Freestlye singles finished at PKRA Australia
After six days of waiting for stable wind conditions, today was the day. The wind began to pick up in strength near noon and the first heats of the day gotunderway. Race director Olaf Van Tol made the decision to begin the day with the wave discipline, as the conditions were not 100% suitable for the freestylers.
The first heat of the day between Kelby Bright (North, NZL) and Mark Gee (BenWilsonSurf, AUS) was abandoned because the wind was still a bit too light to compensate for the strong current. A second attempt commenced 10 minutes later and was successfully completed as Bright took the lead with 7.67 points over Gee’s score of 5.50 points. Great sportsmanship was shown by Tom Hebert (Airush, NCL) today, he stopped during his heat to pose for a picture taken by a couple of tourists watching the competition from the shoreline. Hebert’s score of 4.10 point was not enough to defeat opponent Paul Jackson (Naish, AUS) whom had a score totaling 6.50 points. Troy Gibson (Slingshot, AUS) eliminated Luca Hearn (North, AUS) in a very close heat with a total of 5.47 points over Hearn’s score of 5.17 points. Torrin Bright (Ozone, NZL) automatically advances as his opponent Daniel Bevan (F-One, AUS) did not start. Heat # 9A between Matt Tobin (Slingshot, AUS) and Stuey Martin (Cabrinha, AUS) was rerun due to a discrepancy. Martin won the rerun with a total of 8.33 points over Tobin’s score totaling 7.77 points.
A short pause was conducted in order to change disciplines. It was a full day of kiteboarding action. The men’s and women’s freestyle single eliminations wrapped up with great results. Tom Hebert (Airush, NCL) was on fire winning 4 consecutive heats leading him into the final against the official 2010 PKRA World Tour champion and local superstar Andy Yates (Slingshot, AUS). Hebert defeated Yates in a very close, 3/2 judge’s decision due to better execution on his switch tricks, a super nice NIS and an L3. Yates finished the singles in second place having eliminated Marc Jacobs (Switch, NZL) in a very close heat with a 2/1 judge’s decision with power being the deciding factor. Yates also eliminated Mario Rodwald (North, GER) in yet another super close heat with a 2/1 judge’s decision; better execution of the same tricks was the deciding factor in this heat leading him into the semi finals against Alberto Rondina (Cabrinha, ITA). Yates took another win with a 3/2 judge’s decision which lead him to the final, while Rondina moved on to the loser’s final against Brazilian rider Reno Romeu (North, BRA). Rondina defeated Romeu with a 5/0 judge’s decision enabling him third place in the singles while Romeu takes fourth.
In the women’s freestyle division, it was a winning day for Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) who eliminated Johara Sykes-Davies (Flexifoil, GBR) as well as Jalou Langeree (Naish, NED) in two consecutive heats due to better power and degree of technical difficulty. Kajiya moved on to win the women’s final against Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP) in a close 3/2 judge’s decision due to Kajiya’s excellent execution of switch tricks such as her Blind Judge 3 and performed with more power than Pulido who takes second place in the singles having defeated Shannon Ducker (Ozone, Australia) as well as Kari Schibevaag (Ozone, NOR) which lead her to the final. It was a great day for Jalou Langeree (Naish, NED) who defeated Marine Sudre (Cabrinha, AUS) as well as New Caledonia women’s freestyle event winner Karolina Winkowska (Slingshot, POL) in a super close 2/1 judge’s decision. Both Langeree and Winkowska performed with full power however Langeree had a better variety of tricks enabling her a spot in the semi final against Kajiya. Langeree was defeated in the semi final by Kajiya, which enabled Langeree third place in the singles by defeating Kari Schibevaag (Ozone, NOR) in the loser’s final where Schibevaag takes fourth.
The day finished with three women’s wave heats where Jalou Langeree (Naish, NED), Michelle England (Slingshot, AUS) and Almudena Naranjo (F-One, ESP) all move on to the third round. An award podium for the men’s and women’s freestyle single elimination winners was held on the beach where heaps of spectators watched and shared in on all the fun and excitement.
Tomorrow’s skippers meeting is scheduled for 10:00am.
The PKRA Gold Coast Kitesurfing Pro 2010 event is sponsored in part by Nissan, Cabrinha, Red Bull, Gold Coast International Hotel, Fakie and The Temple with official partners Queensland Events, Gold Coast City Council, Tourism Queensland, Gold Coast Tourism, Katz Management, Glamorous Life Swimwear, Lovebirds Australia, Mojoz Swimwear with special support by Minotaur Sports Management Party Ltd. MSL – Michael Sing Lawyers, Keystone Events and 12 Below.
