On January 16, 2021, we witnessed French surfer Justine Dupont pushing the limits of women’s surfing in Maui during one of the biggest swells of the decade.

Surfers can tell in advance where and when the waves are going to arrive due to modern day weather forecast. Thanks to this technology, the best big wave surfers of the world travel the planet in search of the biggest waves to ride.

This past Saturday, the place to be for those “chargers” was definitely Pe’ahi also known as Jaws, in Maui.

The French Big Wave Rider Justine Dupont did not miss the appointment with the giants. She came back to Maui to get her revenge after a bad accident at Jaws in 2018, and this time she managed to tame the beast!

In today’s blog we will explain firstly why this wave is so special, secondly how to go watch it and finally how Justine Dupont was Pushing the Limits of Women’s Surfing

1-What is so special about Jaws?

-Growth Of Tow-In Surfing

First of all, Jaws is where Big Wave surfing went to a whole new level with the start of “tow-in”.
The bigger the waves are, the faster they go. The faster they go, the faster you need to be in order to catch them!

This wave gets so big that sometimes paddling into it is not even an option anymore. Pioneers like Laird Hamilton started to tow each other into the waves with a boat!

Before starting Tow-In at Jaws they had some practice on the North Shore of Oahu. However it was definitely at Jaws that this discipline grew and became famous.

Not only the wave of Jaws birthed Tow-In Surfing, but it is also the most “perfect” Big Wave ever.

-The Most Perfect Giant Wave

There are other waves in the world as tall as Pe’ahi, like Mavericks or Nazare. The big difference of Pe’ahi is that this wave gets so perfect that it allows surfers to enter deep inside of the barrels and also make it out!

Not only when you surf Pe’ahi are you surfing one of the biggest waves in the world, but there is a chance that you will catch the biggest barrel in the planet!

Rare are the surfers who get behind the water curtain in Peahi as it is extremely dangerous. Most of them rather play it “safe” by staying away from this critical zone.

However, this past Saturday, Peahi was ON. And Justine Dupont marked the day by Pushing the Limits of Women’s Surfing.

-From the Water

You could stay in the comfort of your sofa and just watch the best waves of the day online. But trust me, sitting on the Cliff or even on a boat and watching Jaws will give you goosebumps and an adrenaline rush that no screen can provide.

First, you need to come to Maui during the winter, when the big swell of the North Pacific hits the North shores of the Hawaiian Islands.

Then, if you have some good connections, you can jump onto a boat in Kahului Harbor to go see the waves breaking from very close. Usually only surfers, rescue teams and photographers sit in the channel.

We recommend watching the waves from land to make room for the safety teams and professionals.

-From Land

The easiest, safest and most respectful option is to watch these waves from the cliff or the beach.

To get there you will need a four wheeler, or some strong legs to hike down the muddy road. The hike to get to the cliff takes about 45 minutes from the road to Hana in Haiku. You can also find some shuttle trucks that will take you to the viewpoint for a small fee.

You will not find anything on this cliff. Make sure to bring water, food and sunscreen. We also recommend binoculars to watch the show.

It is amazing to see the hoard of photographers and spectators on the cliffs. From this point of view you will see all the action, not only the waves ridden, but also the few unridden monsters.

Seeing everything live is very different. You share emotions of fear, joy, stress and relief at the same time as the surfers, safety team and other spectators.

Watching from the cliff makes you realize how long the surfers stay underwater and what wonderful work the safety and rescue team is doing.

3 What happened last Saturday.

-Surfers Made the show

The forecast announced one of the biggest swells of the decade on January 16th, 2021.
About 40 foot faces in the morning with light winds-ideal for paddling into the waves.

Zane Schweitzer opened the game by paddling into some monsters on his Stand Up Paddle board, quickly followed by Nathan Florence and Tyler Larronde.

As the waves rapidly got bigger (about 60 feet!) and the wind stronger (making paddling into the wave almost impossible), surfers started to catch the waves with the help of jet-skis.

During this day we saw Kai Lenny getting massive barrels and kicking out of the waves doing double backflips.

Brad Domke caught probably the biggest wave ever ridden on a skimboard (small surfboard with no fins).

Zane Schweitzer rode giants using every tool possible, first on his stand up paddle board, then on his surfboard…and finished on his windsurf!

Much more happened! We saw insane dangerous wipeouts on windsurfs, spectators getting smashed by waves on the beach (yes do NOT get too close!!!), and surfers sharing waves together.

