I used my Naish Chopper size L and a custom 82L quad fin board. I rented a special boat for that day so I only had to focus on the ride. I wore a Life vest above my harness in case of a wipe out. I only do this at Teahupoo because you can easily get knocked out or worse there so you need to float !
It is a unique feeling to sail a wave there, the fastest I have been on a wave windsurfing by far. The wave is sucking so much water that you always have this feeling of accelerating down the face of the wave. First you have to do a takeoff, like a surfer, even if you’re full speed you have to jump into that hole when the wave is suddenly pumping. That hole that day was twice the height of our sails …. really scary. Then you need to take speed from the face of the wave but there isn’t really a face so you have to take the low line like Tow surfers ..and pray…a big wave there took more energy from me than any session anywhere else. What Kauli did that day is the craziest thing ever done in windsurfing probably. I was in the channel when he took that wave, the biggest of the day and cleanest too, insane 15+ feet and he hit the lip from underneath and then flew until the worst wipeout I’ve ever seen in my life. After that wipe out I had the break to myself for 2 hours – it was the perfect day. At night my hands were still shaking but not too bad to drink a beer for every wave I took …I got crazy that night with local friends who where here watching the session. The best thing about this day, I’m still here and ready for the next one ! 🙂
