jason polakow

Jason Polakow's Close Encounter with a Jetski at Jaws was just one of several brushes with fate that day...

After my first encounter with Jaws some 20 years ago, my life changed forever. It’s kind of strange how one wave can shape your destiny and become your sole obsession. I find myself sometimes forgetting how amazing the wave really is and it’s not until I get another dose that all the memories and feelings come rushing back. Once you’ve been bitten you become part of that wave forever, or at least until you get married!

Every year I try and prepare myself for the season ahead. Last year I almost drowned and was held down for over a minute, so this Winter I really wanted to make sure I was ready for anything. During the Hawaiian summer I spent some time back in Australia learning different techniques about expanding your lungs, learning about the nervous system and anything that might make me more confident on the water. I wanted to be ready and not get into a situation like last time.

March 15th 2011 was one of those great days that you may only get every few years. Recently I’ve been really enjoying the opportunity of venturing up to Jaws on my own. My ski’s parked on the beach all the way down in Spreckelsville so it takes a good 30 to 40 minutes to motor up the coast.