-Justine Dupont Pushes the Limits

On January 16, 2021, we witnessed French surfer Justine Dupont pushing the limits of women’s surfing in Maui during one of the biggest swells of the decade.

At the end of the day, if there is one wave that people will remember, the one ride that marked the day, is definitely Justine Dupont’s wave!

On Big Saturday Surfer Girl Justine Dupont Made History in Maui! We saw her get towed in to one of the best and biggest waves of the day. She disappeared deep behind the curtain that is made of thousands of gallons of water, to finally make it out with the spit!

We never saw this in Woman surfing before.  Justine is not the first woman to surf Pe’ahi, or to get barreled there, but no woman before ever showed such commitment. She threw herself extremely deep inside the mouth of the Hawaiian giants and managed to get spit out!

The size and the depth of the barrel Justine caught on Saturday was unprecedented in Woman’s surfing.

In Conclusion

Big Wave Surfing has been evolving very fast. Surfers keep pushing the limits with the help of new technology to stay as safe as possible.

We have seen more and more people starting to enter (and exit) the tubes of Jaws during the past 10 years.
The size and depth of the tube Justine Dupont caught this Saturday is completely unprecedented in Woman surfing.

At Belle Surf Cafe, we are proud that one of the Best Feminine Big Wave Surfers is French. Giving inspiration to millions of women in the world to push their limits and to show that anything a man can do a woman can too!

I have taught and coached surf all around the world (France, Spain, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Costa Rica, California and more.) My question to the question “Is Maui a good place to learn Surfing?” I definitely a Yes!

Here are 7 reasons why Maui is one of the best place ever to learn how to surf:

1-Surf all year round

It is never flat here! The greatest advantage of being on an Island is that we catch swells coming from every direction. North, West, South and East.

There is nothing more frustrating then going on a surf trip and having to deal with an ocean as flat as a lake. This will never happen here!

Lahaina Town (where we are located) is famous for having the most consistent breaks of Maui. The North swells hit here during the winter while the South swells hit during the summer.

There is no need to worry about the forecast anymore, you will find waves on the island.

2-Small waves

Okay, if you google “Surf Maui” or “Waves Maui”,  you probably will find photos of giants waves like Peahi A.K.A “Jaws” or the beautiful barrels of Honolua Bay.

Do not let google image fool you. When the surf is big there is always parts of the coast that are protected from the big swells where you can find tiny friendly waves.

Most of the time the surf is waist high around Lahaina, which is the ideal size to learn surfing.

3-Good learning waves

Not only the size is ideal, but the way the waves break here is perfect.

Some waves can be too short, barely giving you time to stand up before you end up on the beach. Some can be too steep, making the nose of your board dive on every try. Lastly, some waves can be dangerous breaking too close to rocks or with very strong currents.

In Lahaina town Maui,  the wave are soft and mellow, easy to catch and avoid nosediving. The waves here are long, so once you stand up you have time to enjoy the ride and practice your turns! Most of the waves are safe, no strong currents or sketchy rocks to deal with.

4-Warm water

Maybe you have tried surfing in California or another part of the U.S and hated it? Just putting a thick full body wetsuit in a cold parking lot already drained all your energy. Not to mention, now you have to paddle out with this suit that makes every movement twice as hard?

Or perhaps you have experienced feeling like Mr Michelin because this same suits does not fit you perfect and your body is now composed of 250% of water instead of the usual 60%!

You probably finished off your session frozen to the bone, not feeling your hands and feet, unable to warm up for hours until you finally have access to a hot shower and fresh cloth?

Well, do not let this experience discourage you! Learning surfing in Maui is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3 ! Take your shirt off, put some reef safe sunscreen on and you are ready to go.

5-Lots of great Surf schools

Surfing is not just a sport or an activity, in Hawaii it is a lifestyle and a part of our culture.

Because of this, everyone opens up surf schools! It is a dream job to spend the day in the water surfing and sharing your passion.

With the amount of surf schools on the island, finding availability for a surf lesson will never be an issue.

We definitely recommend our friends “Outrageous Surfschool” and “Keep It simple Surf school” for a unforgettable experience surfing in the Lahaina area.

6-It’s a one time opportunity!

I mean, you are in Hawaii! This is where surfing was born centuries ago. Like I said, it’s part of the culture, and everyone does it.

