The first big swell of the new winter has arrived in Ho‘okipa, on the north shore of Maui, and Cruser Putnam was there to open the big wave season in Hawaii.

Watch Cruser kitesurfing giant Ho’okipa and showing how to rip the giant surf on his backhand.

Photography: Ryan Toaspern, Rick Dobrowski, WIlliam Turner
Edit: Rick Dobrowski
Music: Knuckle Punk “Give Up”