Footage of Reo Steven’s first proper dose of monster wave riding with the Reo V5 in Peahi, Hawaii.
“I never thought my first time trying to catch a wave there (on any craft) would be the day that they called the contest off because it was “too big”.
One thing is for sure, when it comes to riding Peahi with a kite, riding the wave is 25% of the skill needed, the other part is actually flying the kite and dealing with the 10-45knt swirling winds that are coming off the wave (it’s like kiting in a tornado). Really with these offshore winds, any kiter is just edging and running down the line not really ‘riding the wave’ but rather just trying to keep up with it and keeping the kite in front of the lip line. But that is more because of the conditions of that day with winds being as offshore and gusty as anyone’s ever experienced in waves of that size.
The idea that the wind actually turns more side shore has really left me wanting to try it again as the potential for what is possible out there is unbelievable.”