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wave event maui day2
THIS PRESS RELEASE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SSM FREESPORTS
PRESENTED BY CHILLI, NEIL PRYDE AND DA-KINEAPRIL 13th – 18th 2000.
Despite tough conditions on the water today here at Ho’okipa Beach park there was still plenty of incredible action with strong but gusty trade winds providing the fuel for some insane jumping action. The swell this morning had dropped down to a trace of yesterday’s monster waves with waves in the 2-3 feet region but competitors were still able to find plenty of ramps to perform some outrageous manoeuvres. Two rounds of the men’s single elimination wave elimination were completed today before winds eventually became too gusty to continue. The competition format chosen by the judges was for four man heats with the top two sailors advancing with three waves and one jump to be scored.
In the first round Kevin (US3) and Matt Pritchard (US12) the Californian brothers, ranked number two and three in the world, both failed to advance and will now have to wait patiently and fight back through the double elimination if conditions allow. Other top ranked sailors also failing to advance included Vidar Jensen (N44), Ant Baker (K77), Anders Bringdal (S10) and Micah Buzianis (US34).
Kevin Ponchitera (US 006) was the definitely star of the show today and launched straight into a ballistic double loop in his first heat and later in the day followed it up with another radical double in the second round. His wild antics helped him advance into the top sixteen and he will have to face the likes of Keith Taboul (US60), Jason Polakow (KA111) and Levi Siver (USAO) tomorrow.
Not to be outdone by the doubles from the ’Ponch’, the world number three wave sailor Francisco Goya (A211) opened up his second round heat with a clean double which helped him advance though his heat alongside Jason Prior (KCO) into the third round. The performance from Goya, the Argentinean wave guru, was probably the most polished of the day and besides his radical jump he also looked tasty in the waves carving up the 2-3 foot sets with his smooth and fluid style.
Nik Baker (K66) winner of last years Aloha Classic was the only British sailor to make it through to the third round today following a typical Baker style consistent and powerful performance. Baker will now face the Josh Angulo (US11), Josh Stone (US6) and Steve Allen (KAO) who also advanced.
Josh Stone, the World Freestyle Champion, threw one of the most unusual jumps of the day a radical air spock which is a jump version of one of his most complicated freestyle manoeuvres.
Veteran competitor Robby Naish (US1111) a favorite here a Ho’okipa and definitely a contender never to be discounted pulled off two radical one handed table tops alongside his usual combo of slashy turns on the wave and fought his way through both his heats here today. Naish who flew in from Europe late last night will face Ricky Vandertoon (KA99) Francisco Goya and Jason Prior to fight for a place in the quarterfinals.
The remaining four sailors to make it through both rounds today were Bjorn Dunkerbeck (E11), Scott Fenton (KZ1), Paul Bryan (HI11) and Sean Ordonez (US20). Most radical of the day was probably the first double from Kevin Ponchitera although Scott Carvill (US12) came a close second with a forty foot high tweaked one handed table top.
The stage is now set for an exciting climax to the men’s single elimination and judging from the quality of the sailors remaining it is anyone’s guess who will take victory tomorrow. Also on standby here at Ho’okipa are the eighteen women wave sailors who have entered the competition and the highly ranked fleet includes Jennifer Henderson (US7), Kelly Moore (US6) and Women’s World Champion Karin Jaggi (Z14).
Sean Ordonez
”I’m ecstatic, it was kind of tricky, you just had to just sail smooth and in control as possible. I tried a few big jumps, it was fun definitely a killer vibe at this contest”
Jason Polakow
”They were not my sort of conditions, it was hard work to find the right wave. I saw a couple of guys do some radical doubles, Kevin Pochitera is just a lunatic and Cisco did a nice one”
Nik Baker
”I was happy to get through the first round and even happier to get through the second round.it was spiffing!”
Ricky Vandertoon
”I was glad to get through my heats today, my next heat is me, Robby Naish , Steve Allen and Francisco Goya so it’s going to be tough.anything can happen!”
Francisco Goya
”You just had take opportunity to do the big jumps, they are counting only one jump so I decided to do the double. The gust came in and I just went for it, I knew there was not going to be that many opportunities”
Jason Prior
”We were giving it our best out there, competition is tough there was no easy heat today. If anything I have been conservative so far just so I could get all my points. From here on in it is ’Balls to the wall’, take no prisoners, you have got to go hard!
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