PWA Wave Contest Brasil

2007/09/14

PWA Mormaii Ibiraquera Wave Contest - Super Session 13.09.:

Tour veteran Josh Angulo teaches the kids a lesson in an awesome Bonus Super session at Ibiraquera. Ricardo Campello scores second and Klaas Voget (Fanatic) contorts his way into third!
Generous event sponsors Mormaii threw down some stunning product prizes in the name of entertaining the crowds and pushing limits in an all-guns-blazing expression session. Each rider’s best individual wave or jumping manoeuvre would count towards the judge’s selection of the three best sailors.

Klaas Voget (Fanatic / NeilPryde) was attacking the punchy inside section of the Ibiraquera beach break with his radical aerial wave 360 attempts, and eventually launched one cleanly back on the wave in front of Angulo!

The rest of the fleet went all-out in the dying minutes to impress the judges, and even Peter Volwater’s (F2 / North) gigantic one-handed back loop and Jonas Ceballos’ (Fanatic /Simmer) push-loop table-tops were not enough to axe Angulo, Campello and Voget from the leader board

Results Super Session:
1. Josh Angulo
2. Ricardo Campello
3. Klaas Voget (Fanatic)

Be sure to keep up to date with every piece of the action at
www.pwaworldtour.com

PWA Mormaii Ibiraquera Wave Contest – Day 4, 12.09.:

Brazil goes nuts as Kauli Seadi defeats Briton Nik Baker in the double elimination final to win the inaugural Ibiraquera PWA World Cup and kick-start the carnival early. Around 20 knots of wind and head high waves set the scene for a classic showdown, and a large partisan crowd showed up to see what windsurfing, and Brazil’s newest national hero had to offer. The action was remarkable considering the conditions and both riders certainly used all their skills to make the most of the set up. On the beach there were firecrackers and rockets from Seadi’s supporters, and cheers for his every move.

Nik Baker (Mistral / North) opened his account with a long ride, which he milked all the way to the beach to set the tone. But Kauli Seadi (Quatro / Naish) soon kicked into gear with dazzling riding of his own, including an amazing Goyta, as well as plucking a massive push loop table top, and a high one-handed, one-footed back loop out of thin air in the light and gusty breeze.
Baker replied with his own high back loop and a table top forward and continued to pressure the 2005 champ with his wave riding skills as the two competitors played a game of cat and mouse to snag the best surf in the shadow of the small island off Praia do Ibiraquera.

There was no doubt in the crowd’s minds as to who’d won as a throng of supporters carried Seadi from the water’s edge to the podium before the decision was announced.
The judges seemed to agree and a unanimous 5-0 decision awarded him the victory.

That title race is now hotting up after the first discard has come into play. Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / Simmer) has narrowed the margin between himself and Seadi, but the Spaniard can’t afford to drop any further and must beat Seadi at all the remaining events to win the title, as the vultures circle for the remaining podium places.

There may be a super session later in the event so please check back in for news.

Final Results:
1. Kauli Seadi
2. Nik Baker
3. Levi Siver
4. Victor Fernandez (Fanatic)
5. Kevin Pritchard
6. Robby Swift
7. Klaas Voget (Fanatic)

PWA Mormaii Ibiraquera Wave Contest – Day 3, 11.09.:

A third day of 20 -30 knots of wind and overhead surf allowed all but the final of the double elimination to be completed. A 14-minute heat duration was set with two waves and one jump to count.

The double elimination is all about attack and defense - who’ll charge back up the ladder? Who’ll stand firm and shut the door on any pretenders that didn’t make the cut from the single elimination?

Starting from with the third round today, the system didn’t disappoint and threw up some determined challengers intent on knocking the big names from their pedestals.
First out of the blocks was Norwegian Vidar Jensen (North), the current world number 5, who shrugged-off strong opposition from fellow Gran Canaria residents Jonas Ceballos (Fanatic / Simmer) and John Skye (F2 / Naish) before he was slapped-down by a particularly on-form Klaas Voget (Fanatic / NeilPryde) who was already seeded into the 4th round.
Jensen failed on his trademark double forward loops against the aerial skills of Ceballos and Skye, but won through on solid wave scores until Voget’s aggressive attack halted him.

