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AlohaClassic-day4
-HIGH CLASS WAVE ACTION-
11th November – day 4
As the sailors made their way down to the beach at Ho’okipa today they were greeted by a building swell and fresh easterly breeze. The call was made for wave competition and the semi finals held over from the first round got under way.
Everyone was keen to gain a good vantage point for the first heat. Last years champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck E-11 (F2, Neil Pryde) against current leader in the wave rankings Francisco Goya A-211 (Fanatic, Arrows). Despite the excellent prevailing conditions the first heat suffered from a lack of good waves, few big enough and few connecting to the inside. On Bjorn’s first wave he broke his boom, returning to the beach for a change of rig. Being judged for their three best wave rides both sailors were keen to find the elusive connecting wave to take them from the outside all the way into towards the beach. As the sailors left the water it was difficult to tell who had made the best of the conditions to get into the final.
Cisco: ”I he didn’t do much either so I guess it may be who did the least worst. I’ll be happy if I get a chance to sail again. I just want to show everyone here on the beach that I can do better than that and give them a good show.”
Bjorn: ”That was tough. On my first wave I broke my boom and when I got back out I couldn’t find a wave.”
The conditions did not really improve for the next semi final between Josh Angulo US-11 (RRD) and Rush Randle US-321 (Fanatic). Both men making the best of the waves they could find and sailing them right down to the point before cutting through the white water and heading back out for the next set.
Josh:” I found some good waves and I’m sure Rush found some too. I saw him ripping out there and right now I’m thinking that was a lot closer than I would have liked.”
The judgement went with Rush who went on to meet Francisco in the final. After a year out of the water due to a shoulder injury Rush had made it through from the pre event trials to a place in the final of the first round. It was an all Fanatic final as the teammates took to the water, setting their watches and pushing off from the beach for the showdown.
Rush: ” I’m so happy to be back and able to compete. To be here right now and be one of two people sailing at Ho’okipa. It’s worth entering the contest just for that!”
After a tough semi final Cisco had looked uncharacteristically tense on the water. In the opening minutes of the final Rush secured several solid wave rides, completing a good forward to meet the jump requirement added for the finals as both wind and waves improved. Francisco caught a rail taking him down into the white water. After a speedy recovery he was back up and heading out in search of a decent set, playing catch up with Rush. To answer his prayers Cisco found a set containing a decent connecting wave. Low bottom turns and sharp cutbacks gave Cisco two excellent waves, complemented by an attempted double forward loop in the closing minutes of the heat.
Both sailors were held in the ‘Chilli Pit’ for the announcement. Clasping each other’s hands there was a tense minute while the MC built up the result and the crowds gathered round. Cisco won. His wife and family were the first to congratulate him and it was a very emotional moment for the twenty nine year old Argentinean who is now in a very strong position to take the PWA Wave Championship title.Cisco: ”I haven’t landed yet. If you really want something you just have to give it a try, I’ve been trying for eleven years and now I’m closer than ever before.”
As the crowds discussed the days action Cisco’s one handed cutbacks are one of the most remarked moves of the day. One hand on the boom, one reaching down and scooping through the water.
In the losers final Josh Angulo continued his run of success beating Bjorn and finishing in third place. Josh’s winning aerial was a high gliding one handed back loop. As Jason Prior KC-0 said: ” Josh could have rolled a cigarette, sparked it up and still landed with a dry hand.”
In the women’s semi final Daida Moreno E-64 (Mistral,North) beat Motoko Kobayashi J-0. Daida‘s aggressive jumping style helped to take her through. In the second women’s semi Angela Farrel’s US-21 (Simmer) put on a fine display of wave riding, making the most of the occasional connecting wave to take her through to the final beating Tsugumi Takagi J-101.
Motoko: ”I sail here everyday from June and know Ho’okipa well. This is a great place and I’m enjoying the contest. It was hard sailing against my friend and I don’t really like it. You know only one of you is going to win!”
Angela continued to ride every wave with fluidity and grace, sweeping bottom turns and several high glides off the lip as the wave closed out. Daida set out prepared to jump yet found the conditions were not as ideal as she had hoped. Returning to the shore for a change of rig Daida powered back out to find suitable sets. It was not easy and Daida returned to the beach frustrated, knowing she had lost valuable time and that Angela had claimed two good waves during the heat.
Daida: ” The judges called for a jump to be counted and I went out with my five metre ready to jump. It was hard to find the right wave and I decided to change rig.
” It’s not over till it’s over.” exclaimed Daida who was beaten by Angela and will now have to battle it out in the double elimination for a chance to take the event title and the Wave Championship.
Following the first round finals the double elimination got under way. In the opening heats Nik Baker K-66 (Mistral, North) moved on in his first heat on a long trek to the final for a chance to recover from his early exit in the first round. Fellow Brit Richie Foster K-101 (Mistral, Naish) and Mark Angulo US-18 also advance after early round one defeats.
The double elimination begins with those sailors that were eliminated earliest in the first round. The higher they finish in the first round the fewer heats they must sail to reach the final of the double elimination.
There is a large swell forecast and we must wait to see if it arrives tomorrow. A decision on wave or racing will be made before the sailor meeting at 10am.
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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