BRUCH TAKES ON JAWS

Dany Bruch battles the elements as he tackles one of the biggest waves in the world at Jaws - Pe’ahi

The first big winter swell hit Maui over the last two days, which brought Jaws into life for the first time this winter. Many of the world’s top big wave surfers were out - as was PWA Wave star Dany Bruch (Starboard / Challenger Sails / AL360) - who has windsurfed Jaws before, but never surfed it…until yesterday that is. We caught up with Dany to see how he got on:

PWA: Still alive? Ha. Did you catch any?

DB: “Still alive… luckily I managed to escape my first time surfing Jaws without taking any beatings and caught three waves. Such a sick day. The day wasn’t without any beatings though as I had 5 super long hold downs. I was in a pretty dark zone underwater, so I must have been pretty deep. How deep though? I don’t know. That was just trying to catch a wave in to the beach at Ho’okipa, but I got punished for going down on the first wave of the set. After that I reloaded on food and headed to Jaws.”

PWA: When did you buy your board for Jaws? And what size was your board?

DB: “I only bought the board yesterday, I wasn’t really prepared for it at all. I just got lucky that the swell hit Jaws the day before my flight out of Maui. Earlier in the day I headed over to Kazuma and just picked a gun out of the rack - I had a few hours on the board at Lanes/Ho’okipa earlier in the day and then headed straight for Jaws - I was pretty amped to just get in the water, so I headed out without a life jacket, but as soon as I was out there I appreciated the fact that I really should have one - seeing as everyone else did - but thankfully Kai Lenny (Naish / MFC) sorted me one out when I headed over to his boat. I do surf big waves whenever I’m at home in Tenerife though, so I wasn't walking completely into the unknown.” 

PWA: Was it daunting/scary paddling out on a board you've barely used before?

DB: “Jumping off the rocks and paddling out wasn’t too bad. In March, 2013, I jumped in at Jaws with windsurfing kit, so with just a board it was like a dream in comparison ;).”

PWA: How did you feel trying to paddle into Jaws for the first time?

DB: “It’s scary. I was absolutely bricking it on the first one I tried to paddle into. It’s just such a beast of a wave, but a beautiful one though. Even just being out there sitting in the lineup made my heart race every time a set passed.” 

“In the past I’ve rushed in big waves, so this time I took my time, watched the guys take a few from the channel and then started to edge closer to the break, then I paddled a few to look at exactly what I was getting ready for, just trying to get the drop into my head really. That I just went for it. When you say GO, you just have to go at it 100% - no hesitation. Thankfully, everything went well and I got a smooth take off and drop. The adrenaline rush was crazy, it was amazing and I was shaking afterwards.”

PWA: You've windsurfed jaws before, but never surfed it... How did it compare?

DB: “I can’t compare it. In Tenerife we have a wave where the left is a similar shape to Jaws, but Jaws is much faster… and more perfect. It’s just insane and I can’t compare it to anywhere else, the adrenaline rush you get from Jaws is addictive.”

PWA: Thanks Dany, amazing effort. Have a great winter. 

Photo Credit: Thanks to Fish Bowl Diaries for the amazing photo of Dany. If you don't follow them already then be sure to 'like' their Facebook Fan page here.