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Reflex Films said..
Just a few dronies would have been easy and nice in the highlight video. Was there an issue with drone flight clearance or angry local surfers that I am not aware of?
With so many drones around it just seems inexplicable.

Hookipa is part of Class C controlled airspace as far as I am aware. You'll need clearance from Kahului airport / FAA to fly there commercially. In addition you need a Part 107 license. This is sort of like the ReOC here in Australia. Further because you are essentially flying a "national park" and "over people" you technically need clearance from Maui county as well as FAA. Especially the Maui County Council I would assume will want to see insurance before they give you clearance. Oh and did I mention that drones flying under Part 107 now need a transponder?

Of course you can ignore all that and fly anyway... Just don't get caught by the FAA.

Oh wait, you can't if you are using a DJI drone. I think the latest DJI firmware won't let you take off without LAANC clearance.

Muurica.

That makes sense - its very rare to see drone footage from the big H.

Its miles away from the airport - i know because i have shot video of Hookipa from a Helicopter many times. The best was when we had the last day of the Starboard shoot back in around 2009 - and the heli pilot wouldn't go below 300ft because there was a kite out. We called the shoot-off after 5 minutes of whingeing from the pilot - oh how i hate kites

- that was the beginning of the end.

Such pitiful conditions, too bad they couldn't have the contest this week -maui is firing

If you ever want to kill the wind and waves, plan a windsurf event.

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jdfoils said..
Such pitiful conditions, too bad they couldn't have the contest this week -maui is firing

If you ever want to kill the wind and waves, plan a windsurf event.

Agree ,but the gods have it their own ways. Feel so sorry for Ricardo. After watching closely his last heat I think he was robbed. An Air taka (huge btw) landed perfectly in suboptimal conditions, most vertical approach, most spray while hitting the critical section, wise wave selection etc. IMHO.

Yeah I often feel the scoring is a bit random or favouring the one rider over the other but the judges might see or look for things that we don't.