Make the best of your trip and go back home with no regrets. Otherwise, you will have to come back! (You probably will anyways )

7-Small crowds

No, you will not be alone out there, and you will need to learn to share the space with other surfers. Compare this to other places like Waikiki, Oahu. The surf spots on Maui have very small crowds.
You will catch plenty of waves without risking hitting someone or getting hit by someone!

In short, to answer the question, is Maui a good place to learn surfing? No, it’s not a “good place”, it is the perfect place! Come over learn to surf, you will not regret it.

Also, please do not forget about us! Remember, we are the closest Cafe from the Surf-breaks in Lahaina.  We would be happy to recommend what you might want to eat before or after surfing.

Are you aching for a change of scenery from your everyday life of quarantine? This pandemic has gone on much longer than any of us could have ever imagined! Although we know that staying home is the safest option, I am here to share some knowledge and advice with you on traveling to Hawaii during COVID.

What do you need to do before traveling to Hawaii?

I recently traveled from Maui to the mainland and back over the holidays. This was an interesting experience and one that was not as simple as I thought it would be. Purchasing a ticket and hoping on a plane is not enough anymore! To travel you will need to fulfill.

First things first, you must register for the Safe Travels program online. This will be your account for anything related to traveling to Hawaii during COVID. Next thing, you must get a test that is Hawaii State Approved from one of the “trusted testing and travel partners”. You must take COVID tests within 72 hours of departure. Something to keep in mind is that Hawaii only accepts the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT).

Once you have received your test results, you must upload the PDF version of it to your Safe Travels account. I highly recommend printing out your results, just in case they ask for it in the arrival line at the airport.

Last but not least, twenty-four hours before your flight, you must take the health questionnaire in your Safe Travels account. Once you complete this, a QR code will be give to you. Save that for your arrival to Hawaii.

What if your results are not ready by the time of your flight? Then, you are required to quarantine until your results are in. However if you do not take a COVID test, you will be mandated to a 10 day quarantine.

Now that your test has been sorted, you can get onto the fun part of traveling and packing your bags for Maui

What is it like in Hawaii right now?

Hawaii is a very dreamy place. Warm, tropical weather year round, crystal clear blue water with turtles and whales swimming, and outdoor activities for everyone! This past year, there was a major decline in tourism due to this pandemic. The beaches have been empty! What an enticing time to take a trip here!

After visiting the mainland and experiencing a true lockdown, I realized how nice we have had it on the island! With most of our daily activities being outdoors, you see people constantly as they are doing the same types of activities.

Restaurants are at 50% capacity, which means you can still go out to eat, just with safety in mind! At Belle Surf Cafe, we have a beautiful and shaded outdoor terrace where you will be able to enjoy your drinks and meals in an open air environment. 

Hawaii is much more inviting compared to the rest of the country. We have warm weather during the winter, and we are not on a lockdown.

To keep it this way, we appreciate you staying at a safe distance. Wearing masks, and doing your best to reduce the risk of spreading any germs.

Do locals support the reopening of Hawaii?

Hawaii first “closed down” in April of 2020.  As a result, those who still chose to travel here had to do a long 14 day quarantine. To give you an idea…here on Maui, we have one main hospital, with a total of 31 ICU beds. We share our hospital with our neighboring islands of Lanai and Molokai. What does this mean?

Unfortunately, we do not have the type of capacity to handle a massive outbreak. With the reopening of the islands, there are many different views and opinions about accepting tourists here.

We appreciate you coming and supporting our community especially when we need it the most. However, there are a few simple things that you can do to help gain the “respect” of the community when visiting.

1. Wearing a mask- this is very important for your safety, and the ones surrounding you.
2. Keep at a safe distance. It is much appreciated to distance yourself from others, and keep the groups to a minimum.
3. Free Voluntary COVID Test- there is a free COVID test for anyone on the island!  There are many events between the testing time and arriving to the island where you could be exposed. Upon your arrival it is recommended to take a COVID test. This will help reduce the spread and keep our islands safe.

In conclusion, traveling to Hawaii during COVID is definitely worth it! Hawaii is filled with life, if we compare to most places in the world right now! The i happy and lucky to live in such a beautiful place, despite such difficult times.

We welcome you with open arms. And we hope that you join us with respect and kindness to keep our community safe. That way we can keep inviting people in!

Mahalo for your kokua.