New state rules take effect for tow-in surfing enthusiasts

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

In reaction to tow-in surfing's popularity surge, the state has issued new rules governing the extreme sport that have outraged both paddling surfers and tow-in teams.

Tow-in surfing teams, as demonstrated by Ron Barrow on a 20-foot wave with his tow-in partner ahead of him, will have to complete a certification class beginning today. Advertiser library photo

The rules have opened up the North Shore, allowing tow-in teams access to more surf breaks along the coastline from Kahuku Point to Ka'ena Point.

But tow-in teams have to complete a certification class before heading out into big waves, which have to reach warning-level heights.

The rules take effect today.

Tow-in surfing involves two people, one on a custom-made surfboard, the other on a jet-propelled personal watercraft. The surfer holds onto the back of the watercraft and is towed into big waves. With the right momentum, the surfer releases the rope and surfs along the face of the breaking wave.

Tow-in surfing was created to allow surfers to get to waves inaccessible by paddling — and waves with face heights reaching 40 feet or more.

The dangerous conditions have made the sport attractive to surfers eager to push their limits.

But without adequate training and skills, they could endanger themselves and others, said Brian Keualana, big-wave surfer, lifeguard and ocean safety instructor.

The new rules are a response to complaints and concerns by North Shore residents who feel tow-in surfing has to be regulated to ensure safety. The state has been researching the sport and getting feedback from community members for six years.

Tow-In Surfing Educational Course • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. • July 26 • Windward Community College, Hale Akoakoa 107-109 • $60 • 235-7433

State officials say the rules are intended to make tow-in surfing safer for both big-wave surfers and other people in the water, in particular the paddling surfers who complain about personal watercrafts dangerously maneuvering in their breaks.

"This is a reaction to the growing popularity of the sport," said Steve Thompson, DLNR boating manager. "Basically what we're trying to do is ... find a way to have all these varying, competing activities interact safely and with respect to the environment."

North Shore surfers, tired of dodging watercraft at their breaks, are upset because the new rules state that tow-in teams can travel within 3,000 feet from the shoreline for "board and personnel recovery, rescue and emergency purposes." Teams are not allowed to come to shore in only four designated areas — Kawela Bay, Sunset Beach, Shark's Cove and Hammerheads in Mokule'ia — except for training purposes, which can take place in calm conditions during the summer by certified instructors.

The old rules did not allow any personal watercrafts within 3,000 feet, except in designated locations for emergency purposes only.

How the state will define "board and personal recovery" is what puzzles paddling surfers.

"They should just be allowed to surf at outer reef spots, just way out there where no (paddling surfer) will ever surf," said longtime Waialua surfer Michael McNulty. "They should make it strictly for big waves. If it's supposed to be an extreme sport, then why allow it all up and down the North Shore?"

By September 2004, tow-in surfers and watercraft operators must complete a certification class, which focuses on tow-in surfing, ocean safety and boating regulations. The first one is being offered through Windward Community College in three weeks. The class is limited to 20 people — or 10 tow-in teams.

Maui and Kaua'i also have designated restricted areas where tow-in surfers cannot come into shore. The state is planning to run certification classes on those islands as well.

Failure to comply with the new regulations may result in fines up to $1,000.

"Like in everything, there's goods and bads (to the rules)," said Archie Kalepa, supervisor of operations for Maui's Ocean Safety Division who tows in at the famous Jaws. "But I think this will encourage surfers to become more knowledgeable ... This is part of progress. It can't be stopped. But we gotta try to make it safe."

But while some tow-in surfers are irritated with the certification requirement, others hope this will make the sport safer and surfers more responsible.

"This way there's less people in the water who don't know what they're doing," said longtime tow-in surfer Charlie Clifton, 49. "There are too many people out there getting in the way and causing trouble, making a bad name for the people who've been towing in for a long time and know the water ... It's like getting a license to drive ... It makes things safer."

But paddling surfers upset at teams who break the existing rules say the state doesn't sufficiently enforce regulations.

"I've complained and nothing's been done," McNulty said. "They don't patrol. And how are you going to catch a Jet Ski?"

Some North Shore surfers have complained about tow-in teams plowing through popular breaks such as Chun's Reef and Laniakea — both close enough to shore to paddle to — in 3- to 4-foot surf.

McNulty has seen — and complained about — tow-in teams at breaks where he often surfs. Even in the summer, when waves are smaller on the North Shore, he has seen personal watercrafts patrolling popular breaks, towing surfers into 3-foot surf.

"I've seen that at Leftovers. They were buzzing all around us," said McNulty, president of the North Shore Ocean Safety Association. "It's only a matter of time before someone gets run over by a Jet Ski."

According to the city's Ocean Safety Division, lifeguards respond to between six and 25 tow-in-related calls a year, mostly on the North Shore. There have been no fatalities.

"We're putting our employees' lives at risk to assist and rescue these folks," said Jim Howe, operations chief of the city's Ocean Safety Division.

An instructor of the certification class, Howe believes teaching tow-in surfers about water safety, risk management, and state and federal regulations governing the sport will be beneficial to everyone who uses the ocean. With teams learning about lifesaving and ocean safety, they may even help other teams and surfers in distress.

"We feel this will only enhance everybody's skill level and potentially reduce the number of incidents lifeguards have to respond to," Howe said.

