What a phenomenal 5 days of contest here at the AWT final tour stop at Ho’okipa Maui! Everyone was in agreement that there hadn’t been a competition like it at Ho’okipa for a very long time. The biggest names in windsurfing from back in the day put up a fierce fight and an epic show against some of the top new names in the sport.[more]
With 120 entrants, from 24 countries, 60 amateur competitors, 20 female sailors and a who’s who in the Professional division, this event was destined from the outset to be a very, very special few days. Combining the incredible entry list with some all-time Ho’okipa conditions with waves in the 12-15 foot region, spectators and competitors alike were treated to a spectacle that I don’t think any of us will be forgetting anytime soon!
Waves. Wind. World-class windsurfers. All three ingredients came together for the final day of competition at the AWT’s Maui Makani Classic. Following the 11:15 start, head judge Matt Pritchard ran competitors through amateur, master, and pro heats, culminating in an epic super-final between Bernd Roediger and Kevin Pritchard in lulling winds and glassy waves. The result? The 16-year-old upsets the wily veteran in two closely matched double elimination finals.
