Hawaii has been known for surfing for decades; however, most of the focus is generally on Oahu. But there is an awesome spot in Maui that offers some of the best surfing in the world. Known as “Jaws” and located off the far north shore of Maui, surfers go to this spot to find the best surfing in the world. The surf spot known as Jaws was made famous by Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama and other surfers whom developed tow surfing in order to take on Jaws.

There is a phenomenon behind the famous Jaws surfing location and what is now known as one of the spots offering some of the best surfing in the world. Known as Peahi by locals, incredible walls of water are created in this specific location in Maui as a result of storm swells that originate as far away as the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. These walls of water are beautifully and artistically shaped by a barrier reef. Surfers are towed into the area and literally dropped into the waves. Jaws barrier reef is most definitely for expert and kamikaze surfers. Beginners and mediocre surfers are strongly advised not to attempt Jaws. Even expert surfers have taken the time to meditate, study and contemplate the fearful waves before finding just the right method to ride these monster waves.

Surfers planning to attempt jaws will have to contract drivers with watercrafts to tow them out to the wave, generally on special short boards with straps or 10 to 12 foot rhino guns. Again, it is suggested that visiting surfers not take Jaws lightly, and that they seriously consider the ferocious waves as deadly. Generally, the waves are about thirty miles an hour or more with a total surf time of approximately a minute on waves that are up to approximately 70 feet. The swell direction is generally north, and the wind direction is south. Seldom crowded, the dangers at Jaws include a steep, rocky trail that requires trainers. As far as the actual surf, beware of rips, rocks, undertow and severely, dangerously fierce waves.

Pro surfer Kelly Slater, who won his ninth world title in 2008, is often described as “the Michael Jordan of surfing.” This is not just a simple comparison. The comparison goes far beyond both being known as the all-time bests in their respective sports.

Kelly Slater and Michael Jordan both took breaks in the middle of their careers and then surprised fans when they returned at even higher levels of excellence. But in the comeback department, Slater has been even more amazing than Jordan. The time gap for Michael Jordan was less than two years. For Kelly Slater, it was five years.

Both Kelly Slater and Michael Jordan coped, at mid-career, with the loss of their fathers. James Jordan was murdered in 1993, and Steve Slater died of cancer in 2002.

Another common factor is that Michael Jordan (2-17-63) and Kelly Slater (2-11-72) both are Aquarians, for what that may or may not be worth.

Despite the nine-year age difference, they became champions only one year apart. Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls won the first of their six championships in 1991, when Jordan was 28. Kelly Slater captured the first of his nine titles during 1992, when Slater was a mere 20.

Jordan “retired” after winning his third consecutive NBA (National Basketball Association) title in 1993. Slater stopped competing after he captured his sixth crown, including five in a row, in 1998.

Jordan’s absence ended when he rejoined the Chicago Bulls near the end of the 1995 season. The Bulls were defeated that year, as Jordan fought to rediscover his game, but they won another three in a row in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Slater came back for the 2003 season of the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals ) but barely lost the season championship to Andy Irons. He says his frustration with the defeat caused him to slump during 2004, but he won championships in 2005 and 2006, and again in 2008. Slater says he remains undecided regarding the 2009 season, but competitors such as 2007 champ Mick Fanning have encouraged him to stay on tour.

Michael Jordan adjusted during his comeback career by shooting more jump shots, rather than driving so often for dazzling dunks. Kelly Slater has shifted to a smaller board, more than a foot shorter than his foes.

Kelly Slater says that 2008 was his best season ever. The surfer once was a mate of celebrities such as Pamela Anderson and Cameron Diaz, but he keeps private the name of his current significant other.

Kelly Slater explains: “It’s probably my personal life. That’s the biggest change in my life. I’m happy and settled, and I’ve got the support there that just feels amazing.”

Sources:
http://www.aspworldtour.com/2008/news_show.asp?rEvent=aspwct&rcode=11547
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1860698,00.html?xid=rss-n...
http://surfermag.com/features/onlineexclusives/slater05/index1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Slater

Pro surfer Bobby Martinez, 26, has sort of double life in Santa Barbara. He comes from a neighborhood that he describes as “100-percent Mexican,” with many peers who don’t see much of a future, much less a chance to take the time to see the nearby ocean. But Bobby Martinez has always seen the water, which is why he is one of the best pro surfers in the world.

“I think that where I come from definitely helps keep me humble,” Martinez says.

Pro surfers, by and large, are good people with open minds. Still, there is not a whole lot of ethnicity in pro surfing. While Bobby Martinez was taking to the water on a boogie board, his Mexican-American peers were not doing the same. In that part of his life along Santa Barbara’s Pacific Ocean shoreline, Martinez was a loner. He would hang out with his friends in his neighborhood. Then, when he went to the surf, he would encounter mostly white or Hawaiian kids.

Bobby Martinez is sometimes portrayed as a “gangsta” in the pro surfing world.

“Maybe it’s because I’m Mexican, and I’ve got tattoos, and I listen to hip-hop,” he says. “I don’t know. I just trip out on it.”

Born in 1982, Bobby Martinez was a hot pro surfing prospect at the turn of the millennium. Still, he did not truly emerge until the past three years.

Bobby Martinez says he started taking surfing seriously in 2003, when he was 21, but he still needed a couple years of hard practice before he emerged in the pro surfing tour.

Martinez got married a year ago to Cleo Neuman from the Australian Gold Coast. They have a new house in Santa Barbara that’s one block from the beach.

“That’s the best thing,” Bobby Martinez told a reporter. “I have dreams in terms of surfing, but more than that, I’ve got dreams as a person. I’ve always wanted to own a home, and now I can do that because of surfing, and I realize that it’s a gift.”

Sources:
http://surfermag.com/magazine/archivedissues/almost-not-famous-july-2007...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Martinez