Thought I'd start a thread to keep some of you who are interested, up to date with what's happening over here in Hawaii. Below are the boards my friend Michelle and I have been paddling on our daily 4.5 mile (still haven't converted that to km's yet ?) downwind on Kauai. The one on the left is known on the island as "The Fridge". It's owned by a local guy named Kamueia who won the 10 mile race on this board last weekend. He's done Molokai on it and apparently lead the whole way only to be passed at Portlock (about 2km from the finish). It was surposed to have been made by Naish about 4 years ago. She's 14' and very stable and can move pretty fast in all conditions.

The board I am holding on the right (excuse the hat) is an F16. (This board came 2nd in last weekends race) The first time I have ever tried one of these and what can I say..I am in love !! This thing catches runs so well, is stable and is really fast. I've also never used a Garmin Forerunner before but had one today. It's about 20 knots coming alittle too much from our right side and 1.5 metre swell. We averaged 4.8 mph and maxed at 7.6mph. There downwinds here are so much fun. If I lived here I would definately do them everyday.

We have also been surfing each day on a 10'6" Naish, a 12' Laird Softtop/Hard bottom and a 10'6" Hypr (Danny holding in 2nd photo). And that is a Monk seal lying on the beach just left of the blue beach chair. There were 6 on the beach that day. They swim up to the beach and then the "Seal Protection Volunteers" have to move all the humans and their towels/chairs/umbrellas really quickly so that the seals can come up onto the beach. Then they put a barrier around them to stop the people from getting too close. Pretty cool. Also plenty of huge turtles in the water and plenty of whales breaching past you during downwinds. Life is good. Bye for now from Kauai.