After following the swell models and forecasts for over seven days Hobie team riders , Chuck Patterson , Bryce and TJ Saeman, decided to pull the trigger and fly over to Maui to surf and possibly Stand Up Paddle Pe’ahi (Jaws) on what some were calling one of the biggest swells to hit Hawaii in decades. For Chuck, this was a homecoming, he has been surfing Jaws for well over 10 years and he knows the wave well. TJ & Bryce, on the other hand, this was their baptism by fire.
For two days the trio towed into 40′-50′ bombs and as the swell settled back to a comfortable 30’ Chuck decided to try his luck with his custom Stand Up Paddle big wave gun. The result was mind blowing.
“The 3rd day the swell dropped with sets still hitting 30′ ft faces and I decided to bring my SUP gun to give it a shot. You only live once, right!!!!! It was probably one of my heaviest big wave SUP sessions I have ever attempted because the swell was out of the West and 15 tow teams were still going. My first wave was pretty heavy with the bump and offshore winds holding me at the top and then finally pushing over the edge for the roller coaster ride of my life. I was leaning so hard on my bottom turn to hold an edge and just folded my paddle and exploded in an avalanche getting pulled like a torpedo hoping my leash didn’t break. It’s kind of funny when your getting ragged dolled under water; the more you fight the worse it gets and if you just relax, it seems to make the punishment more enjoyable. I caught one more and called it quits to fight another day with better conditions”
TJ & Bryce Saeman Blog - http://tsaeman.wordpress.com/
Chuck Patterson Blog -http://chuckpattersonsports.wordpress.com/
Join Hobie Stand Up Paddleboards on Face Book - http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Hobie-Stand-Up-Paddleboards/44977062854?ref=nf
