This event, held on Boracay Island, was K!NN Pro Rider Teams second time in attendance. Long Nguyen Duc the Vietnamese freestyler on the team, 20 years old from Mui Ne was excited to be there- the level was high and there would be beautiful flat water conditions, if the wind would come...
In the 2nd day of competition some freestyle heats were able to run. We made it almost all the way through the single eliminations. Long battled Ken Nacor (Cabrinha, LiP - Philippines), local favorite, in the semi-finals. Long had been anticipating this heat with his hero since feeling disappointed Ken was not at KTA Indonesia, and a 2nd time let down when they did not meet in a heat at KTA Thailand.
Devastatingly, Long's line broke during the highly anticipated heat against Ken. "I replaced everything, made all the lines new before we left home!" Long frustratingly expressed. Ken moved forward to go against favorite here, Polish Champion Victor Borsuk (Naish, Burn, LiP). Long was now set to battle it out with 15 year old local, Stefano Ganugi (Fone, LiP), for 3rd & 4th seatings in the single eliminations! Long victoriously took 3rd clean and smoothly.
In the double eliminations Long defeated his 3rd to Along (Reynard) Gajisan. Another local Fone and LiP rider whom Long has met many times in competition this year, Along had moved up into the 4th seating by beating Stefano.
Long continue then to meet against Ken again and battle him for his 2nd place. Triumphantly, Long went through the heat masterfully performing without hesitation. This time there were no equipment failures. The smile on Long's face only matched his big eyes when the MC announced that Long had been victorious! Long was still exclaiming the next day, "I can't believe I beat Ken!"
Long went on to battle Victor for 1st place. Long, knowing he could not match the number of rotations Victor was known for, did not enter the heat without pulling out all the stops! Long's strengths here were his ability to pull off combinations. He called on this skill, A-mazing the audience with first a Back Mobe into a 313 Grab, followed by 6 tricks in 2 tacks more! He performed a Blind Judge 3, into a Front Mobe, into a KGB directly following on the opposite tack with a 313, into a Slim Chance, into a Back Mobe! Long was on FIRE!
However, Victor's powerfull double rotations and handlepasses including a Front Mobe 7 were impressive to say the least! Victor stopped Long's rise in the ranks at 2nd. What a day!
Long is now seated in 1st position for Freestyle in both the Overall KTA Tour standings and Asian Championship for 2013! One competition left, bring on Pingtan, China! GO LONG, GO STRONG!!
A special shout out to LiP sunglasses for newly sponsoring the K!NN Team, protecting their eyes, on and, off the water with incredible picture vision! K!NN Team is looking for kite and corporate sponsorship. Contact Anny: anny@kinnteam.com
... And guys, if you like the photos, please go see more and remember to "Like" the KINN Team facebook page https://www.facebook.com/KINNTEAM?fref=ts!
KTA Day 5 Video - Double Elimination Round, from Lines Productions can be found on [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/63302441[/vimeo]