Since we last spoke the swell has been big here in Hawaii. Big isn’t always great as the North Shore washes through and is mostly unsurfable. Sure you can either join the masses at Waimea, try and get out at Pipe or drive all the way to the West coast for shelter – but their really busy options. When it’s smaller there are so many more waves working.
Loads of people are emailing me for some travel tips to Hawaii. Here’s a few that come to mind:
- Fly Hawaiian Airlines to get here – Why? 64 kilos that’s why. You can bring two checked in bags that weigh 32kgs each. If you are travelling with 3 boards, 3 cameras, waterhousings and the kitchen sink you can get here carefree and without baggage penalties. The shopping is good here too, so your bags will be full on the way home.
- Accommodation on the North Shore is either house rentals or Turtle Bay Resort. There isn’t much else. Remember it’s pretty quiet and they’re country beaches. Turtle Bay is great if you have kids – the Lagoon there is awesome.
- Will you be able to surf here if you are not a pro – yes, but when it’s big I’d use the local saying “If in doubt, don’t go out”. It gets crazy big here. You can be surfing 4-6 foot with 10 foot sets on an incoming swell. It will catch you by surprise.
Signing off ::uge
Hi Uge,
I just got back from my first visit to the North Shore last week and it looks like I narrowly missed the big wave excitement! We did however catch the bodysurfing comp at Pipe Sat before last which was pretty awesome! Really enjoying your work and wishing we were back over there already, Rod.
I love your photography, what kind of camera do you use and housing?