Just Like That

It's 2012. Another year spinning around an average G2V star. What's this year going to bring? No way to know. But I've learned to not take any new year or extra day on this planet for granted. No one should. Sounds like a good resolution.

Just like that the first giant winter swells arrived. Jaws had it's season opener on Jan 4th. The lineup at Peahi is now thick with surfers paddling in, along with the usual tow-ins, SUPs, kiters, amd windsurfers. In fact it's starting to look a lot like Pipeline on a big day. But that doesn't bother Kai Lenny, who does every water sport and probably has more fun than anyone. And Brawzinho showed up on his new Goya gear (welcome to Goya!), sharing a ride with Levi. Francisco decided to take one of the biggest and scariest off the lip wipe outs ever. Check out the video courtesy of Epic Sessions.


Just like that we're past the solstice and fully into winter. And it's been a very different winter compared to last year. A year ago the trades left us in early December and we had a two month period of light wind with  long stretches of kona. We had humid days and all night thunderstorms. We surfed a lot. Our few windsurfing sessions were usually light wind with lots of slogging but there were often great waves as a reward. I was very happy to be in possession of a 92 Goya quad last year, which made those days so much more fun.

This year the trades have yet to leave, except during the Makani Hookipa Classic (of course), and the windsurfing action has otherwise been pretty much non-stop. The weather has been awesome, at least here in Pukalani.  Haiku and more windward locations were stuck in a trade shower pattern for a long time so they might have felt a bit wet. And finally, a bit late perhaps, the winter surf showed up and seems to be sticking around for awhile. Surfers might be a bit bummed with all the wind, though anyone who can get out early enough and fight the SUP crowds (or SUP with them) should still be happy.

Just like that it's been more than 2 months since my last post. I've had a writer's block, or perhaps I should call it a computer block. Once I recovered from my "big O" to the point where I could play outside longer and harder, but also work a more regular schedule, I found it difficult if not impossible to sit in front of a PC for any extra time and blog away. So now I take long breaks outside every morning, drinking my coffee, reading books, enjoying the nice weather and the warm sunshine on my face. This is very addicting, maybe more so when I consider how easily I could be missing all this. So easily. But I'm trying to overcome this blocking pattern - I really enjoy writing and I've had some nice comments, so I promise to try harder in 2012.


Just like that I started windsurfing again on Dec 22. I've managed to get out about 8 days since, each time feeling a bit stronger and more relaxed on the water. The past few sessions I started catching some waves, easing back into it carefully, trying to avoid any big take downs or long swims. This also means I finally got to ride our new 2012 Goya gear. A very quick review - the new 78 quad is just like last year's (awesome) but with perhaps cooler graphics (IMO) and a bit more carbon to strengthen certain areas (our 2011 board is still going great in the gorge after 140+ days on the water, so it's amazing the 2012 is even stronger). And the 2012 sails are lighter than last year's, but with the same quality, performance and durability.  Rock on!

Here's a video from Matt showing some of the super fun conditions we've been seeing much of this winter at Kanaha.


Kanaha Fun from Pritchard Windsurfing on Vimeo.

I can't begin to describe how good it feels to be back on the water. I'm still not 100%, I don't know exactly when if ever I'll be fully healed, and there's no guarantee against future issues, but so far so good. Things could easily have turned out otherwise. Many people never get a second chance. Some never get a first chance.  Before going into surgery my best hope was that I might recover to the point where someday I could be back on Maui, and perhaps be strong enough to go windsurfing.  In my dream I'm able to catch a wave, and I look up the line and see Julia close by on the same wave.  She looks at me and says something.  I can't quite hear her so I get closer. And finally I understand - "hey, my wave!!".  Oops, wrong dream.  Instead I smile and give her a nod, and we cross each other going down the line taking turns hitting the lip.  Miraculously, there are no kiters coming over the top trying to snake us.  When we get back to the beach we get high fives from our friends, and we sit on the warm sand drinking cold beverages as the sun slowly sinks beyond the West Maui mountains.

This dream has already come true.  Just like that!