The PWA Aloha Classic Maui

2006/11/20

PWA Aloha Classic presented by JP-Australia – Final Day:

Polakow charges back up through the ranks but has to settle for second place as Josh Angulo lights up the line up on this, the final day of the 21st Aloha Classic to be held at Ho’okipa beach park.

The decision was made to run straight through the men’s double elimination ladder today as there would not have been time to run the men and women side by side. This meant that Daida Ruano Moreno (North Sails, Mistral) was not able to make a come back, and that her twin sister, Iballa Ruano Moreno (North Sails, Mistral) was crowned Women’s Wave World Champion for the second time in her career.

The men’s ladder saw many nail bitingly close heats in the classic Ho’okipa conditions. With the waves topping off at about mast high and light, side offshore winds, all the competitors were notching up some very high scores indeed.

Polakow had to face the newly crowned 2006 PWA world champion, Kevin Pritchard (MauiSails, Starboard). Wanting to come away from the event with an Aloha Classic title as well as the world title, Pritchard gave it his all, managing to throw in a clean and stylish backside 360 on his last wave of the heat. Nonetheless, it was again Polakow who came out on top with the most impressive gouge of the event. He wowed the spectators by throwing about 20 feet of spray from one of the most powerful and high-speed cut backs any of the judges could remember seeing at Ho’okipa.

Josh Angulo had to sit through the torment of watching a truly on fire Polakow advance through heat after heat on his warpath to meet the ex Maui local in the final. It just goes to show that nothing can faze a true champion as he went out there for that heat and gave everything he had without showing even a hint of nerves. Polakow had the chance to force a resail of the heat but his timing failed him on one of the best set waves in the heat and he was thrown over the front, leaving Josh to catch one more set wave and boost a huge, stylish aerial combined with a couple of solid turns to take the event win.

With that, the year 2006 comes to a close for the sailors on the PWA World Tour. We crown a new men’s and women’s world champion, both of them receiving this prestigious honor for the second time, so congratulations Josh Angulo for winning the event and Kevin Pritchard for his world title. Also congratulations to Iballa Ruano Moreno for taking the event win and her second PWA World Title.

Check www.pwaworldtour.com
for live updates, results, daily summaries and more.

The PWA Aloha Classic – Day 7, 16.11.06:

Josh Angulo and Iballa Moreno claim victory on a day when tactical ability, wave selection and out and out waveriding skill reign supreme.

At the final bell it was Angulo’s last wave that clinched him the win. He waited until the dying seconds to catch it and never looked nervous for a second as he ripped his way down the line combining powerful gouges with high, projected aerials to seal him yet another event win here at his old home break of Ho’okipa!

In the Women’s division, the fluid style and impressive aerials of Iballa Ruano Moreno (Mistral / North Sails) held the judges captive to allow her the honor of winning the single elimination this most prestigious event.

The PWA Aloha Classic – Day 6, 15.11.06:

Pressure builds as forecast narrows down competition to the final 2 days of the 2006 tour.

Another beautiful, scorching, light wind day at Ho’okipa has left all eyes on weather forecasts for the remaining 2 days of this years PWA Wave Tour Final. After several days of light winds, the varied weather forecasts have now started to converge predicting 15 knot East to Northeast winds for the final 2 days of the contest and giving the green light for action.

Check www.pwaworldtour.com
for live updates, results, daily summaries and more.

The PWA Aloha Classic – Day 5, 14.11.06:

Hope springs eternal as improving forecasts bring a ray of light to an otherwise gloomy day.

Light and variable winds coupled with overcast skies did little to ease the tense anticipation of the competition fleet who remained on hold following 2 days of light winds.

Conditions did not show much improvement throughout the day although by the last call at 16.00, the swell had started to grow and there were clearly defined head high sets paying a more frequent visit to Ho’okipa.

More important than today’s circumstances however, is the uplifting change in the weather forecasts for the latter part of the week. There is now definite potential for competition worthy condition on Thursday and Friday, creating renewed enthusiasm among the sailors and Ho’okipa crowds.

The PWA Aloha Classic – Day 4, 13.11.06:

Solid logo high swell and building Easterly winds fail to deliver their early promise leaving PWA sailors high and dry at Ho’okipa Beach Park

There was a clear improvement in the swell conditions with frequent, logo high, set waves hitting the point early this morning. Initially light winds eventually settled down to a more consistent Easterly direction as the wind line moved in from farther out to sea and filled the bay. With good waves and strengthening winds there was genuine potential for competition conditions.

However, within an hour of the wind moving in, it began to back off and by early afternoon the waves were once again glassy. With no sign of improvement in the conditions, competition was called off for the day at 16.00.

The PWA Aloha Classic – Day 3, 12.11.06:

The old, the bold and the beautiful were forced to sweat it out through another scorching Maui day, with nothing more than a gentle breeze to ease the tension.

Impeccably clear skies left the West Maui Mountains completely exposed creating incredible views across the crystal clear waters of Ho’okipa this morning. Despite their beauty, the glassy seas, tickled by a gentle breeze, were not a welcome sight for the waiting competitors. Both the men’s and women’s fleets, comprising some of the greatest and newest names in the sport, went back to the waiting game to see what the conditions would bring.

