From http://www.prokitetour.com/
Today would go down in kiteboarding history as the day the PKRA World Championship crown is passed on to two of the most promising kiteboarders in the world. Kevin Langeree (Naish, NED), after many years of battle, finally was crowned the PKRA World Champion in an unprecedented event that saw many upsets and triumphs. Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) would also end the 2009 season with a bang, capturing the women’s World Championship title from Spain’s Gisela Pulido (Airush) after years of reigning the women’s division.
The triumphant second day of the Teri Kite Pro 2009 started right on time with a 12:30 start, but the day would prove different from yesterday. Clear blue skies dominated the scene and was warmer than yesterday’s temperature. It was an extremely action-packed day even though the wind never picked up strength compared to the other day.
At exactly 10:00 am, there was a start for the long distance race which was won by Torrin Bright (Ozone, New Zealand) while the ladies’ division was won by Angela Peral (North, Spain).
The day wrapped up at 5:30 pm at the beach. Although the official prize awarding is not until Saturday or Sunday, today’s game results already decided the overall Tour winners:
Men:
Kevin Langeree (Naish, NED) – World Champion
Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED) – 2nd overall
Aaron Hadlow (Flexifoil, UK) – 3rd overall
Women:
Bruna Kajiya – (Flexifoil, BRA) – World Champion
Joanna Litwin – (Nobile, POL) – 2nd overall
Karolina Winkowska – 3rd overall
Highlights
Highlighting today’s events, A renewed Marc Jacobs (Airush, New Zealand) came out firing in Heat #22a, riding super powered moves knocking out Thomas Paris (North, FRA). Ironically, Jacobs lost to Sebastien Garat (RRD, FRA) in the 26th heat ending his bid for any podium spot this year while Garat lost to Aussie Andy Yates (Slingshot) in the 28th heat via a narrow win.
Local bet Tom Hebert defeated Mario Rodwald (North, GER) in the 28th heat also after a tight game but Hebert’s win would only proved futile after Aussie rider Yates knocked out his hope for a podium spot in the 30th heat. Meanwhile, Cesar Portas (North, ESP) knocked out team mate Reno Romeu (North, BRA) in a game of switch tricks in the 29th heat.
Reigning 2008 world champion Aaron Hadlow (Flexifoil, UK) defeated Dmclaux in the 29th heat, then Portas in the 30th heat to start his climb up the ladder. The UK champ then overpowered Yates in the 31st heat to keep his title bid alive and then adding Alberto Rondina (Cabrinha, ITA) to the list of would-be hopefuls. It took an ever-determined Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED) to stop the charging Hadlow in the 33rd heat. Zoon won the heat with more powerful tricks and height advantage, landing a regular and switch slim, front mobe, front mobe to blind, shifty 3, mobe 5, hasselhof, an s-bend to blind and a double s-bend.
Zoon however, would succumb to the riding powers of title contender Kevin Langeree (Naish, NED) in the second to the last heat of the day. Zoon landed a regular and switch slim, mobe, 313, front mobe, blind judge with air pass, grab kgb, hasselhof, front mobe to blind, and a double s-bend. Langeree went all the way with a regular and switch kgb, grab 313, mobe, grab mobe, mobe to wrap, double back mobe, blind judge with air pass, grab s-bend, grab kgb, double s-bend and a blind judge. It was a close heat but the judges ruled a 3-0 decision in favor of Langeree for variety and tech grab moves.
In the men’s final round, Alex Pastor (Naish, ESP) landed a regular and switch slim/kgb, mobe, front mobe to blind, kgb to blind, and hasselhof but Langeree landed a grab 313, regular and switch front mobe/kgb, double s-bend, front mobe to blind,, grab s-bend, and a blind judge with air pass. Langeree took the first round with more technical moves (grabbed) moves.
In the second men’s final, Langeree landed a mobe to wrapped, kgb, grab back to blind air pass, front mobe to blind and a kgb but crashed a double back mobe, kgb to blind, a front mobe 5 attempt and a blind judge 5.
In the women’s 18th heat event, Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP) was well and truly beaten in the heat with Karolina Winkowska landing some powerful moves. In a show of support and true sportsmanship, Gisela’s dad was already packing up her gear before the heat was even finished while the Spanish rider had to be rescued and brought back to the beach.
Congratulations to the new PKRA World Champions!
