Koch and Schibevaag leading the 2010 Course Racing Worlds

Six races on day one of the 2010 IKA course racing world championship was not only a test for the stamina of the riders, but also for the technical skills, as Copus Christi showed its windy side today.

With wind speeds at constand 30mph the entire fleet was challenged, conditions where extreme due to the heavy, rolling chop, and with the big new course racing boards the downwind legs proved to separate the great from the good.

Adam Koch (USA, Ozone) ruled today but neither Damien Leroy (USA, Cabrinha), Bruno Sorka (FRA, Cabrinha) or defending world champion Sean Farley (MEX, North) were too far off.

Race one started with Sky Solback (USA, North) taking first on a tri fin Paulo Rista board. He surprised the entire fleet and had the main contenders worried.
But after that race, Adam Koch took it up a notch winning races 2 through 6. He controlled the field and sailed perfect races with virtually no mistakes.

Bruno Sroka seemed to be the man chasing Koch throughout the day, but in the evening he had to take two scoring penalties which put him back into fourth.

In second after day one is Damian Leroy followed by John Heineken (USA), Bruno Sroka and Sean Farley. The top ten is completed by Sky Solbach, Jesse Richman (USA, Cabrinha), Abel Lago (ESP, RRD), Chip Wasson (USA) and Dirk Hanel (GER, North).

On the woman's side its is Kari Schibevaag (NOR, Ozone) chased by last years world champion Steph Bridge (GBR, North) and Kristin Boese (GER, Best).

While Steph clearly dominated last years racing in the womens fleet, Kari proved already on the firs PKRA racing event of the season that she seems to be on dominating equipment.

It seems to be another major step in the equipment development from the 2009 to the 2010 season, and the upcoming days will show how much is equipment, and how much it is up to the rider to win the races.

Tomorrows forecast calls for a little lighter winds, 18 to 22  mph which will for sure show changes on the leader boards.

Saturday is supposed to be the windiest day as a northwest front hits the Corpus Christi Bay and will have gusty winds up to 40mph.

 

Adam Koch in the Lead after day 1 - courtesy The Kiteboarder