"Jaws" (Pe'ahi) is the name given to a big wave surfing reef break on the island of Maui in the U.S. state of Hawaii.[1] It is located on the northern side of the island between mile markers 13 and 14 on the Hana highway and sits at the base of rolling sugar cane field hills.
The surf break, a deep water reef break, is called "Jaws" due to the size and ferocity of the waves. The waves at "Jaws" are rumored to reach heights of 120 ft (36.6 m) on the face of the wave, moving as fast as 30 mph (48.3 km/h).
The Jaws surf break is the home of tow-in surfing and has reached its worldwide watersports fame largely due to the frequent filming and photography of tow-in surfing legends performing there on enormous ocean waves breaking at the deep reef off the shore; famed big wave surfers such as tow-in surfing pioneers (also known as "The Strapped Crew"-for the rubber straps on their short surfboards to anchor their feet against the forces) notably Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama.
In order for the surf at "Jaws" to reach its extreme heights, many specific ocean and weather conditions must prevail concurrently. Because ocean swells large enough to produce this kind of surf occur only during winter months, primarily between December and February, they typically coincide with very strong winds which have a large effect on the surf. Other swells, particularly the small but powerful trade wind swells, can make the surf choppy and difficult to ride. There are several other surf spots around the world that boast similar wave heights; however, "Jaws" is famous for its wave forming quality. The reef and rocks at "Jaws" are shaped in a way that magnify incoming swell energy and produce clean and well defined right and left-directional waves with gigantic barreling (hollow, air-filled wave interior) sections.
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"Jaws" has been significant in recent years with the development and popularization of tow surfing. While many other big wave surf breaks around the world have seen an increase in tow surfing, "Jaws" has been at the forefront of the tow surfing revolution. Several documentary surf films, such as Stacey Peralta's Riding Giants and Dana Brown's Step Into Liquid, have exposed the quality of the wave to the world and immense crowding has plagued the break on the biggest days of surf. This has led to several dangerous and potentially life threatening incidents. So far nobody has drowned at "Jaws"; however' several prominent surfers have been lobbying to regulate or even limit tow surfing at the break for safety reasons.
Laird Hamilton is quoted in Laird (White Knuckle Extreme) (2001) saying that he and others are scanning over topographical maps, trying to find other beaches throughout the world with the same characteristics.
On January 26, 2011, Australian Surfer Mark Visser became the first person to ever surf Jaws at night [2].
As of 2006[update], the road to "Jaws" had been intentionally blocked by placing derelict vehicles across the road, and setting them on fire. In addition to the vehicles, there are tank trap-style cuts into the roads, preventing all but small, ATV-style vehicles from approaching from the highway.
The reason for the blockage is related to the December 15, 2004 crowding of the beach. Surfers who were not competent, tourists, and many others showed up to the beach to observe the massive surf.[3] People were injured, and veteran big wave riders Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama protested that the congestion on the waves made it more difficult and dangerous than otherwise to surf the Peahi reef. It is suggested that one surfs at "Jaws" "by invitation" from a veteran tow-in surfer only, despite absence of any legal basis for such a suggestion regarding public territory. Non-expert big wave surfers are discouraged.
The only practical way to approach "Jaws" at the surf level is from another beach on the coast, by boat or jet ski. Tow-in wave riders can be observed by viewers from the high cliff overhead, though the space is limited. Use extreme caution, not recommended with young children; there are no lifeguards, and EMTs must travel a long distance to respond to observer accidents.
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