Windsurfers Gear Up for Aloha Classic by Visiting Montessori Maui

Photo courtesy Amy Carter / Aloha Classic.

By Wendy Osher

Some of the world’s best windsurfers spent Wednesday morning on Maui, inspiring the next generation of kids to learn more about the sport.

The visit to Montessori School of Maui comes ahead of the Starboard Severne Aloha Classic that gets underway next week at Hoʻokipa Beach Park, a place often referred to as the Mecca of Windsurfing.

The event is back again this year for the fourth time, featuring top windsurfers from across the world who will compete on Maui’s North Shore from Oct. 29 to Nov. 11, 2014.

Photo courtesy Amy Carter / Aloha Classic.

Today’s school visit included a video presentation, a question and answer session with windsurfing professionals, and a chance to get their hands on some windsurfing equipment.

Current and aspiring windsurfers led the presentation, the list of which included: Jason Polakow, Levi Siver, Kevin and Matt Pritchard, Carolina Butrich, Fiona Wylde, Shawna Cropas and Sam Bittner.

“The school visit was a great way to get the young Maui residents involved in, and aware of, windsurfing and the upcoming Aloha Classic,” said Amy Carter from the Aloha Classic.

Aloha Classic (formerly named Maui Makani Classic) 2012, file photo by Wendy Osher.

“It is fantastic to see hundreds of kids aged three to twelve excited about the sport, meeting idols and hopefully being inspired to hit the water very soon.”

A traditional Hawaiian blessing for the event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m.  The blessing is open to the public, and spectators are invited to watch the event over the next two weeks.