Winter 2016: Best and Worse

With El Niño in full swing huge swells have constantly been hitting the Hawaiian coast this winter, which has brought Jaws and the outer reefs on Maui to life more than most people can remember in their lifetime. Many of the world's best windsurfers and surfers have been licking their lips as they score adrenaline pumping waves, whist most mere mortals opt to stay as far away from the potentially life threatening waves. One of those sailors, who has been making the most of the epic conditions is 2013 PWA Wave World Champion -- Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) -- and we recently caught up with the Brazilian to hear about his best and possibly most scary moments so far:

Marcilio Browne: "The winter has been unreal, i had some of the best waves of my life for sure. 

My scariest moment was one day tow surfing with Levi at outter Sprecks, I think it was the swell early in Jan. First time I ever saw that place completely close out from one side to the other. I had this wave that was about 20 foot Hawaiian land right on top of my head and it was the longest hold down I had so far, even after pulling my inflatable vest. Also had a couple face plants tow surfing Jaws. 

Some of the days sailing at Jaws were unreal too, some really clean waves but also light winds so it was very hard to get them at times, we had to sit pretty close to the lineup and pump the sail as hard as possible when a set came, the scary thing was that after most drops we were already pretty drained after pumping so much. At Jaws it makes life a lot easier and also gives more confidence when you/we can plane into the waves."

Thanks, Marcilio.

Photo Credit: Jimmy Hepp