Sunday, January 24, 2010

Kauli gets wacked

Blog reader Rille sent the link to this video in which Kauli gets wacked by a big wave, destroys his gear and gets rescued by the lifeguards at Hookipa last Thursday.
I hope this will contribute to finally stop that stupid attitude I see in most windsurfers that say that the lifeguards don't help them...
Lifeguards job is to save lives. If you break your gear and the conditions allow you to swim back through the waves on your own without putting your life at risk, that's what you got to do. If you don't think you can do that, choose a different/easier spot.
I got plenty friends who's life has been saved by the lifeguards and I have been rescued myself with a broken mast at the outer reef at Kanaha on a huge day (October 28... was it 2003-4?). The day after that, it was windier and more windsurfers ventured out in the still huge surf and the Kanaha lifeguards made 36 rescues, or something like that. They were supposed to take off at 4, but they stayed till dark to make sure everyone came back in safe.
Off course, like in every job, some individuals are nicer than others, but overall, I love the fact that there's lifeguards and I'd like to thank them for what they do.
I'm sure Kauli would agree.

Kauli gets wacked from Rille on Vimeo.

6 comments:

Nice said...

Totally agree! And, not only do they try save lives on water. They do it off water as well.
Me and Ninni was sitting in front of the car park at Mamas Fishhouse when we heard a loud bang and saw a skidding VW Beetle and a smashed front of a Nissan sportscar, just 50 metres from us.To cut long sstor short, the life guard from Hookipa was the first to arrive, bfore the cops, firemen and lastly the ambulance. He held the guys head hile Ninni did some first aid to his bleeding arm and I was loooking for his name and then talking to him (he was in chock, just mumbling).
I dunno who called the life guard or if he'd heard from someone (I doubt it because they hadn't started leading the traffic through the field at that point)
To all life guards - all the appreciation and respect!

David said...

I dunno where sailors get that attitude about the lifeguards. I got nailed a few years ago when it was mast+ high at lowers and spent 30 minutes swimming. Alex Aguera gave me a few pulls to help me collect what was left of my gear, by which time I was sucked back into the impact zone. The guard showed up, made a pass where I barely got on the sled as we were getting pulled up into a big one.

We jetted down the face and then almost got sucked by the whitewater as there was too much foam in the ski's pump jet.

When we finally hit the beach, both of us were somber and quiet as we reflected on how close we came to eating it.

He risked his life to pluck my ass out of the zone to which I'm still thankful for.

cammar said...

Thanks for sharing those experiences, keep them coming.

Some sailors get their attitude because they think that as soon as they break down, the lifeguards should hop on the ski and get them out, instead of start swimming and try to get to the beach on their own.
"Yes, I made it back on my own, but the sail got destroyed in the impact zone. If the lifeguards would have picked me up, I would have saved my sail", I once heard...
"Well, you should go sail in Kihei, if you don't want to break your sail", I replied.

Anonymous said...

I'm always stoked (and relieved!) to see Bones or Kaleo in the line up on a juicy swell. Those guys would save your ass in between shredding the bombs! ... and they are super nice guys. Cheers boys!

Anonymous said...

Where else in the world can you try wave sailing huge waves and have a rescue team working from 7am till 4;00pm? Maui visitor bureau needs to market these guys!

Anonymous said...

Rescue is not putting your life at stake for the one to be rescued (sorry dudes Rule #1). Do your homework. Indeed the tower at Hookipa made it worse; wrong move for everyone! The guys at Kanaha are top. Never heard a bad word about them. Keep it up dudes.