It’s on! The PWA Wave World Tour has kicked back in to life as conditions begin to fire at the most iconic wave spot in the world, Hookipa. With a plague of light winds during the last two events, Sylt and Crozon, the worlds finest are literally frothing for an opportunity to settle some final battles but more importantly to simply score epic waves. Well now they have the chance for both.

With a few scores to settle before the 2015 PWA World Champion can be crowned, the competitors will be sure to put on one hell of a show in what might just be some of the best conditions we ever see in a wave sailing competition. At the top of the fleet, the battle for 1st is still open between Philip Köster and Victor Fernandez, however Fernandez will need to win to stand any hope of kicking Köster off the top. Read a full run down on who needs to do what to find themselves on the podium by clicking here.

We decided to focus on the forecast ahead and what the Hookipa wave has to offer for not just those competing but all of us mere mortals watching at home. So who better to speak to than those that know this place like the back of their hand; Robby Swift, Marcilio Browne and Levi Siver.

Levi Siver
BS: Forecast?
LS: Two bigger Northwest swells will be hitting this week. Hookipa can only handle a certain size before it closes out so we will see what happens.

BS: Too big?
LS: That all depends on the direction and the period between the waves. Worst case they (organisers) will wait until the second days of the swell, when it drops a bit.

BS: Your Gear?
LS: Cube quad Quatro and 5.0 banzai maybe 5.3 if it’s super light.

BS: About Hookipa?
LS: I think mast high with a direct north swell which allows the wave to peel more. If the period of the swell is longer it’s more groomed and cleaner. 15-20 northeast trade winds, which is side offshore wind, is the best direction. Sometimes Ho’okipa can handle more then mast high but it needs the right direction. If there’s too much west in the angle the channel will start ripping like a river and ruin the swell.

Marcilio Browne
BS: Forecast?
MB: Looks like it will be big, I am thinking way over mast, and hopefully it will also clean up a little bit since we will start on the second day of the swell, but it’s quite hard to predict. The wind looks good, hard to say exactly but I would think 5.0 or 5.3 for me.

BS: Too big?
MB: Not sure, I guess It could, but hard to say, we have to wait and see.

BS: Your Gear?
MB: I still have to check the conditions on the day, but from what it shows I feel like it will be 5.0 and 86l. I will also have a 5.3 with a 96l as back up and a spare 5.0 with another 86l ready.

BS: About Hookipa?
MB: I think the best swell direction would be N/NW with a long period so the waves get clean. I think when it’s big like that it won’t be so much about tricks but more like linking a nice wave together. When the conditions are like that the waves offer big air sections, also some times big 360 bowls and a nice wall to play with… I hope I am not just day dreaming here and the conditions really turn on, hahaha.

Robby Swift
The forecast is pretty good I think. We should have some stormy but good sailing today over on the west side of Maui or possibly Jaws (but I don’t think it’s big enough for Jaws), and then tomorrow should be about as big as you can sail Ho’okipa with some wind. Then the wind dies a bit but there is another good swell, and then the wind should come back later in the event with another swell forecast for right at the end, so I think it will be a great contest!