KSP News:

KSP World Tour Finals Get Underway In Pumping Surf At Hookipa



Kahului, Hawaii – December 4, 2012: Today saw light and variable winds give way to returning trades earlier than expected for the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro. Local wildcard qualification heats were run in near flawless conditions, setting the stage for an action packed world tour final and the commencement of men’s round 1.

“Anytime there’s an easterly component in the wind, you have to expect that Maui will deliver”, said KSP live stream commentator Ben Meyer. “It was great to finally see the guys and girls out there ripping at the point. The forecast looks very promising to finish the event in stellar conditions.”

Advancing from the men’s local wildcard qualification rounds were Tiago Candelot 1st, Olivier Sautet 2nd, and Kevin “Top Hat” Senn 3rd. On the women’s side, Oahu native Moona Whyte turned heads with an outstanding performace in her wildcard qualification heat and will join 2nd place local wildcard qualifier Kalia Aguera in the main women’s draw.

Following the action-packed qualification rounds, men’s round 1 got underway. Heat 1 saw world number 3 and world title contender Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) advance over Tiago Candelot (LWC) and Bastien Bollard (FRA, Ozone) with precisely executed turns and flowing rides, earning him the highest heat score of the competition thus far, a 14.93 combined two-wave total.

Men’s heat 2 between Mitu Monteiro (CPV, F-One), Sky Solbach (USA, North) and Shawn Richman (HI, Naish) was abandoned due to deteriorating winds. Following a brief holding pattern, the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro was called off for the day to wait for better conditions to resume competition tomorrow.

To see the pictures of the day click HERE!

See yesterdays clip with an interview of Robby Naish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIB-YdtBMBI



Stay tuned for the 9am call and a 10am first possible start on www.kspworldtour.com/live .

The Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro is supported by the County Of Maui, Best Kiteboarding, Cabrinha Kites, Naish Kites, North Kiteboarding, Maui Kitesurfing Community, Eternal Riders, Second Wind, NeilPryde Maui, Maui Beach Hotel, Mana Foods, Whole Foods Maui, Pacific Millworks, Mama’s Fish House and KSP Tour Outfitter ION.
REMAINING HO’OKIPA KITE SURF PRO MEN’S ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 2: Mitu Monteiro (CPV, F-One), Sky Solbach (USA, North), Shawn Richman (HI, Naish)
Heat 3: Guilly Brandao (BRA), Matchu Almeida (CPV, North), Grant “Twig” Baker (RSA, Cabrinha)
Heat 4: Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North), Ryan Coote (IRL, Ozone), LWC 2
Heat 5: Luke McGillewie (RSA, RRD), Abel Lago (ESP, RRD), Stephan De Figueiredo (BRA)
Heat 6: Keahi De Aboitiz, (AUS, Cabrinha), Gonzalo Gomes (POR, Naish), Cruser Putman (HI, Cabrinha)
Heat 7: Filippe Ferreira (BRA, F-One), Etienne Lhote (FRA, F-One), Jesse Richman (HI, Naish)
Heat 8: Patri Mclaughlin (HI, North), Jakop Appel (DEN), LWC 3

HO’OKIPA KITE SURF PRO WOMEN’S ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Ninja Bichler (GER, North), Kristin Boese (GER, Best), Erika Lindberg (SWE)
Heat 2: Ines Correia (POR, RRD), Kari Schibevaag (NOR, Ozone), LWC 1.
Heat 3: Kirsty Jones (GBR, North), Milla Ferreira (BRA, F-One), Adriana Harlan (BRA)
Heat 4: Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish), Melissa Gil (USA, Cabrinha), LWC 2