Windsurfing on Maui

Photographing windsurfing on Maui, that is ... not actually doing it myself! (I'm terrified of surf and there's no way you'd ever catch me doing what these brave watermen and -women do!)

It is almost a month since the afternoon when I captured this action - I've finally finished editing all 750+ images from this session. If you know any of these sailors, or "their people", do send them to my smugmug gallery to have a look at their photos - most were taken May 10th.

Hawaii tends to be more of a globally-famous surfing destination ... at least, it was until the last few years when all sorts of ocean-based watersports and gained wild popularity! One of those is windsurfing (sail attached to surfboard, in case you don't know).

Ho'okipa, on Maui's north shore, just outside of the quaint town of Paia, on the road to Hana, is a world-renowned spot to watch some of the best in the business ... training, testing new equipment, youngsters improving their skills and measuring themselves against the more experienced sailors, etc. Strictly a place for boarders who know what they're doing - this part of the island is not the place to learn how to windsurf, or even to try to improve on flat-water skills!

I have been following a local photog who specializes in ocean windsurfing - in fact, he is a Ho'okipa specialist - to the point that he refers to his shooting station as The Office. The legendary Jimmie Hepp knows all the athletes, knows the weather and current patterns, knows the gear, and more than anything else, knows how to photograph the action! (He lives a few minutes' drive from the break, too ... could it get any better than that?!) I've stalked him on Facebook for a few years and, last month, was lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet him - and spend a session shooting beside him! These photos are from that afternoon.