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Maui's waves makes for ideal surfing conditions. Plus, the water is always warm so you can go out surfing for hours on end or however long your heart desires. Maui has several areas with world class waves. Ma'alaea and Honolua Bay are two of the best.
There are lessons available at many qualified surf schools for beginners AND many rental shops for surfboards. Maui abundantly provides for its many surfers on the island. I took surfing lessons once during the Christmas/New year of 2000-2001 and boy...let me tell you...it's addicting and I had such a blast. As long as you're determined and have SOME sense of balance AND you're not afraid of falling into ocean water...well...then you're set to go! But that's just a matter of opinion...hehe. I went out surfing twice that same trip I took the lessons...and it's sure not easy...it's tiring on the arms...and I'm absolutely no where close to achieving the Big Kahuna. I've only accomplished riding real baby waves that taper down to flat water within seconds! But it's still a rush and amazingly fun! |
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During the summer, the swells wrap around the southern end of the island and waves average two to five feet. The winter season, October through March, brings in the north swells of four to five feet, occasionally topping ten to twelve feet. (101 Things To Do On Maui)
  Surfing had its beginnings in Hawaii, dating back to when Hawaiian royalty surfed on koa wood boards weighing over 100 pounds. But with the lightweight foam of the 90's, beginners don't have to carry around 100-pound boards, and therefore, have a much easier time learning how to surf. Surfing was called the 'sport of kings' because the ali'i class (the royalty) were the champions of the sport. In old Hawaii, almost every man, woman and child had a surfboard. (101 Things to do on Maui) |
Surfing Terminology |
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Surfing possesses one of the most colorful vocabularies of any sport or cultural activity. While the basic words in surfing's vocabulary remain the same, subtler terms change form place to place. Many terms are used by official competitors, and announcers on surfing and bodyboarding contests to describe action, waves and equipment. (International Surfing Association)
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Cutback: A carving or snapping motion that changes the surfboard's direction toward the part of the wave from which the surfer has come. Cutbacks are a vital element in every surfer's performance, as they reposition the surfer into the nucleus of the wave. Down the line: What the surfer sees as he or she looks down the side of a wave after completing the bottom turn. Down the line surfing is fast and exciting. Floater: When the surfer rides the top part of the wave that is breaking. A maneuver popularized in the last five years, utilized considerably by competitors. Offshore: Winds that blow onward the ocean creating preferred conditions. Offshore winds often hold up the waves and smoothes or "glasses off" the ocean surface. Onshore: Winds that blow toward the shore, affecting the back of breaking ocean waves. Usually, onshore winds do not offer good surfing conditions. Off-the-lip: Rebounding the surfboard off the breaking part of the waves and into the face of the wave. Also called "off-the-tops" and "snaps" by announcers. Peak: The central point on the wave where the wave pitches forward and breaks in both directions. Most rides start from the peak. Re-entry: A complete direction change. After a surfer has ridden to the wave's breaking point. then turns the board back into the wave and continues his ride. Very similar to off-the-lips. but a more vertical ascent up the face of the wave. Section: When the wave breaks into two or more segments separated by white water. Surfers will either maneuver through the sections, perform "floaters", or conclude their rides. Surfing: Action of riding a wave. Swell: Long unbroken waves caused by an ocean disturbance, such as major storm or hurricane, thousands of miles from the location of the event. Swells come from all ocean-bound directions, depending upon the season. Typically, storm activity is greatest in the Southern Hemisphere from May-September and in the Northern Hemisphere from October-March. Take-off: When a surfer paddles for a wave, grabs the rails of his/her board and assumes a standing position. It is the point at which a ride begins to be scored by the judges. Tube Ride: When the surfer rides inside the pocket of a wave. From the shore, the surfer is completely obscured, only to emerge from the barrel of cascading water. From the surfer's perspective, it is like being covered by a tunnel of water with the light of day present at the other end. A very high scoring maneuver. Radical: Adjective applied to extreme maneuvers by wave rider. |
Good Surfing Areas
Puamana Park
Launiupoko Park
Ukehame Park
Ho'okipa Beach Park
| Recommended Surfing Schools | |
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Reminder: Always be aware of changing conditions and check with the local surf shops for tide and surf information.
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