Surfing, especially surfing big waves, can be challenging in the daytime. There are so many dangers to watch out for. If something goes wrong, at least the daylight makes it easier for your surfing partner to find you. But one famous Australian surfer known for conquering big waves has done something amazing. He successfully surfed the famous Jaws wave in Hawaii. And he did it in the dark.
Jaws is a 30-foot wave off the coast of Maui. Surfer Mark Visser used a life vest and surfboard equipped with special LED lighting to surf the ocean in the pitch-black night. During the winter swell season in Hawaii, the waves break so quickly that surfers must be towed out by personal watercraft as this surfer was. His ride was filmed by a cameraman on a helicopter, and will be part of a movie of extreme adventures that is supposed to be released later this year.
If you’d like to go surfing in Hawaii, don’t try to surf at night. Even Visser has admitted how frightening it was – though he has also said the footage is unbelievable. Hawaii surfing offers a variety of wave types to suit every surfing skill level. Where to find the waves really depends on the time of year you go. The North Shore of Oahu is the place to go in the winter, while good summer waves can be found on the south side of the island.
Hawaii also offers many surf resorts, on almost every island. Some decent, but lesser-known and therefore less crowded surf spots include Pinetrees Kahalu`u and Upolu on the Big Island. You can also take surfing lessons in Hawaii. Choose your surfing school wisely – you will want an experienced instructor who can teach you the basics such as paddling and balancing in just a couple of hours. Any longer than that and you are bound to be too tired after your lesson to continue surfing.
