Mercedes Aloha Classic Tag 1

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Nach einem langsamen Tagesbeginn mit leichten Winden und einem im Vergleich zur Prognose relativ geringen Wellengang belebten sich die Bedingungen während des Eröffnungstages des Mercedes-Benz Aloha Classic 2019 allmählich, und am Ende schwoll der Wellengang an, während der Wind viel stärker als erwartet wehte. Da der Swell jedoch aus dem Westen kam und der Wind manchmal leicht auflandig war, waren die Bedingungen schwierig mit kabbeligen Faces und Double-ups, die die Wellenauswahl entscheidend für den Erfolg machten. Women’s Two out of the three PWA World title contenders successfully negotiated their way into the final - Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) & Iballa Moreno (Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins), but current World No.2 - Justyna Sniady (Simmer / Simmer Sails / AL360) - was eliminated in the quarterfinals and it now looks a very long road back for the Pole to challenge for the world title. Joining Offringa and Moreno in the final were Motoko Sato (Starboard / Severne Sails), who looked extremely dangerous in the quarters and semifinals, and current world No.4 - Lina Erpenstein (Severne / Severne Sails) - who is competing in her first Aloha Classic. In the final, Moreno went for broke and came agonisingly close to scoring two waves in the excellent range. Crucially, however, the reigning world champion couldn’t quite hold on to her radical aerial attempt on her first wave, while she had to eject from the second, which left the door open for Offringa. The Aruban moved into the lead as she registered two solid mid-range waves, while she enhanced her position with her final wave as she started with a powerful opening turn before delivering a critically late hit to earn 7 points and effectively wrap up the final with the other girls stuck on the inside with the wind dropping.  Victory in the Single Elimination sees Offringa edge closer to a maiden wave world title, but things remain incredibly tight at the top and it now looks as though it will be a straight fight between Offringa and Moreno for this year’s world title. Given how Iballa sailed today you would have to say that the title race remains very open and there should be a fascinating finale to decide this year’s title.  Sato, who set the highest score of the day - 14.12 points - in the quarterfinals eventually claimed the final place on the podium in the Single Elimination with Erpenstein completing the top 4. Some will be wondering where multiple-time Aloha Classic and IWT Champion - Sarah Hauser (Tabou / S2Maui) finished as she missed out on the top 5 in the single, but she was involved in an incredibly tight opening semifinal with Moreno, Sato, Tatiana Howard (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing), which could have seen any of the 4 women progress. By the end of the heat, just 0.39 of a point separated second to fourth and you wouldn’t bet against the 30-year-old staging a come back through the Double Elimination.  In terms of the IWT title race, Hauser’s semifinal exit means that current tour leader - Mariah Andrés (Fanatic / Duotone) - has not been fully punished for her quarterfinal exit and the Spaniard still remains in with a chance of claiming the overall title. However, she will be aware that she will need to improve her ranking in the double, while Arrianne Aukes (Fanatic / Duotone / Maui Ultra Fins) - who came into the event ranked second - also remains in contention. Men’s The first round of the Men’s Single Elimination didn’t really produce any major upsets, but the standout from the first round was former Aloha Classic Champion - Levi Siver (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing) - who set the highest score of the day with 16.37 points after showing off trademark turns, aerials and 360s. The other standouts from the first round were 2016 Aloha Classic Champion - Kevin Pritchard (Goya Windsurfing / Ezzy) - and Kai Lenny, who looks like he could be a real threat for the Aloha Classic Crown - especially with the swell expected to increase in size throughout the night and into Monday - he will now be up against Alex Mussolini (RRD / RRD Sails), Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails) and Diony Guadagnino (AHD / Loftsails) in the round of 32. Antony Ruenes (Tabou / GA sails) - who is competing in his first Aloha Classic - also looked to be in decent form. In the opening heat of the second round - Antoine Martin (JP / NeilPryde) looked very dangerous as he linked fluid rail-to-rail turns with a variety of aerials to win the heat ahead of local boy Jake Schettewi (JP / Hot Sails Maui), who also sailed well. With Martin successfully advancing the 26-year-old remains in control of the IWT title race - although multiple-time Aloha Classic Champion - Morgan Noireaux (JP / NeilPryde) is yet to sail. During Heat 9 the waves were pumping with several mast high sets rolling through Ho’okipa, which led to the sailors in Heat 10 waiting out the back for a solid set to arrive. However, as the minutes ticked by there was no sign of a set arriving, so Ricardo Campello (Brunotti) showed excellent tactical awareness to quickly notch up two solid wave scores on smaller waves to put himself comfortably in the lead. After waiting it out - Graham Ezzy (Tabou / Ezzy) - finally got himself on the board with a variety of turns and the local eventually stole the heat win with a quick second wave. Klaas Voget (Fanatic / Duotone) had his opportunity in the dying seconds, but crucially just went out the back on his frontside 360, which proved to be the difference between progressing or not. Ezzy and Campello will now face Martin and Schettewi in the next round.  The swell is only expected to increase overnight - from 4-6ft to 6-9ft @ 16 seconds - so Monday has all the hallmarks of being a potential classic with the trade winds expected to continue . The skippers’ meeting has been called for 10:15am (GMT-10) tomorrow morning with the action commencing from 11am onwards. To stay up to date with all the latest developments from Maui — including the live stream, elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker simply click HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page. Result 2019 Mercedes-Benz Aloha Classic - Women's Single Elimination 1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Iballa Moreno (ESP | Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Motoko Sato (JPN | Starboard / Severne Sails)
4th Lina Erpenstein (GER | Severne / Severne Sails)
5th Angela Cochran (USA)
5th Tatiana Howard (USA | Quatro / Goya Windsurfing)