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2008 Archive Interviews |
Postcard No 8 - A Kiwi Perspective of the Maui PWA Wave Event
Hi Team, What a slick run comp that was - as one would hope being the PWA and all! No doubt you have probably all read the report on the PWA website, but we thought a take on things from our point of view would not go amiss. The professionalism of a PWA event certainly showed through and the atmosphere at Hookipa was competitive and pure adrenaline, with a great MC, music pumping, sound event organisation, thrilling sailing and plenty of Pros to stalk. The sailing was out of this world. The guys and girls of the PWA are definitely pushing the sport making it a spectator marvel. The weather was showery with frequent squalls coming through on all for days of competition. Waves were small and messy but some logo high sets managed to occasionally roll through. The smallish waves gave the tricksters of the PWA conditions to perform with Brazil's Kauli Seadi popping flakas down the wave-face, and Morocco's Boujemaa Guilloul going big with a push loop down the wave-face. We are sure that if there had of been a classic winter swell, the results would have been very different. The best sailors definitely won through on the day, but it was interesting to see how different sailors excel in different conditions. The double elimination format used at this level is harsh but fair. The first single elimination round was run over 2 days, with four sailors on the water for 15 min heats, the best 2 sailors advancing. The second or double elimination round ran for the next 2 days and again saw four sailors on the water in 15 min heats, but this time it was man-on-man. Scoring was based on the best 2 waves, overall impression and best jump. Josh Angulo and Kauli Seadi won the mens single elimination, while Daida and Iballa won the womens single elimination. And these results remained after completion of the double elimination round. Matt Pritchard went hard, sailing four heats on the last day of the double elimination, giving it his all and making it through into 3rd place. Matt did this by pulling sick back loops, goiters, wave 360s, lip aerials and carving up the waves with his exceptionally fluid wave sailing style. Kauli Seadi was as normal, a crazy cat - pulling off down the wave-face flakas, 360s, aerials, attempting double forwards and carving up the waves with his short slashing wavesailing style. Josh Angulo was just on fire, pulling sick sick one handed back loops, one handed aerials, and general hard core wave riding. It really was a new school vs old school final but Josh had better timing and was really exploiting the power of the wave better. Only two people in the comp went for double forwards (intentionally), Kauli and Daida - that's right - this girl has balls! Both Daida and Iballa are outstanding windsurfers and both are eons ahead of the other girls. Their stalled forwards, push loops, back loops, forwards and wave riding are so much bigger, higher, grander, extreme than their competitors. Overall, the difference between Daida and Iballa is minute, in fact, it could be said that Iballa's wave riding is better but Daida seems to get through on 'overall impression' by going for crazy stuff like double forwards.
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