Cabarete Kiteboarding Worldcup 2003

(June 29, 2003-Cabarete, Dominican Republic)- With the Freestyle tension lifted off the riders, a more relaxed atmosphere prevailed. Sunday spectators filled the beach in anticipation of a recreational afternoon with beach entertainment, where families could gather and enjoy the day. The PKRA Best Trick delivered just that, and the pace, was loose and cool...the perfect antidote after a long weeks competitive work.

A non-compulsory event, willing riders signed up to display their wares in this secondary discipline. Best Trick is favored for its benefit of being a forum to try tricks that the riders have either mastered, or are attempting to master, to add to their Freestyle arsenal. 17 women and 25 men entered, and with 20-25 knot winds, the action was sure to pacify a Sunday afternoon!

A gated course was set up to allow the riders a through-fare in which to throw down their tricks, either starboard, or port tack. 2 heats of 20 minutes each for the Women allowed ample time for them to pass the gates and try to impress the judges with tricks in both directions. The men's heats were broken up into five 12-minute heats.

Riders and spectators cheered as the competing riders laid down serious moves! Six women and seven men (due to a tie), were advanced, to a Finals round, 20 minutes each, for the Men and Women. Advancing into the Finals:

Men's Best Trick Finalists: (alphabetically)
Mark DOYLE USA Slingshot
Jaime HERRAIZ ESP North
Will JAMES USA North
Abel LAGO ESP Naish
Andre PHILLIP ANT Cabrinha
Mark SHINN UK Naish
Martin VARI ARG Cabrinha

Women's Best Trick Finalists: (alphabetically)
Claire BUNTON UK Takoon
Ingrid KOLLBICHLER AUT
Daphnee LALIBERTE CAN Naish
Suzanne MAI DR Takoon
Cindy MOSEY NZL North
Andrea WHARRY UK Flexifoil

In the Women's Final, the women demonstrated their push forward in the new style and realm that the sport has taken this year. Spectators and co-riders were treated to solid moves: like quadruple spins, forward rolls one-footed, board varios, Hoochie glides, 720 kite loops powered and surface handle-passes from a raley initiated toe side!(Guess who...)

In the Men's Final, all eyes were glued to the water and rider performances as they pushed the envelope in the sport, attempting maneuvers each found difficult and only recently, if ever, seen in kiteboarding competition. Young Niccolo Porcella, traveling with his father, Pietro (the event MC), enlightened the crowd with the names of the moves being performed- at the same time reciting the 'new school' dictionary of terms in kiteboarding! The breakdown included KGB's, Slim Chances, a double handle pass (by guess who-), 720 Mobes, a Pete Rose, a 313 and handle passes with kite loops! Unfortunate are those that lose their kites during a move, as they are subsequently disqualified for the rest of the heat...such was the case for one Herraiz, who later was the one to pull the smooth Pete Rose! (We all saw it!)

More unfortunate, the winners will not be announced until tomorrow evenings closing ceremony! Stay tuned...

Scheduled for tomorrow, a skippers meeting at 12:30pm, at KiteXcite for a Wave Expression session at Encuentro, with a $1000 prize on the line!