He said the class will not teach how to tow-in or surf big waves.

But Keualana is skeptical of how effective regulation and certification can be. "Whether you put one law out or not, it ain't going to stop them," he said. "They still going out there, they still going do 'em. ... "

Welcome to the Ace Cool website! I am Ace Cool, a big wave rider from the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii. I have been "In Search Of The Biggest Wave" for most of my life! For me, this search will continue into the new century and on around the world's oceans, North, South, East and West! Wherever the biggest waves are to be found... 

I'll be there! I am not alone in this search! Big wave riding has become extremely popular worldwide and especially in Hawaii and California lately. The advent of jet ski assisted tow-in surfing has taken big wave surfing a quantum leap forward in the 1990's and into the new millennium. First, lets go back to the roots of this whole thing!  In the 50's and 60's, the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii was being pioneered by a very gutsy crew of Big Wave riders. The sport of surfing, although popularized by Duke Kahanamoku and all the other Waikiki

Beach Boys, was developing rapidly as a major lifestyle/sport/religion/discipline in California, Hawaii, Peru and points beyond!

The North Shore of Oahu was rapidly becoming the hardcore Mecca of big wave riding for the whole modern surfing world! Guys like Eddie Aikau, Jose Angel, Buzzy Trent, Peter Cole, Flippy Hoffman, Fred Van Dyke, Fred Hemmings, Greg Noll, Mike Stang, Pat Curren and a bunch of others were beginning to challenge the huge waves of Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach and Makaha. They were taking on waves in the 20-30 foot plus category! As the longboard style "tanker boards'' of the past began to evolve into the modern "rhino chaser" big wave guns, more effective and maneuverable big wave riding became possible. Some of the braver and gutsier big wave riders began to head for the outer reefs!

In the early 1970's a big wave rider by the name of Jim "Wildman" Neece caught a helicopter ride to the outside reef at Pipeline as part of a heroic rescue of a surfer who had been swept out to sea. "Wildman" stayed out surfing after getting the guy into the rescue basket of the helicopter. He subsequently caught a giant left at Outside Pipeline and rode it all the way to the beach. A photograph of that ride was made into a huge black and white poster that became very popular overnight! Jim "Wildman" Neece was soon signing deals with Hollywood to ride the biggest wave ever at Kaena Point, which is situated at the far Northwest end of the Island of Oahu in Hawaii. Big wave surfers like Randy Rarick and others had witnessed waves at Kaena Point breaking in the 60-80 foot plus range during the legendary winter swell of 1969. They all agreed that it looked rideable, although dangerous, deadly, and horrifyingly frightening in appearance. "Wildman" never did surf Kaena Point, although he probably could have. He disappeared from the scene in a cloud of mystery and controversy in the mid 1970's.

During the late 70's and early 80's, a committed crew of big wave riders including Ken Bradshaw, Owl Chapman, Mark Foo, Charlie Walker, myself and a few others were pushing the limits in giant surf at Waimea Bay, Makaha, Sunset Beach and various outer reefs. In November of 1982, Hurricane Iwa devastated Oahu and Kauai and churned up some really big waves at Waimea Bay the next day. My Country Surf Shop had taken a lethal hit during the storm and the next day, I threw caution to the wave and rode 30 foot plus Waimea Bay by myself all afternoon and on until the sun went down when the huge waves drove me back to the beach. Photographs of that epic day made their way into the surf magazines and before long, I was approached by surf photographer Warren Bolster to take on the "Kaena Point Challenge."

I did wind up riding Kaena Point on March 5, 1984. I was taken there on a boat owned by big wave rider Jeff Johnson and staffed with a back-up safety crew. Photographer Warren Bolster and Videographer Bernie Kuebitz got it all on film. The waves, at 20 foot plus, were just not considered "legitimately record breaking." Then, on January 5, 1985, I caught a helicopter ride to Outside Pipeline and this time, Warren Bolster got a classic shot as I paddled for and then dropped into a 35 foot plus "macker" wave! The photo was made into a very popular T-shirt and postcard. This same photograph appears in the inset to the left. It was a big wave!

The late, great legendary big wave surfer Mark Foo also caught a large wave that year at Waimea Bay on January 18, 1985. Waimea Bay closed out that day at 40 foot plus in the afternoon. James Jones, J.P. Patterson, Mark Foo and myself all were rescued by helicopter.

Before accepting the rescue basket, Mark Foo took off on a horrendously big wave, but he wiped out halfway down the face. Still, we all made history that day, just by being out there!

All of a sudden, the race was on! Everybody was "In Search Of The Biggest Wave!" They held the first Eddie Aikau Invitational Big Wave Contest at Waimea Bay the next year in 1986. My video, "In Search Of The Biggest Wave" came out that year and enjoyed some brisk sales. The "Biggest Wave" postcard flew off the racks in Hawaii and I enjoyed several years of golden "surf legend" status. With the advent of tow-in surfing in the early 1990's, big wave riders began to catch bigger and bigger waves on the outside reefs. I got my first Yamaha Wave Runner in 1994 and never looked back. My tow-in surf partner, Ron Barron, and I have been towing in to all the outer reefs on the North Shore of Oahu ever since and we have had some awesome 30 foot plus days at a variety of spots. The beat goes on, so gentlemen start your engines while we all continue on "In Search Of The Biggest Wave!"