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AlohaClassic-day 5
12th November – day 5
The tension is building in the second round of wave competition in the Chilli Aloha Classic. The action picked up in the double elimination where every competitor gets a second chance.
Nik Baker K-66 (Mistral,North) continued his comeback to recover from his first round defeat, making it through for another chance to advance.
Nik: ” We’re getting scored for the set waves and they are not easy to find right now. I found a couple but they closed out on me and I think I only got one decent turn off of them. I had a better wave towards the end and I think that definitely helped. I saw Robert catch several good waves but I didn’t see how he rode them. I’m glad that I advanced and just have to stay focused now to move on.”
Although the surf conditions were generally good there were spells where competitors had to wait out the back for between four and six minutes for good sets to come through. The second sailor to advance in the heat was Nik’s team mate Ricky Vandertoorn KA-99 (Mistral, North).
In heat 45 local sailor and trialist Sierra Emory US-31 went through with Livi Siver USA-0 (F2, North) knocking out Mark Angulo US-18 (Drops) and Vidar Jensen N-44 (Drops, North). Mark sliced up the waves whenever possible yet he was not able to score sufficient point to hold back Sierra Emory US-31 and Livi. Keen to score points Livi pushed through a 360, wrestling the rig through the white water and recovering to sail away and head back out.
Livi: ”I was sailing with guys that are very experienced and comfortable competing here. But I’ve put in a lot of hours here at Ho’okipa in the last seven years and it was pretty cosy I guess!
”Mark is definitely on eof the big wave gurus and pioneered progression in the sport. I looked up to him and his younger brother Josh in the early days when I first came over to Maui.”
Sierra: ” I couldn’t get the wave selection that I wanted and I’m a bit bigger than the other guys. I really didn’t think I would go through so I was just out there having fun.
”This competition has been about fun for me. I’m just relaxed and having fun. I guess some of these guys feel a little nervous but for me this is just a great chance to sail Ho’okipa with only four guys on the water! These have been the best conditions so far this winter and we’ve had a great four to five days of contest conditions.”
One competitor who did not have a good day was Antoine Albeau F-192 (AHD, Neil Pryde). Entering the contest Antoine was in second place overall with good results in race and wave. Being knocked out today and recording a poor result in the first round of racing in the Chilli Aloha has seriously damaged Antoine’s overall position.
Antoine: ”It was a tricky heat and I missed the last set in my heat. It was close but that was why I lost. For sure I’m disappointed but that’s the deal. If you want to compete sometimes you win and sometimes you have to loose. If you can’t deal with that then you shouldn’t compete.”
Throughout the afternoon some larger set came through and provided an excellent stage for the competitors to amaze the crowds on the beach. Some of the biggest sets of the day came through for the three Scott’s. Mckercher KA-181 (Starboard, Naish), Carvill US-12 (Mistral,Naish), Fenton KZ-1 (Gaastra) and Sam Ireland KC-1 (Fanatic, North). Sam picked up one of the biggest waves of the heat and after blasting down the face turned up and flew off the lip, landing in a mast high section on the inside. Despite this Sam did not make it through and it was Fenton who also picked a huge wave with spectacular aerial action that went through with Mckercher who today had a chance to shine after a tough run in the last PWA wave contest.
In the last heat of the day Katsushi Shinjo J-4(Mistral,Naish) performed a clean 360 helping to take him through to the next heat. Sailing consistently for the last ten years Shinjo is a modest competitor who has landed a double backloop in a national Japanese contest. He could be a competitor to watch as the contest moves on.
There was no advancement today in the women’s contest and action will continue when wave sailing resumes.There is still plenty of action to come and the next two days are certain to deliver the exciting climax that everyone expects from the PWA Chilli Aloha Classic World Tour Final. Plenty to play for in both disciplines.
All the latest news from the Chilli Aloha Classic can be viewed on http://www.world-windsurfing.com together with pictures from Ho’okipa.
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