Still got it!!!
Yesterday was the end of the double elimination, the day before I did one heat to put me in the 3rd round but yesterday they decided to run everything.
It was a long day starting at around 10, they decided to postpone it for another hour due to ‘the wind being too strong’ which was ridiculous. Luckily they got it together and the wind didn’t drop. I was on my 5.5 for the whole single elimination, well powered, it was great.
First I came up against Peter T from Russia, then in the Semi’s I was up against Alex Pastor, I had an amazing heat landing about 12 or so pass’ most with the kite slammed to the water because it was so windy and the 5.5 is so quick. I got some massive mega loops and also nailed some new tricks (bel air variations).
In the final I was up against Yuri Zoon who was on a big come back after a few knee opp’s and a year off the circuit. The wind picked up to its peak, I was struggling to keep an edge in the gusts, still on the 5.5!
I started the heat with one of my biggest mega loops of the day, then done a few tricks with real clean landings, I got a megaloop – unhook 3, then in the final minute went for a MegaLoop nose grab back roll – unhook 3, I missed the bar and the kite landed in my hands as the red flag signaled the end of the heat, I swam in confident I had done enough.
So I won the singles but then had to wait until the evening for the double, at about 7 my heat came around, again I was up against Yuri who had kept his position, I am happy that he has made a strong come back as his riding style has cred and he’s a cool guy.
In the final I had to take a 7 as the wind had dropped right off, I… (quoted from PKRA) “proved what a World Champion he really is by taking a 5-0 win against Zoon. The five-time champ kicked off the 2009 season in perfect style, packing his bag of tricks with a blind judge with aerial handle pass, s-bend to blind with air pass, back to blind air pass, front mobe, regular and switch slim/mobe/hasselhoff, huge kiteloops and the new bel air to blind airpass.” (my new tow edge pop trick)
It was a great event I loved having the crown on the beach screaming for the big Mega’s it drove me on, motivated me and made me really enjoy riding this event.
