Tow-in surfing expanding worldwide

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tow-in surfing involves someone on a watercraft towing a partner into giant waves. The surfer eventually lets go. Advertiser library photo

Garrett McNamara knows it and he wants to explore it.

McNamara, one of the world's top "extreme" surfers, has set up a challenge for tow-in surfers around the world.

The title of the event says it all: The "If It Can't Kill You, It Ain't Extreme" Challenge.

"It's about surfers taking control of surfing," said McNamara, who resides on O'ahu's North Shore. "The general idea of this is to compete in a different format — a fun format — for extreme surfing. There will be no strict guidelines to follow, no specific dates, no specific places. We'll go where ever the waves take us and then surf all day like we normally would."

Only a handful of elite tow-in surfers will be invited to compete. (Tow-in surfing involves two-person teams; one person operates a personal watercraft and tows the partner into giant waves. Once the surfer being towed attains the right momentum, he releases the tow rope and surfs along the wave. The sport was created by big-wave surfers wanting to ride waves inaccessible by normal arm paddling).

McNamara and his tow-in partner, Ikaika Kalama of Puna on the Big Island, will track weather patterns around the world during the year. When they locate a significant ocean swell, they plan to pack up and fly to that location.

Targeted areas include Tahiti, Australia, France, Northern California, Southern California, Mexico and O'ahu. They hope to surf only in waves larger than 20 feet.

"Most of those places will be new to us, so we don't know what to expect," said Kalama, 23. "But this is what we love doing — surfing big waves — so if it means chasing it around the world, I'm excited to do that."

The first expedition could begin as early as next week because a large swell appears headed for Tahiti. McNamara said he will give the event at least a one-year run, hopefully with stops at each targeted site.

"We'll follow the surf," said McNamara, 35. "And the surf has its own mind, so who knows where we'll end up?"

McNamara has invited big-wave experts from each location to compete in their "home waters." For example, if the event travels to Tahiti, many of the best Tahitian big-wave surfers will be allowed to compete.

"We want to take care of the locals everywhere we go," McNamara said. "And that way, we'll be going up against the best."

Accordingly, if a contest session is staged in Hawai'i, many of the top Hawai'i surfers will be invited.

There are no major sponsors financing the event, and no structured rules have been established.

"It's just go out there and surf the biggest waves possible," McNamara said.

In an almost ironic twist, McNamara said he does not want to create a "circus" atmosphere at each site. To help prevent a media blitz, only five teams will be invited to participate at each site. What's more, travel plans will not be revealed to the mainstream media.

"This is not about media mayhem and big paychecks," McNamara said. "It's a chance for guys who love surfing extreme waves to have a fun session with some friends."

Kalama added: "The main thing we want to do is get the word out to the rest of the world about what this sport is about. There's a lot of dangers in this sport and not everybody can do it. That's why we want to keep it small."

To create a prize purse, each team wishing to participate must ante up $1,000 before surfing at each site. At the end of each surfing session, the surfers will gather around a television set and view the rides (a crew has been hired to film the event). The surfers will serve as their own judges, dishing out the prize money accordingly.

"That's where the fun is going to come," McNamara said. "We'll have different categories; different ways to win the money. There are going to be a lot of arguments, but it's all going to be there on film."

McNamara said he has received inquiries from television and movie producers wanting to document the event.

If money is eventually generated from the event, McNamara said it will be donated to a charity or to the family of any surfer who might die riding big waves, whether it be in this event or not.

"It's inevitable that somebody is going to die doing (tow-in surfing)," he said. "We all go into this sport knowing the consequences."

In keeping with tow-in surfing guidelines, the competitors will be required to wear life vests. McNamara said other safety precautions will be taken — that's part of the reason why he wanted to invite the knowledgeable local surfers at each site.