PKRA - Thailand, Hua Hin

Yo everybody,
Today was the first day of the new PKRA season!
The wind was pretty good and all the qualifications were done today.
We also did 2 races.
Check what the PKRA press release is:
(pictures are coming tomorrow)


Successful start to the 2011 PKRA World Tour season
Mar-14-2011

It was a beautiful, melting hot sunny day in Hua Hin, Thailand today. Competitors made their way to the beach early this morning in hopes of getting out on the water with the consistently increasing winds. By 1:00pm the wind speed reached a suitable strength for the racers to battle it out on the course.

A total of two races were completed today prior to the continuation of the freestyle Qualifier event, which was held over the past couple of days but due to the lighter wind conditions came to an end prior to finishing with results. In the men’s racing division it was an all around winning day for the 2010 PKRA World Racing champion Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA). Kerneur proved today that he is serious about defending his title by finishing 1st in both races. Bruno Sroka Cabrinha, FRA) had a great race today finishing 2nd in the first race and 4th in the final race of the day. Rolf Van der Vlugt (Airush, NED) received a DSQ (disqualification) in the first race for crossing the start line early but managed to shake off this error to take 2nd in the last race. It was a battle for third place between North riders Olivier Dansin (North, FRA) and Dirk Hanel (North, GER). In the first race Dansin managed to finish 3rd while Hanel followed closely behind in 4th. In the second race and final race of the day, Hanel managed to follow through with his strategic techniques to finish 3rd while Dansin fell four spots to 7th.

In the women’s division it was a successful winning day for Steph Bridge (North, GRB). Bridge used strategic tactics to speed her was across the finish line 1st in both races of the day. The first race of the day could have turned out differently for Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA) who managed to overtake Katja Roose (Airush, NED) in the final lap earning her 2nd place in the first and second race. Roose followed closely behind finishing 3rd in both races.

In the late afternoon as the wind was up and down making it difficult to run consistent heats, the freestyle Qualifier resumed and was completed followed by the main event freestyle trials. Four wildcards were given from the Qualifier to the top three winners; Hironubu Nakano (Japan), Mod Chanchan (THA) and Nung Hanjai (THA) while KTA competitor Yo Pudla (Ozone,THA) was given the 4th wildcard. Two women wildcards were also given, one was handed to local Thai rider Fon Jantawan (Cabrinha, THA) and the second went to Aya Oshima (Cabrinha, JPN) from the KTA.

The PKRA Freestyle Qualifier Trials were successfully completed where the top twelve riders advance into the freestyle single elimination.

The advancing riders are:

1. Mike Blomvall (Nobile, SWE)

2. Thomas Paris (North, FRA)

3. Marc Jacobs (Switch, NZL)

4. Stefan Spiessberger (North, AUT)

5. Robinson Hilario (F-ONE, D.R.)

6. Cesar Portas (North, ESP)

7. Mario Rodwald (North, GER)

8. Alex Soto (F-ONE, D.R.)

9. Christophe Tack (Liquid Force, NED)

10. Nils Wesch (Naish, GER)

11. Alvaro Onieva (Slinghot, ESP)

12. Mickael Neral (Slingshot, FRA)

RACING RESULTS

RACE # 1 MEN

1. Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA)

2. Bruno Sroka (Cabrinha, FRA)

3. Olivier Dansin (North, FRA)

4. Dirk Hanel (North, GER)

RACE # 2 MEN

1. Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA)

2. Rolf Van der Vlught (Airush, NED)

3. Dirk Hanel (North, GER)

4. Bruno Sroka (Cabrinha, FRA)

RACE # 1 WOMEN

1. Steph Bridge (North, GBR)

2. Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA)

3. Katja Roose (Airush, NED)

RACE # 2 WOMEN

1. Steph Bridge (North, GBR)

2. Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA)

3. Katja Roose (Airush, NED)



Tomorrow’s mandatory skipper’s meeting is scheduled for 10:30am with a 11:00am first possible start. For tomorrow's live results please visit: EXTREME ELEMENTS.TV

The Hua Hin Kiteboard World Cup 2011 event is sponsored in part by the Hua Hin Intercontinental Resort, BECL, tourismthailand.org, Prachuapkhirikhan, Hua Hin, KBA, Movenpick, HELLO!, Action Asia, emedia, EEA, KSA, International Herald Tribune, GAC, Nivea, Mont Clair, Yamaha, Thai Tap Water, HSBC, L’Occitane, PKRA World Tour, Tourism Board of Thailand, PKRA Asia, Official Guide Thailand, Singha Light.

