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. 
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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.