Sunday, May 20, 2012
Tow-in surfing PDF Print E-mail
( 2 Votes )
Tuesday, 28 December 2010 16:02

Tow-in surfing is a surfing technique which uses assistance to allow the surfer to catch faster moving waves than tradition paddling by hand.

 

 

I’ve seen surfing before, but never on waves so big you need a jet ski to pull you up to speed for. These guys are insane, and the guy in this video got caught in a real live Tsunami.
 

 
History
 
Tow-in surfing was pioneered by Laird Hamilton, Buzzy Kerbox, Dave Kalama, Sandra Chevally, Thomas Bernard, and others in the mid 1990s. A surfer is towed into a breaking wave by a partner driving a personal watercraft (PWC, commonly known by the brand name Jet Ski) or a helicopter with an attached tow-line. This method has a demonstrated advantage in situations where the wave is too large (such as Peʻahi off the north side of Maui), or where position on the wave is extremely critical (Teahupoo off southeast Tahiti).
The use of a helicopter for tow-in surfing started to appear in the mid 2000s, and has several advantages over the use of a personal watercraft. The pilot, positioned high above the surfer, is able to spot large waves from further away and position the surfer accordingly. A helicopter can go faster, and is not affected by the ocean surface like a watercraft, but is much more expensive to operate.
 
Controversy
 
Critics of tow-in surfing decry the noise and exhaust fumes made by PWC engines, as well as the likelihood that new participants can get into predicaments that they have not been trained or conditioned to survive. On the other hand, a skilled team of driver and surfer, who often swap roles in the water during a session, develop a rapport and an understanding of ocean conditions that allows them to proactively watch out for each other.
Environmentalists and surfing purists have passed a proposal to shut down tow-in surfing at Mavericks in Northern California, saying that is hazardous to local wildlife and a nuisance to residents.
 
Famous tow-in spots
 
Todos Santos, Mexico
Mavericks, Northern California
Dungeons, Cape Town
Jaws surf break, Maui
Aill Na Searrach "Aileen's", Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Ilha dos Lobos, Southern Brazil
Cortes Bank
Teahupoo, Tahiti
Bundoran, Ireland
Maresias, São Sebastião, Brazil
Punta de Lobos, Pichilemu, Chile
 
Noted big wave surfers
 
Ken Bradshaw
Laird Hamilton
Mike Parsons
Ross Clarke-Jones
Keala Kennelly
Alemão de Maresias
Ramón Navarro (Chile)