SURVIVE AND RIDE

The 2019 Aloha Classic will go down in history as one of the most extreme float and ride if not survive and ride contests in PWA history. With world titles on the line and plenty of gear destroyed on Ho’okipa’s infamous rocks, the sailors did not hold back. We take a sideways look at the event as Graham Ezzy sets the scene with his take on the proceedings, while JC talks to some of the men and women who ventured into the swell to find out what equipment, technique and tactics they used to navigate a treacherous lineup.

- Antoine Martin, Graham Ezzy, Sarah-Quita Offringa, Morgan Noireaux, Leon Jamaer, Klass Voget, Kai Lenny, Ricardo Campello

GRAHAM EZZY

“ T minus 24 hours to the start of the Aloha Classic, and I got a call from Rich Page, the manager of the PWA World Tour. He said, “We have a problem. A big problem. We can’t start the event.” By this time, all the riders had already flown into the island from all over the world—and the judges too. Mercedes had written a check to secure title sponsorship. The world was ready for the start of the most-watched windsurfing event in the world. A local law had just changed, requiring all events to hire security guards from a firm with a special license—only 2 such firms exist on Maui, and both were fully booked. The event’s permit requires onsite security, so no security meant no event. Page called me back to say that a loophole had been found: hiring off-duty police officers. But where could we find off-duty police officers for tomorrow morning?

Off-duty cops were eventually found and the event was officially announced to start at 11 o’clock the following morning. But this hiccup was only one in a series of issues.

An election shook up the local Maui politics and removed many of the pro-business, pro-tourism incumbents who had previously supported the Aloha Classic. Maui’s tourism had exceeded all targets, and the locals unhappily felt that the island was catering to visitors at the expense of locals. The new Maui council was wary about the Aloha Classic—a bunch of foreigners invading the beach for over a week.

Ho’okipa is the best wave sailing in the world. Sure, other spots have cleaner waves or longer waves. But Ho’okipa is a jack of all trades, and she is darn consistent. Despite the 12 hour time difference that means the livestream broadcasts in Europe in the middle of the night, the Aloha Classic has more European viewers than any other event.

FORECAST