Pictures of day 1 are online now! Check them here:
http://prokitetour.com/event-photos.php?id=105&Day=1

And off course you can check the pictures and the latest updates on the PKRA facebook page!:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/PKRA-World-Tour/127400413970019

Check the single elemination:




Follow it live on:
http://www.extremeelements.tv/live/brackets/view/1

Movie of Day 1:

Windless second day of competition
Mar-15-2011

It was yet another beautiful day here in Hua Hin, Thailand even though the wind decided to tease us by coming in and out most of the day. Riders as well as tourists, locals and hundreds of beach goers indulged in some of Mother Nature’s perfect gifts such as the beautiful blue skies and strikingly hot sunny weather while waiting for the wind to kick in for some thrilling kiteboarding action.

Even though competitors were on stand-by they spent the biggest part of the day chilling in the sun, standup paddling, and having fun on the beach.

The PKRA held an important meeting this afternoon with race competitors to discuss the validation of both the Open and Production board classes. A few teams have great results with their production boards, however the North race team such as Steph Bridge (North, GBR) Dirk Hanel (North, GER), Olivier Dansin (North, FRA) and Ozog Blazet (North, POL) are prime example of how exceptionally well they are doing in the production class and are ahead of their competitors. So far the North boards are performing very well, and hopefully we will see more competitors using their production boards. The prize money will be given to the Open class but there will be special recognition for the production class.

At 4:00pm PKRA race director, Erik Troostheide decided that it was in everyone’s best interest to release all competitors for the day due to the extremely light wind and take advantage of early morning predicted North Easterly wind.

Tomorrow’s wind forecast is looking great for the early morning hours therefore the mandatory riders meeting is set for 8:00am with an 8:30am first possible start.

The Hua Hin Kiteboard World Cup 2011 event is sponsored in part by the Hua Hin Intercontinental Resort, BECL, tourismthailand.org, Prachuapkhirikhan, Hua Hin, KBA, Movenpick, HELLO!, Action Asia, emedia, EEA, KSA, International Herald Tribune, GAC, Nivea, Mont Clair, Yamaha, Thai Tap Water, HSBC, L’Occitane, PKRA World Tour, Tourism Board of Thailand, PKRA Asia, Official Guide Thailand, Singha Light.

Pictures of day 2:
http://prokitetour.com/event-photos.php?id=105&Day=2

Movie of day 2:

For the moment it is raining. This morning we had enough wind do start the single elminination.
A lot of things happened like Marc Jacobs defeated World Champion in the second round.
Also Alex Pastor got beaten by Alvaro Onieva.

Stay tuned for more!

It was a gloomy overcast day here in Hua Hin, Thailand. Competitors made their way to the beach early this morning to take advantage of the sideshore Northwesterly winds. The wind and all around weather made for extremely difficult riding conditions. Freestylers were out on 12m-14m kites struggling against the strong current and gusty, shifting wind.

During the first and second round of heats, four men were battling it out on the water. The competition level this season is very high, every rider has his or her own unique sense of riding style but it is clear that the world title is up for grabs to all competitors.

In the women’s freestyle single elimination division it was a great day for Karolina Winkowska (Slingshot, POL). Winkowska defeated Aya Oshima (Cabrinha, JPN) leading her into the semi final round against Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) who eliminated Sofia Lennartsson (Ozone, SWE) in the second round. Holly Kennedy (North, GBR) defeated Aina Renolen (Gin, NOR) in the second round leading her directly into the semi finals against the 2010 freestyle world champion Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP).

In the men’s freestyle single elimination division it was a successful day for Dominican rider Alex Soto (F-ONE, D.R.). Soto eliminated Austrian rider Stefan Spiessberger (North, AUT) as well as Sebastien Garat (RRD, FRA) in the first set of heats but was later eliminated by Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED). Zoon is certainly one of the strongest competitors on tour defeating all his opponents today leading him into the semi final round against Alvaro Onieva (Slingshot, ESP). Onieva who has been absent from the tour for a couple of years is making a great comeback eliminating North riders Thomas Paris (North, FRA) and Reno Romeu (North, BRA) as well as last years world champion runner up Alex Pastor (Airush, ESP) in a series of consecutive heats. Swedish rider Mikael Blomvall (Nobile, SWE) had a good riding day, eliminating Thai rider Nung Hanjai and the 2010 Australian event champion Tom Hebert (North, NCL). Alberto Rondina (Cabrinha, ITA) put an end to Blomvall’s winning streak in the third round with a 5/0 judge’s decision. Cesar Portas (North, ESP) as had a successful day defeating two opponents, Thai rider Mod Chanchan as well as Michael Schitzhofer (Best, AUT) leading him into the third round against Marc Jacobs (Switch, NZL). Jacobs was definitively on top of his game today eliminating one of the Qualifier wildcards Yo Pudla (Ozone, THA) in the first round. In the second round Jacobs defeated the 2010 freestyle world champion Andy Yates (Slingshot, AUS). It was a very close heat with a 3/0 judge’s decision in favor of Jacobs.

