OPHELIA rocks

Wind went off shore as the waves rolled in... Julian Kidd

and Maui John pushed out early and both scored often...today was the first day of action and looks like a whole loto swell on the way!
Julian Kidd  got down to business...Maui John followed while Gordon Gannon was present but not dominant  until later in the day. The "Kidd" won the day by working the inside, using good wave selection and having a high wave percentage. Tomorrow is a pivotal day in the SUP CUP Hurricane Season 2011. Maui John Leads 3 storms to 2 over McLoven and the Kidd. 
http://www.stormsurfing.com/cgi/display.cgi?a=natla_height

Katia - Perfect SUP storm

Today was another perfect SUP day, swells rolled in as glassy conditions prevailed...Katia keeps pushing waves our way as she takes a turn to the north. Maui John was out early and took advantage of surfing 'Heaven and Hell' alone...The wave was bowling up and holding up for a classic right hander...the occasional was there also..."...it's so nice to have that quality of wave to yourself...like a dream..." says Maui John.  Julian Kidd was the second paddler to pass the break, he pulled in at Heaven and Hell also and quickly started catching quality waves. Gordon 'McLoven' Gannon was the third one out, he chose to surf "Mclefts'...the left was working well but the last section was closing. All three paddlers had a great day...all scored perfect 8-10' action today...

Katia is the perfect SUP Storm

Hurricane Katia is a slow moving storm that has produced fantastic SUP conditions for the North Shore of the DR. "We've had three great days for the "SUP CUP, Big Wave Challenge" says Maui John. The first day (Saturday 3-Sept-2011) was straight off shore winds with 8 foot faces...McLefts was going off and Gordon 'Mcloven' Gannon took control early..."that is my wave, I know it, I love it and I rip it" says McLoven. Julian Kid and Maui John were right behind McLoven with quality waves, but at the end of the day McLoven took the day. The Next morning the surf kicked up considerably, Only Maui John and Julian Kid passed the break..."wow...it was big, I saw 5 'scratchers' (face down surfers) get pounded trying to get out...none of them passed" said Maui John. The 'Cross Roads' was working and Maui John took control early and dominated the day with Julian Kidd right behind. Monday 5-Sept-2011 brought even larger surf, Maui John, McLoven and the Kidd were the only ones to make it out. Maui John controlled the peak with ease as McLoven and the Kidd got their waves.  Maui John takes a 2-1 lead over McLoven and the Kidd. Tomorrow the 6-Sept-2011 is the big day for this Hurricane and the SUP CUP...it looks like the surf will be perfect, Maui John holds a one day lead over McLoven and the Kidd and Maui John has a one storm lead over all so McLoven and the Kidd need to score early and often manana.

Hurricane Season 2011 SUP CUP -Big Wave Challenge Starts now!

Irene rolled in, fortunately the North Shore of the Dominican Republic stayed in the Lee side of the Storm. Monday August 22nd was wet wild and sloppy. Kites were up as winds pulsed to over 40 knots. On Tuesday the wind went off shore as huge surf pounded the North Coast of the DR. A few 'face down' surfers tried to paddle out Kite Beach to no avail. Maui John was the only one to pass the break at Kite Beach  on "Big Tuesday. " He quickly got to 5 waves, the minimum required to win the storm. He got his 5 waves outside OP2. He took mostly lefts and had little trouble passing the break on the way back out. "...waves were clean, wind was slight off shore, really couldn't ask for better conditions..." says Maui John. After 'Big Tuesday" the winds picked up incredibly to gusts of over 50 knots. Kites went up as paddles were put away for the duration of the storm. Maui John won "Hurricane Irene" decisively giving him a 1-0 lead over Gannon and Goodwin. 

Massive Surf for Christmas

Gordon "McLoven" Gannon takes the Title.

Gannon came to life after winning the 'Surf Master's 2010', he then  quickly captured  the coveted  "Best Photo" of the season and all he needed to do from there was to show up and Paddle. Maui John and Glenn Goodwin  were on Gannon's tail, but could not come up with a photo to compete with Mclovens shot. In fact, Gannon's shot was good enough that it was used for this promo.

Gannon a Lock to Win this Seasons Title with 5 days remaining!

The storms lined up and the swells rolled in. Maui John was off shore on the outer reef... dry... riding giants. Maui John got in a rythmn and caught back to back massive right handers. There is no doubt that he dominated this storm and moved into position to take this seasons title.

All Maui John needed was to get a good photo riding a Giant.

"...man, I was having the best 'big wave' session ever." said Maui John. "...then I got cocky and really went deep...I was too deep when the peak wave of the set came...I duck dove no problem, but the wave was simply too powerful for the leash...it broke which is a disaster on that wave. The channel rips so hard the board can slip out the channel before you get to it..." said Maui John

The board remains a drift. 

With his main board Lost at Sea, it looks like Maui John is out of the running for Dominican National Paddle Boarding Championships. Gordon Gannon should walk away with this Seasons Title.

Gannon has a solid grip on this Seasons title with a win at the SUP Masters as well as being in contention for "Best Photo".  Maui John needed to come up with a shot deep in the barrel of a Monster Wave to win this season. His season looks to be over with his main board lost at sea and his new boards on a container some where between Miami and the Dominican Republic.

Rest in Peace "NSP SUP Gangster board"

SUP 'Best Photo' Winter Season 2010

With only 11 days remaining in the DR SUP National Championship, Gordon Gannon is looking good.

Gannon won the 'SUP Masters' 2010 and is in the running to win 'Best Photo' for this season, but there are more than a few good storms on the way. All it will take to join Gannon on the podium would a 'Pure Barrel' shot.

Glenn Goodwin looks for the Barrel

Maui John Tucks and goes Down the Line

Gordon Gannon eyes up a Back Side Barrel

Glenn Goodwin Tucks

Maui John Bottom Turns

Gordon Gannon Cuts Back

SUP Masters

Gannon Repeats as SUP Masters Champion

SUP Masters was a Huge Success...good conditions and everyone had a good time...

Gordon Gannon and Maui John battled to the bitter end.  The number 1 and 2 seeds won all their heats  and met in the finals. Maui John quickly got control of the heat. Gannon had every opportunity to lose, but he stayed consistent and kept scoring points. Maui John was in the perfect position to take the Finals, at the 17 minute mark, he was the only one at the peak with three minuets left in the heat. He had plenty of time to grab a great wave. Instead he got anxious and took a good wave...a good wave wasn't enough. Gannon won the SUP Masters 2010 by .05  of a point. Congratulations to Gordon Gannon!

The "Best Photo" is yet to be decided