The wind continued to swing switching first to offshore, before backing side-shore from the west and eventually returning to the more traditional easterly trade direction. Although the wind and swell continued to build gradually through the afternoon, conditions never really improved sufficiently and eventually at 16.00 competition was cancelled for the day.
2006 Aloha Classic – Day 2, 11.11.06:

Conditions tease and tantalize in Hawaii leaving competitors to sweat it out in anticipation of what may lie ahead.

Early indications suggested that today was going to provide more superb sailing after the action of the early rounds in yesterday’s heats. By 10.00, the wind was beginning to build and some good overhead high sets were breaking on the point, wetting the appetite of the wave hungry sailors on the beach. Within half an hour however, the wind had switched to a side offshore direction and dropped to near still conditions. With no change by the scheduled 10.30 start time competitors went into a holding pattern.

By early afternoon, the wind had swung back to a desirable side shore direction and started to build. After several further postponements the first of the women’s heats got underway at 14.00.

Taking to the water for the first time in anger were Poland’s Ania Ostrowska (Fanatic / Simmer), 16 year old Ashley Baxter (Naish / Naish), comparative tour veteran Tatiana Howard (Naish / Naish) and Canadian ex-pat Shawna Cropas (JP / NeilPryde), all looking to secure their place in the second round.

All four girls managed to draw something from the limited conditions, showing great promise of what might have been given more wind and waves, but despite the 20-minute heat length it was clear that the conditions were not enough for the girls to express their skill and the heat was abandoned.

Although the wind did increase during the remainder of the afternoon, the lack of swell prohibited further competition and sailors were finally released for the day at 16.30.

2006 Aloha Classic – Day 1, 10.11.06:

Competition favorites hold firm at Ho’okipa leaving it all to play for in the Hawaiian surf.

A typical Maui day greeted the competitors and spectators on the first day of this, the 21st Aloha Classic to be held at Ho’okipa Beach Park on the North Shore of Maui. Beautiful sunshine, warm Easterly trade winds and solid logo-high waves allowed competition to begin right on schedule at 12:30.

After a year of tough competition on the PWA World Tour, the title race has come down to this last event with the top 5 competitors, namely Kevin Pritchard (Starboard / MauiSails), Kauli Seadi (Quatro / Naish), Josh Angulo, Nik Baker (Mistral / North Sails) and Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / Simmer Style) all realistically in the running for the coveted Wave World Title.

There were no major upsets in the competition today, which ran up until heat 14, when the event had to be abandoned for the day to allow the local surfers the last hour of sunlight to enjoy the beautiful waves.

Ex-Maui local Angulo, who now hails from Cabo Verde, demonstrated clearly that he still has his trademark power and wave knowledge that can only come through years of sailing at Ho’okipa. Impressing the judges with his stylish one-handed aerials and powerful cutbacks in the lightest of winds, he easily won his heat, making his way into the next round where he will face the next two generations of Ho’okipa rippers, Levi Siver (Starboard / NeilPryde), Kai Lenny (Naish / Naish) and Baptiste Gossein (JP / NeilPryde). Kai is just 14 years old and made waves today by beating Kevin Ponichtera and John Skye. This will certainly be a heat to watch with a lot of pride at stake for these four incredibly talented local sailors.

Also on fine form was last years’ Aloha Classic winner Alex Mussolini (JP / NeilPryde) whose light weight allowed him to move around quickly and notch up lots of high scoring waves. He easily won his heat, impressing the judges with high, stylish aerials. Joining him in the next heat is 2006 Slalom and Super-X world champion Antoine Albeau (Starboard / NeilPryde), showing that he is a fantastic windsurfer on any equipment, anywhere in the world.

On completion of the men’s first round, the women will take to the ocean with the almost unbeatable Daida Moreno (Mistral / North) looking to fend off challenges from not only her PWA rivals - namely sister Iballa (Mistral / North Sails), Karin Jaggi (F2 / North Sails) and Junko Nagoshi (F2 / Simmer), but also the undeniable Ho’okipa talent such as Jennifer Henderson and Motoko Sato (Quatro).

Will the energy and style of the young Seadi let him hold onto his 2005 World Title or will it be the years of experience and Ho’okipa knowledge that see Kevin Pritchard, Josh Angulo or Nik Baker through to the number one spot? Will the dominance of the Moreno family hold true for another year?

Preview:

From 10th through 17th November the worlds finest wavesailors will assemble in Hawaii to stake their final claims on the coveted PWA World Wavesailing title.

“For everyone around the world the Aloha Classic is well known as a fantastic and famous event”, says Inga Stracke, Aloha Classic PR and marketing Director, “Having this year’s 21st Aloha Classic become the final of the World Tour is truly exciting. We are thrilled to welcome the international media and sailors from around the globe this November at Ho’okipa Beach Park!”

After a journey that began back in Portugal in June, the showdown between the top players could be settled in no better place than the North shore’s massive fall swells. Despite its’ formidable global entry list, this event brings even more pressure on the elite competitors, in the form of the local legends of windsurfing’s spiritual home, and their specialist knowledge of Ho’okipa's bone-crunching waves.

Cross your fingers for our Fanatic riders Victor Fernandez, Jonas Ceballos, Nayra Alonso, Klaas Voget and Ania Ostrowska!

Aloha!

Source: PWA / Brian McDowell