2015 Master of the Ocean Fires on All Cylinders

Photo: Jason Keller Hudson

Day two of the 2015 Master of the Ocean started with the semifinals of the surf and stand-up paddle categories. As forecasted, the swell held up overnight and delivered plenty of rippable waves for the competitors.

Both Fiona Wylde and Zane Schweitzer, winners of 2014 Master of the Ocean title, won their semi-final heats in the stand-up paddle and surf categories. They now will now face each other in the overall finals tomorrow for the stand-up paddle category. Local Dominican surf champion Brandon Sanford strong performance in stand-up paddle, kitesurf and surf also helped him advanced to the finals.

Six Master of the Ocean teams consisting of four athletes each competing in one category a piece started their bid for the title today as well with the surf team members starting it off. By mid afternoon the wind had begun to come in and spectators were stoked to watch competitors attack the waves in the kitesurfing semifinals and the windsurfing quarterfinals with relentless abandonment. The Dominican kitesurfers dominated in the kitesurfing semi-finals and advancing into the finals tomorrow will be Emmanuel Rondon, Luciano Gonzales, Samuel Perez Hults and Franklin Mieses Montan.

Hometown favorite Emmanuel Rondon who was 2008 and 2009 Master of the Ocean title qualified for both the kite and windsurf finals, was given much love by the crowd, which boosted his confidence and raised the bar out on the water.

With the DJ rocking out on pulsing reggae beats, the tone was set for the windsurfing quarter and semifinals. Competitors used the stronger afternoon winds and waves to preform mouth-dropping maneuvers that included big airs with front and back flips. Fiona Wylde excelled in this field and qualified for the finals, Zane Schweitzer also landed a spot in the overall windsurfing finals and will be joined by Israeli athlete Omri Hazor and Dominican favorite Samuel Perez Hults.

In the team kiting members quarter finals, Christo Salva and Diego Anta qualified for the finals as did Emmanuel Rondon for Team Terminator. The winner of the semifinals will be the third competitor in the upcoming team kite finals.