During the final heat in the 3rd round the wind began to diminish significantly therefore race director Erik Troostheide abandoned the final heat and released the freestylers for the remainder of the day and move on to course racing. A total of two course races were completed today with wind averaging 12 knots. Racers were out on 14m-16m kites. There was a lot of confusion and tangles near the end of the first race of the day, which caused upsets in the results.

In the women’s race division the current race leader Steph Bridge (North, GBR) received a DNF in the first race due to the upset near the finish line leading Katja Roose (Airush, NED) to the first place position followed by Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA) in third. In the second race of the day Bridge crossed the finish line first followed by Roose in second and Adrien in third.

In the men’s race division Polish rider Tomek Janiak (RRD, POL) managed to take the lead finishing in first place while Rolf Van der Vlugt (Airush, NED) placed second followed by Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA) in third. In the second race of the day Rolf Van der Vlugt (Airush, NED) used a strategic technique which enabled him the lead in the last leg of the race overtaking his opponents in the final seconds of the race making it possible to cross the finish line in first place while Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA) followed closely behind in second place and Olivier Dansin (North, FRA) was inches back taking third.

Tomorrow’s wind forecast is looking much the same as today therefore the mandatory riders meeting is set for 8:00am with an 8:30am first possible start.

The Hua Hin Kiteboard World Cup 2011 event is sponsored in part by the Hua Hin Intercontinental Resort, BECL, tourismthailand.org, Prachuapkhirikhan, Hua Hin, KBA, Movenpick, HELLO!, Action Asia, emedia, EEA, KSA, International Herald Tribune, GAC, Nivea, Mont Clair, Yamaha, Thai Tap Water, HSBC, L’Occitane, PKRA World Tour, Tourism Board of Thailand, PKRA Asia, Official Guide Thailand, Singha Light.

Pictures of day 3:
http://prokitetour.com/event-photos.php?id=105&Day=3

Zoon and Pulido winners of Freestyle Single and Double Eliminations
Mar-17-2011

It was an extremely wet and wild day here in Hua Hin, Thailand. The competition got underway very early this morning in very gusty and extraordinarily fierce weather conditions. Thai natives have declared that these conditions are similar to a winter chaos storm in Europe which is extremely rare, uncommon and simply unheard of. Despite the particularly intense conditions the riders made the best out of what was handed to them by Mother Nature. The rider who can handle all or nothing weather conditions will be the one who comes out on top.

The men’s freestyle single elimination resumed this morning with Heat #20 Cesar Portas (North, ESP) versus Marc Jacobs (Switch, NZL). Jacobs defeated Portas leading him into the final heat against Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED). It was an action packed final as these two incredible riders battled it out not only against each other but also in the ferocious conditions. It was a very close final heat between Zoon and Jacobs. Zoon took the single elimination title due to his overall better execution of a variety of powered combo tricks. In the loser’s final Alvaro Onieva (Slingshot, ESP) was up against Alberto Rondina (Cabrinha, ITA). Both competitors were struggling with the conditions however Rondina took the win finishing the single elimination in 3rd place while Onieva takes 4th.

In the women’s freestyle division it was a great day for Karolina Winkowska (Slingshot, POL). Winkowska moved up the ladder very quickly defeating Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) in the semi final leading her to the final heat against the 2010 PKRA freestyle world champion Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP). Both riders executed a variety of powered tricks however Pulido takes the win for the freestyle single elimination while Winkowska finishes in second. Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) took on Holly Kennedy (North, GBR) in the loser’s final winning in a 5/0 judge’s decision.

A short intermission took place in order to make a few adjustments in preparation for the freestyle double eliminations. The double eliminations took off just before noon and wrapped up near 3:00pm. The conditions were as forceful as they were early this morning. During the double elimination the wind picked up significantly from 25 to 30 knots. Cesar Portas (North, ESP) won two consecutive heats defeating Belgian rider Christophe Tack (Liquid Force, BEL) as well as Reno Romeu (North, BRA) in the fourth round.

