Maalaea

Temperamental right-breaking reef wave located on the south shore of Maui, Hawaii, adjacent to a boat harbor; renowned as the world's fastest ridable surf break. Although Maalaea breaks with machinelike perfect form, less than one in four rides here are completed; for most surfers, the object at Maalaea is to simply hold trim position inside the tube for as long as possible. "It's just pure, unadulterated speed," Maui photographer Kirk Aeder noted, "that never, ever lets up."

Maalaea usually...