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BIG WAVE STAND UP PADDLE SURFING EVENT ON STANDBY FOR POSSIBLE START MON/TUES |
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By: Jodi Wilmott
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Thursday, 07 February 2008 |
HONOLULU
- (February 7, 2008) - A return to typical winter surf patterns in
Hawaii will produce large to extra large surf in the coming days,
placing the one-day QuiksilverEdition Ku Ikaika Challenge, presented by
C4 Waterman and Red Bull, on standby to run as early as next Monday,
February 11. This
event is the world's first big-wave stand up paddle surfing competition
and will take place at Makaha, on the West Side of Oahu, on one day
when wave face heights reach approximately 20 feet.
Event
organizers are looking at a swell early next week that could present
itself as soon as Monday morning with waves at Makaha expected to meet
the required height of 20-foot faces. This swell may not actually peak
until Tuesday, so both days are under watch.
Not
only is the forecast for loads more swell than Hawaii has experienced
in recent weeks, but a call for lighter tradewinds promises excellent
wave quality.
Low pressure systems from the north-west are dropping down closer to the Hawaiian Island chain.
Today,
the first of the swells from the WNW is delivering Hawaiian scale wave
heights of 8-12 feet (translating to wave face heights up to 20 feet).
The added westerly component is tempering wave heights on Oahu,
particularly for the western shore, given the shadowing effect of the
island of Kauai, which lies WNW of Oahu.
Into next week,
estimates are for 12-15 feet Hawaiian scale surf, or wave face heights
between 20 and 30 feet. The first swell, on Monday/Tuesday, will likely
be out of the north-west, so less shadowing and therefore larger surf
shared more equally between northern and western shores of Oahu. This
swell holds much promise for the QuiksilverEdition Ku Ikaika Challenge.
Updates at the end of the week should be able to predict swell heights
with good confidence.
Beyond next Tuesday, look for another
episode towards the end of the week. The QuiksilverEdition Ku Ikaika
Challenge, has until February 29, 2008, to run.
Updates will be issued as the surf unfolds.
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