January 2nd , 2014. I starting  the  day with  my  normal  routine ..running,  exercises and swimming,  because I  knew  was a  Kona  day here on Maui…...which  usually  doesn’t t happen very often. As I drive around the corner near Lanes  I could see perfect  side off shore  wind,  waves  head  to over head  high. “It was LANES".

I went out with my Legend 4.5.  Going  out  from  Hookipa  is  weird  on Kona winds…... the sun in your  face,  current is opposite of normal ,  everything  feels  twisted/backwards.  I went   out  on  a  long port tack  upwind, my  projection was  Mama's Fish  house. 

I turned and started  looking  for  my next  wave, looking around 30-40  yards ahead,  I  couldn’t believe  how far the wave was away from me.   So I started, two-three-four bottom  turns and  top  turns  to  adjust  the  target . it was a very  long,  smooth and glassy  wave.  Looking  at  the  lip far down the line and gaining to super speed in the offshore winds, and hoping not to hit any angry  chop on the way (there were none).. .. Now finally  I’m ready to  hit the lip…..guessing  an  average aerial around  10  feet ..and  right  then as I take off  the  gust of wind projected me  way  higher  than  I anticipated….”like  an  ELEVATOR” I went up and out, I was screaming with joy.

"That’s LANES…..Long  smooth  powerful  waves to fill your soul"
Aloha
Ferdinando Loffreda

Photos by Jimmie Hepp