Jaws Maui

I'm naming one of my children Laird; what a stud, eah? A friend had this large surfer pictorial coffee table book back in 97, and 10 years later it's still the best book I've ever seen on the subject. It has some of the finest photographs ever taken of large wave surfing (the cover is not just a one-off) and some of the preeminent accompanying text that ever existed about surfing (heartfelt philo; but intelligent, not loadie). Other than Surfer magazine, I believe this book was the first to show the new era of tow-in surfing, and the story of the heroes who created it. It's complete - and the first edition is no doubt a collectors piece for surfers. To my mind the movie Riding Giants should have clearly stated "inspired by the book Jaws Maui", because it's essentially the same thing in a different medium (and also highly recommended). There is this marvelous line in the book - one of the hardcore crew basically answering the question about why Laird is so much better than anyone else. His answer was stellar; something along the lines of ~yeah - he's insane - "he's doing this for entirely different reasons". Absolutely classic. Absolutely frickin' classic. I'm just now getting the book (or I'd give you the exact quote) but what a glorious and magnificent line. I was devastated when it didn't make it into the movie Riding Giants.

If anyone out there either surfs or enjoy's Surfing as a way of life, this book is for you! Go out there and purchase this book! Jaws is more than a book, the colourful pages come alive in front of you, looking at Laird Hamilton coming down the faces of massive 50+foot surf, it's like your right there below him (holding the camera) Blue Max did an amazing job of illustrating these waves for us, I was lucky enough to have visited Maui, for others out there, what are you waiting for..? Killer Waves..Best Surfers in the world.. see it all..? or save your money and buy this bookaloha Jim Mellanis :-)

Jaw Maui has much more to offer than your average coffee-table book. It is an incredible blending of inspirational writing and insightful interviews with the watermen themselves. Charlie & Leslie Lyon have done a great job letting us in on the inner workings of these accomplished athletes. Everyone that visits us gets a chance to read Jaws, and has come away mightily impressed (and longing for a trip to Maui!).

I cannot begin to describe my appreciation for this book. It goes far beyond an expose of dramatic photographs of surfing in a giant break. JAWS is about spirit and soul. It's about fantasy and deathly reality. And it's about meaning. I find myself just flipping through from time to time, and the next thing I know, hours have passed. Buy this book and you'll understand.

This is a book that will give you goose bumps when you see what is inside. Incredible waves and photography.