With a promising forecast for the day, despite some scattered clouds that would roll through, organizers gave the green light to get the competition underway. Starting things off, men’s heats 1 through 3 took to the park and completed their round 1 hits on the Cabrinha Transfer Box, the North Up-Down and the North Cheesewedge to Corrugated.
Competitors eager to start the competition
Right out the gate it was clear that the competition would be tighter than ever with riders in men’s heat 1 going trick for trick and doing their best to increase the level of difficulty with each successive hit. Local, Brandon Scheid, was a standout from the men’s heat 1 scoring impressive hits on every slider in the park.
Brandon Scheid holding it down for his hometown.
Men’s heat 2 saw some of the toughest competition of the day and was stacked with four time Triple-S champion, Sam Light, young ripper, Noe Font, kiteboarding legend, Jesse Richman, as well as park aficionado, Craig Cunningham, who all put forth solid performances across the board.
Young rider, Noe Font giving the worlds top park riders a run for their money.
With the start of men’s heat 3, the front that had been looming on the horizon began to make it’s way closer to the park creating somewhat variable winds. Although riders had to come in and change kites, the winds held enough to get a solid result for all three sliders and it was previous freestyle world champion, Christophe Tack, who laid down the highest scoring hits of his heat.
Christophe Tack pulls out a few new moves.
For the women’s division, all eight ladies would ride in one heat competing on the features in the same order as the men did. They started with the Cabrinha Transfer Box but only completed their hits up to the North Up-Down due to the approaching front and unsettling winds. With solid performances from all the women today, they will resume their heat first thing Monday starting with the North Cheesewedge to Corrugated and then heading straight into the kickers.
Manuela Jungo Tee’d up on the North Up-Down.