Water Doggies

After the sick sessions in Laie, I was feeling pretty good about myself and my abilities in the water. I came back home Friday night and Saturday, the swell was still big and the winds were slowing clocking around to the N-NW. Sideshore-offshore conditions but good enough. Not sure if this was a one-time rarity with the combo of the NW swell and the SW windswell from the strong winds the previous two days, but that little shorebreak/beachbreak area at Maili Beach Park between Tumbleland and the jetty is fun!

The current was ridiculously strong, pulling you out of the lineup. Without paddling and/or kicking hard the whole time, there's no way you were getting any waves consistently. I figured out this landmark on the beach and kept stroking for it after each wave. If you got in the right spot, you can take off on the wave as it crumbles gently, maintain your speed and then jet right into the heaving section, hopefully backdooring a giant pit toward the softer shoulder. Then if you're lucky, you still have enough speed and the wave reforms again toward the inside. I think I was shwacking too hard after my bottom turns because when I'd hit that soft shoulder I found myself without any more speed a bunch of times. Maybe it was just windwaves and therefore, weaker than what I was used to during the last couple of days.

After a while, I decided to try catching waves, getting out and then getting back in down the beach such that the current could do all the work in getting me out into the lineup, saving a ton of time and energy. Well, I got out, started walking toward the comp when I saw these two long fins in the turbulent shorebreak water. At first I wondered if there was some diver in trouble or something. Then a moment later, I saw a smooth head pop out of the water. Looked like a dog. As I kept watching, it was clear it was a seal. Just cruising around in the shorebreak. After giving it some thought, I decided I was done. He looked like such a cute little doggie out there, but I remembered that they do have teeth. I personally have never heard of someone getting attacked by a seal but I wasn't about to be the first. Every one else seemed to agree as the water cleared pretty fast.

Fun wave. I'll have to check it again during the next big NW and see if it's there again.


Below are some shots of 1st dip. I was originally hoping to get some out there on Saturday, but the lifeguards had the beach closed and were blocking the gate. It was big, but not too out of control, I thought. What's up wit dat? Sharks maybe? Oh well. Looks kinda smallish, but that's zoomed all the way in on my camera, maybe an 8-10 foot face and powerful. The last shot is pulled back and gives some perspective.