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ted · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: Location: Hawaii, Big Island

Anyone interested in surfing in Samoa next January? The surf should be head high or smaller with really clean, fun conditions.

Here are photos from previous trips: http://picasaweb.google.com/tedhon

rodndtube · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 9:34 pm Post subject:

Looks like a great place to visit and surf. Great set of pics and some fun looking waves. Have to take a rain check on next January since that is my usual PR trip time.
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rodNDtube
"Prone to ride"
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ted · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: Location: Hawaii, Big Island

I'll be at Salani surf camp from Jan 19-25 with my HPD, bodyboard and perhaps one of Austin's Paipos. If you can go, contact http://www.waterwaystravel.com/ right away. Travel from LA is from Tuesday to Tuesday (Jan 20-27).

rodndtube · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject:

Have a great trip! I will be on the other end of the world in PR during that timeframe Smile

_________________
rodNDtube
"Prone to ride"
I love my papa li`ili`i

ted · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: Location: Hawaii, Big Island

I just returned from Samoa where we had uncrowded small surf. Upon arrival at the camp, I met two bodyboarders from Hawaii and so had prone riding company for most of the week.

I received some HPD takeoff advice from Paul just before leaving for Samoa: paddle straight down, stay close to the board and pounce quickly. Good advice. Smile

Monday afternoon's session at the right featured peaky chest to head high surf with quite a few little barrels. I rode my bodyboard, HPD and Austin paipo on a rotating basis.

On Tuesday I got some really good rides at the right on the HPD including a decent barrel captured on video from my helmet camera. The helmet cam also shows a bunch of HPD duck diving.

On Wednesday I committed to riding the Austin's board by leaving the other two boards in camp. When I did my part, it rode really well, but I blew a bunch of takeoffs by sitting too far outside and letting the nose rise while paddling. I definitely prefer taking off late with kicking as opposed to taking off early with arm paddling to plane at speed. I did get thumped pretty hard when I got thrown from a pitchy overhead wave as I took too high a line.

On Thursday the surf was smaller at the right, so I was able to continue getting used to Austin's board without getting killed.

On Friday the surf at the left was going off, so I went out with the bodyboard and Austin paipo in the boat. After a couple fast left walls on the bodyboard, I switched to Austin's board and promptly got thumped due to takeoff hangups.

On Saturday we surfed the right in the morning and Tiavea (north shore) in the afternoon. Tiavea had a nice A-frame for short rights and a long left wall. The left wall was a tiny bit too slow to barrel, but made a virtual skatepark for face maneuvers.

Here are more photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/tedhon/Samoa2009#

I'll post the video as soon as it is edited.