Sal Island, Cape Verde ”” December 5, 2011: Waking to strong winds and a meager swell at both Ponta Preta and Secrets, event directors deemed the day’s conditions uncontestable for the KSP’s Kite Surfing World Championships. Rather than forcing a contest in less-than-favorable conditions, a fun laid back expression session ensued ”” the second consecutive Super Session on this fourth day of the event’s 10-day holding period.
On Sal Island’s southeastern shore, Kite Beach provided the venue where competitors took to the water mid-day. Amidst onshore winds and small surf, KSP riders showcased the progressive side of kite surfing, battling it out in 12-minute-long heats. Two men’s heats kicked things off, followed by one women’s heat, then a men’s final.
With a plethora of powered and technical tricks, Airton Cozzolino (Italy/North) ”” who trains regularly in Cape Verde ”” and Bear Karry (USA) advanced from the first heat to the finals, where they met up with local riders Jose Djo Silva (Cape Verde/F-One) and Matchu Almeida (Cape Verde/North) who threw an equally impressive array of stylish, fluid moves.
The sole women’s heat followed, which included Adriana Harlan (Hawaii) ”” who won yesterday’s Super Session in the head-high surf at Secrets ”” Ines Correia (Portugal), Kirsty Jones (United Kingdom/North), Kristin Boese (Germany/Best), Maayke Tadema (Netherlands/Best) and Odile Cavin (France). With her fluid wave riding, a variety of progressive moves and attempting some high-difficulty tricks such a 360 shove-it transition, Jones took the win. Adriana Harlan and Odile Cavin earned second and third, respectively.
Then in a non-stop barrage of progressive maneuvers in the Men’s Final, the American Karry faced three hometown riders: Almeida, Cozzolino and Silva. Just about every trick in the book went down, ranging from air reverses, ole 360s, handle passes and shove-its to board varials, body varials, re-entries, massive ollies, innovative transitions, melan backroll 180 body varials and much more. Cozzolino took the win in the close matchup, with Almeida, Silva and Karry placing second through fourth, respectively.
At night Villaggi Bravo threw a beach party, where KSP riders and staff partied well into the night.
Coupled with a minimal swell, wind is expected to be lighter tomorrow. Event directors will re-assess conditions and make the first call at 9:30 a.m. via the live web stream (broadcasting on kspworldtour.com/live).
2nd Matchu Almeida (CBV/North)
3rd Jose Djo Silva (CBV/F-One)
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The KSP 2011 Ponta Preta Kite Surf Pro is supported by Camera Municipal do Sal, Cape Verde Investment Promotion Agency, CVTelecom, Melia Tortuga Beach, Villaggi Bravo, Cabocan,TAP Portugal, ASA, APP, Sal Affitti and BoinxTV. The KSP World Championship Tour is sponsored by ION and Vitamizzer.