But the most impressive climb up the ladder today came from the shock-knockout from the single elimination, Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / Simmer). The young Spaniard, who was also the pre-event form player with two consecutive event wins, left a path of destruction that truly had the top 4 seeds waiting and watching on the beach for their turn in fear.

On his way, Fernandez slayed Scott McKercher (Starboard /Severne), Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde), Josh Angulo, Klaas Voget, Robby Swift, and Kevin Pritchard (Starboard / MauiSails) before a mammoth showdown with Britain’s Nik Baker (Mistral / North).

Baker pulled-out all the stops to match Fernandez in the air but fully taught the youngster a lesson in wave riding to end his dreams of a hat trick of event victories.
By halting Fernandez, Baker, who finished 3rd in the single elimination, then had a shot at single elimination runner-up Levi Siver (Starboard / NeilPryde).

The 36-yr old veteran of the tour predictably put all his years of knowledge to tactically position himself during the heat, but in the end he won on pure style with long fluid rides that linked all the sections together. That crucial victory means he now faces Kauli Seadi for a shot at the event title and to really pressure Seadi’s world title campaign.

The organisers hope to use the remaining time left in the holding period to cherry pick the best possible conditions for a fitting final to this classic contest.

PWA Mormaii Ibiraquera Wave Contest – Day 2, 10.09.:

It’s Home Sweet Home for Kauli Seadi as he takes a sensational Single Elimination victory over Levi Siver. Britain’s Nik Baker digs deep to score third ahead of a spirited performance from reigning World Champ Kevin Pritchard in the loser’s final.
Bright sunshine, steady wind around 20 knots, and half-mast to logo-high set waves allowed the completion of the single elimination, and the first two rounds of the double elimination.
A 14-minute heat duration was set with the best 2 rides to count – no jumps.
Tactical wave selection and outright determination helped Klaas Voget (Fanatic / NeilPryde) overcome stiff opposition in the form of Jason Polakow (JP / NeilPryde).
Polakow seemed to concentrate on the shorter more intense bowls, but the technique failed him as Voget found the longer walls and a larger variety of turns to beat the Australian legend and book his place in the quarterfinals.

PWA Mormaii Ibiraquera Wave Contest - Day 1, 09.09.07:

Brazil welcomed the PWA back to its shores with open arms today. Fresh new tour stop Ibiraquera laid on wind and waves to start the party in fine fashion on a day where top seeds struggled and famous names fell.
Wind between 10 and 25 knots and up to logo high surf allowed competition to commence straight after a full fleet had signed-up. A 14-minute heat duration was set to make the most of the gusty conditions and erratic sets, with the best two waves to count, and no jumps scored. Competition was run until dark and just one heat remains until the second round is complete and the top 16 determined.

Second Round Slip-Ups
3 of the current top-10, and 4 of the 16 seeds to have byes into the second round fell to emerging talent from round 1. Many of the heats were close and came down to the final waves of the heat. Outside, there were fierce match-racing style battles for tactical positioning to snag the best waves going.
Alex Mussolini (JP / NeilPryde) became victim to Team mate Klaas Voget (Fanatic / NeilPryde) in yet another tight encounter. Voget worked the competition zone furiously to pick off the best waves that rolled through during their heat.
As the sun set there was tension in the day’s final heat. Jonas Ceballos (Fanatic / Simmer), currently ranked number 4 in the world, just didn’t have what it took to defeat Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra), who’s really turned heads in the free sailing sessions so far. Traversa reveled in the lighter conditions as the day came to a close and put his light wind skills to great use against the Gran Canarian who specializes in high wind, high altitude jumping.

The remaining top seeds all look dangerous so far both in the warm-up sessions and in competition. Just one heat of the second round remains to decide the top 16. So far Kauli Seadi (Quatro / Naish), has turned the most heads along with Thomas Traversa, Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / Simmer) and Jason Polakow (JP / NeilPryde).

The best conditions of the week ahead are forecast for tomorrow, and the plan is to complete the single elimination, and make the most of the swell to start the double elimination.

Source: PWA