Home » Cool Area » Short Readings for a Water Sports Fan! » The Windsurfing Butterfly Effect

I`d heard a little about The Butterfly Effect over the last couple of years, but when I realised I was going to be on Maui for the 2009 event, I was definitely up for having a go myself.

 

The Butterfly Effect was established by renowned windsurfers Tatiana Howard and Juliana Shelef, to unite all water women together in a non-competitive, non-threatening environment, to share the ocean using whatever sport they choose.  The format for the event is to track downwind for 9 miles(!), from Ho`okipa to Kanaha with a stop at Sprecks on the way.  Girls are grouped into fives, with a mix of skill levels and a buddy system put into place to ensure that no “Butterfly” flew out to sea alone!  Women chose to use kites, windsurfers and stand up paddle boards based on their abilities for the given conditions.

 

 

So on Saturday the 11th April 2009, Ho’okipa Beach Park was treated to nothing other than what could described as a spectacle – especially for the lads!  From 10am until 11.30am, the beach was overrun with women of all ages, chatting and sizing up the day`s conditions to see which of the 3 water disciplines they would choose to complete the downwind run.  All 80 or so women were kitted out in the beautiful green Lycra rash vests (supplied by sponsors Dakine, Matiko and Hot Sails Maui) and itsy bitsy bikinis – much to the delight of the assembled guys when we all grouped together in a circle for a stretching session - that pretty much left most of them speechless!

 

At about 11.30, we all took to the water.  First there were kites, then windsurfers, and then finally the SUPpers.  The wind was a little touch and go at first, so most of the girls chose to do the trip on SUPs, but there were at least 30 windsurfers and kiters who braved the sketchy winds for the down winder.  All in all, there were more than 80 women on the water at the one time......amazing!  With all the sails and kites in the air and on the water, you could now see where the image of The Butterfly Effect was born.

 

 

At sea, all the girls were just cruising along, chatting and waving at all the photographers.  The atmosphere out on the water was just electric, with all the girls thoroughly enjoying the journey - so relaxed, non-competitive, and in the most beautiful environment imaginable.  There were jet-skis with "angels" aboard watching for our safety, in addition to taking the opportunity to look at all the semi-naked ladies – all right lads!  We hit Sprecks for a congregation picture in the shape of a Butterfly for Kevin Pritchard leaning out of a helicopter - Kevin is not just a brilliant windsurfer but also a great photographer too.  The only other disruption to our girly bliss was Kauli Seadi and Browzhino dressed in bikinis, sailing amongst us pulling off freestlye moves – obviously trying to win us over...it must be a Brazilian thing...but they sure looked damn good in them bikinis!

 

When we reached Kanaha, Dakine treated us to a tent full of pizza and chocolate cake (just what we all needed after the long slog downwind!).  That night Jaques bar in Paia was the location to be at, where a brilliant raffle was held for a top prize of a Quattro custom wave board!  All proceeds from the raffle went to the Women Helping Women Foundation.

 

 

If any of you girls reading this are ever in Maui when The Butterfly Effect is on, you must join in!  I can`t explain how much fun the whole event was, the friendships you make and the beautiful location in which it is held.  The work put in by Tatiana and Juliana was astounding - they really pulled off an amazing job!  Having something so special and unique organised for any girl to partake in absolutely free, was and is generosity beyond measure.  We all knew we had partaken in something phenomenal.  Thanks to all the girls and sponsors, and here`s hoping I can convince The Butterfly Effect to come to Ireland soon!