the things that guys are doing like backdooring a 30-foot barrel at Jaws by paddling into it, or the aerial game becoming a part of everyone’s repertoire.

It seems like the air reverse is the new cutback these days.

But the recent paddle craze is taking surfing to a place that Duke could have never imagined. The only question is, how could it progress any more?

No one knows, but it will. In the grand scheme of things, surfing seriously as a sport is still very young and has a LOT of growing up to do. For now just sit back and enjoy the show. Each and every session at Jaws is groundbreaking as it is, the fact that guys paddle into 30-foot bombs and ride it successfully is beyond the realms of human capabilities.

Lets hope this swell produces – if not, there will for sure be another one.

The swell is expected to stay in the 20+-foot range for Friday/Saturday before slowly dropping Sunday to Monday in the 12-15+-foot range.

It is safe to say there will be plenty of waves for everyone.

For a surfer, Hawaii is the best place to be in the winter months of November-February with even late swells in March/May.

The thing about Maui is the shape of the island allows it to handle even the biggest of swells, due to the ability of the swells to wrap around the island.

For example, some years back a massive straight north swell hit the islands that lit up all of the dormant reefs of Kihei, showing the potential of many of the spots that will very rarely get surfed.

Also, a 20-foot swell will be too big for Ho’okipa to handle, and most north shore spots. However, the upper west side feels the effects of the wrapping swell and produce great waves with the little extra drive.

Plus its good for your surfing practice to try out new spots and gain that knowledge of what conditions produce exceptional waves at these certain spots.

This swell will undoubtedly light up the upper west and that brings to mind only one spot, Honolua Bay.

That marine sanctuary – and hands down the best wave on Maui – is looking like it will be very alive the rest of this winter. Time it right and you could score it without the crowds, but that also comes at a price.

Take the chance and reap the reward, a perfect double up barrel at the world-famous wave.

Back to Jaws; all the Maui boys will be on it, but Jaws needs a 30-foot swell to really turn on, so it is a possibility that it will not break.

Stay tuned for more from what will be a very action packed 2012/2013 winter season in the Hawaiian islands, and with the World Title race looking like it will come down to Pipeline, this years Pipemasters could be held in epic conditions like last year.

And we could possibly see the Eddie Aikau Big Wave contest go down at Waimea Bay.

Keep surfing, there will be plenty of waves for everyone.