Two thumbs up for Spanish rider Alex Pastor (Airush, ESP) who was without a doubt on fire today winning 4 continuous heats eliminating Mario Rodwald (North, GER), Andy Yates (Slingshot, AUS), Cesar Portas (North, ESP), as well as Alvaro Onieva (Slingshot, ESP). Alberto Rondina (Cabrinha, ITA) defeated Pastor in his fifth consecutive heat enabling Rondina a chance to claim third place.

Brazilian rider Reno Romeu (North, BRA) was certainly on a roll today defeating three contenders in a series of heats leading him into the fourth round where his winning streak was ended by Portas. German rider Mario Rodwald (North, GER) had two great heats today defeating Thomas Paris (North, FRA) in the first round followed by Tom Hebert (North, NCL) in the second round but was also defeated by Pastor in the third round. The 2010 PKRA Freestyle World Champion Andy Yates (Slingshot, AUS) had a rough start in the single eliminations but proved that he wasn’t going to walk away from the doubles without putting up a fight. Yates defeated Austrian riders Stefan Spiessberger (North, AUT) as well as Michael Schitzhofer in the first two rounds followed by Alex Soto (F-ONE, D.R.) in the third round. Pastor who has been eliminating top riders on a winning streak put an end to Yates’ fast track to the final in the fourth round. Marc Jacobs (Switch, NZL) went on to fight Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED) for a second time in the final heat of the men’s freestyle double elimination. Both riders were riding to the best of their ability, landing super powered tricks however Zoon had an overall better execution and added finesse to defeat Jacobs. This event is the first ever PKRA event podium placement for Jacobs and the first PKRA event title of the 2011 PKRA world tour season for Zoon.

In the women’s freestyle double elimination division it was an all around exciting day for Asia Litwin (Nobile, POL). Litwin quickly climbed her way up the ladder eliminating Aina Renolen (Gin, NOR), Sofia Lennartsson (Ozone, SWE) as well as Holly Kennedy (North, GBR) consecutively earning her a spot against Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) for third place. Kajiya put an end to Litwin’s fast track to the top in the loser’s final, which enable her third place in the doubles while Litwin took fourth. Kajiya was then defeated by Karolina Winkowska (Slingshot, POL) who moved on to the final heat in the freestyle double elimination against Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP). It was an intense final heat where both riders competed with great power and style however Pulido yet again defeated Winkowska enabling her the first PKRA event title of the 2011 PKRA world tour season.

There’s a myth stating that the winner of the first event of the season normally predicates the PKRA freestyle world champion title… let’s see if that’s a fact or fiction!

Racers were released for the day at 3:00pm and the board-off discipline wrapped up the successful action packed day, results will be announced on Saturday. Tomorrow’s skipper’s meeting is set for 10:00am.

The Hua Hin Kiteboard World Cup 2011 event is sponsored in part by the Hua Hin Intercontinental Resort, BECL, tourismthailand.org, Prachuapkhirikhan, Hua Hin, KBA, Movenpick, HELLO!, Action Asia, emedia, EEA, KSA, International Herald Tribune, GAC, Nivea, Mont Clair, Yamaha, Thai Tap Water, HSBC, L’Occitane, PKRA World Tour, Tourism Board of Thailand, PKRA Asia, Official Guide Thailand, Singha Light.

Pictures day 4

SINGLE ELIMINTATION RESULTS

MEN’S FREESTYLE

1. Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED)

2. Marc Jacobs (Switch, NZL)

3. Alberto Rondina (Cabrinha, ITA)

4. Alvaro Onieva (Slingshot, ESP)

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE

1. Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP)

2. Karolina Winkowska (Slingshot, POL)

3. Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA)

4. Holly Kennedy (North, GBR)

DOUBLE ELIMINATION RESULTS

MEN’S FREESTYLE

1. Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED)

2. Marc Jacobs (Switch, NZL)

3. Alberto Rondina (Cabrinha, ITA)

4. Alex Pastor (Airush, ESP)

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE

1. Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP)

2. Karolina Winkowska (Slingshot, POL)

3. Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA)

4. Asia Litwin (Nobile, POL)

Excellent Reporting Ian. Good to have an inside PKRA-Hanglos-Admin

Spread the word.....Hanglos.net for the ultimate updates

Allright, it looks windy! In 30min it's skippersmeeting for the racers