Billy Kemper rightfully stole the limelight with a wave that has been described as one of the best ever ridden at Pe'ahi. But the "King of Jaws" was not the only one pushing the boundaries during a recent run of swell.
Multi-craft maestro Kai Lenny has continued to push the limits of performance, especially when it comes to progressive maneuvers in very large waves.
Lenny not only scored at least one truly cavernous barrel, the Maui-based waterman executed several technical aerials ... at Jaws. Yes, he was - once again - absolutely toying with one of the most consequential waves on the planet.
Kai Lenny was one of the standout surfers during a recent session at jaws, launching airs at one of the world's most consequential waves.
So, what's his secret?
While Lenny undoubtedly has some sort of indescribable, unknowable X-factor that has pushed him to become one of the world's best big-wave surfers, there's no denying his willingness and enthusiasm for multiple aquatic pursuits has helped.
Windsurfing? Kite surfing? Stand-up paddle boarding? Foils? 10-foot big-wave guns? Kai rips on all of them. He also shreds on a shortboard, which at first glance may seem incidental, but this multi-faceted ability has unlocked new ways of approaching the waves he turns his hand to.
He also seriously gets after it when it comes to physical training, and this translates to confidence in challenging, potentially-dangerous situations.
There's also the fact that 27-year-old Lenny has been putting in the hours at Jaws for over a decade. Raised on the north shore of Maui, Lenny shared his first session at Jaw - at the age of 16 - with surfing legends Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama.
"It's funny to think about it, but someone like Laird and those guys were out there for 25 years. Ian Walsh has been out there probably 20 years now," said Lenny back in 2018.
"And I see 20 or 30 more years of being out there, which is pretty nuts."
Lenny Brings Air Game To Jaws
Ben Collins
Billy Kemper rightfully stole the limelight with a wave that has been described as one of the best ever ridden at Pe'ahi. But the "King of Jaws" was not the only one pushing the boundaries during a recent run of swell.
Multi-craft maestro Kai Lenny has continued to push the limits of performance, especially when it comes to progressive maneuvers in very large waves.
Lenny not only scored at least one truly cavernous barrel, the Maui-based waterman executed several technical aerials ... at Jaws. Yes, he was - once again - absolutely toying with one of the most consequential waves on the planet.
So, what's his secret?
While Lenny undoubtedly has some sort of indescribable, unknowable X-factor that has pushed him to become one of the world's best big-wave surfers, there's no denying his willingness and enthusiasm for multiple aquatic pursuits has helped.
Windsurfing? Kite surfing? Stand-up paddle boarding? Foils? 10-foot big-wave guns? Kai rips on all of them. He also shreds on a shortboard, which at first glance may seem incidental, but this multi-faceted ability has unlocked new ways of approaching the waves he turns his hand to.
He also seriously gets after it when it comes to physical training, and this translates to confidence in challenging, potentially-dangerous situations.
There's also the fact that 27-year-old Lenny has been putting in the hours at Jaws for over a decade. Raised on the north shore of Maui, Lenny shared his first session at Jaw - at the age of 16 - with surfing legends Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama.
"It's funny to think about it, but someone like Laird and those guys were out there for 25 years. Ian Walsh has been out there probably 20 years now," said Lenny back in 2018.
"And I see 20 or 30 more years of being out there, which is pretty nuts."
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