Blue Planet
Diamond Head Pro Am, June 12-13, 1999
| Pro Men: |
Pro Women: |
|
1. Pascal Bronnimann
(Switzerland)
2. Fabrice Beaux
(France-Kailua)
3. Sean Aiken (Maui)
4. Clay Wiggins
(Honolulu)
5. Kai Katchadourian (Maui) |
1. Kelly Moore (Maui)
2. Sonja
Evensen (Norway-Kailua)
3. Jennifer Henderson (Maui)
4. Dora Bria
(Brazil)
5. Claudia Manno (Italy) |
|
Pascal Bronnimann blasting an aerial, Brian Kim
Photo
|
Kelly Moore slashing
, Brian Kim photo |
| Amateur Men: |
Amateur Women: |
1. Nathan Mershon (Maui)
2. Jeff
Fleming (Kauai)
3. Arnaud Bossuyt (France)
4. tie-Bob Bohn
(Honolulu)
4. tie-Kris Sexton (Honolulu) |
1. Deborah Schulman (Honolulu)
2.
Yukiko Sato (Japan-Honolulu)
3. Lorenn Walker (Waialua)
4. Joan
Forester (Aiea)
5. Karen Liliker (Honolulu) |
|
|
|
Masters (40+):
1. Mike Dale (Honolulu)
2. Danny Gauen (Honolulu)
3. Byron
Kitkousky (Honolulu)
4. Randy Gersten (Waialua)
5. Tom Watkins
(Honolulu)
|
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Light winds and nice clean 3-5 foot surf made this year’s Blue Planet Diamond
Head Pro-Am a surfer’s dream. Big sails and floaty boards were necessary and
worked well for the top competitors. After 2 rounds of the Pro Men,
Switzerland’s Pascal Bronnimann and French local boy Fabrice Beaux were tied
with the leading scores. The stage was set for a showdown, "mano a mano." Though
their sailing styles differed, it was a close heat with an aggressive Bronnimann
and a stylistic Beaux matching wave for wave. However, by unanimous decision,
the judges voted Bronnimann the victor after pulling off an impressive forward
in the light wind conditions. Yet despite the upset win by Bronnimann, Beaux
continues to lead in the 1999 US National Wave Sailing Championship Tour. Sean
Aiken, who landed 1st at Mokuleia but 3rd at Diamond Head,
still leads Beaux for the Hawaiian Windsurfing Championship Tour.
In the Amateur Men’s division, Jeff Fleming of Kauai was on a mission since
he had missed the first round of competition on Saturday. He placed
1st in the second round when as one of the few wave sailors and the
only Amateur, he was able to execute a back loop in the event’s light wind
conditions. Despite his incredible efforts, Nathan Mershon of Maui cemented both
his National and Hawaiian Tour leads with his overall 1st place
victories.
For the Pro Women, the local advantage did not pay off with top spots going
to non-local competitors. After three rounds of heated competition, National
Tour leader Kelly Moore of Maui secured her 1st place national lead
and now ranks 2nd in the Hawaiian Tour. Norwegian local girl Sonja
Evensen slashed her waves strongly into second. Despite the fact that Jocelyn
Hrkach of Maui and Jennifer Webb of Honolulu did not place in the top five at
the Diamond Head event, they still lead the Hawaiian Tour with 1st
and 3rd places, respectively.
Congratulations to the Amateur Women who were able to round up enough of
their peers to create their own division for the first time in Hawaiian
Windsurfing Championship Tour history. Lorenn Walker secures her first place
lead in the Hawaiian Tour with her 5th place win at Mokuleia and her
3rd place victory at the Diamond Head event.
The Masters always provide a show with heated competition between its 40+
year old competitors. Mike Dale of Honolulu finally beat out the strong wave
riding performance of Danny Gauen of Kailua. This makes Dale tied with Randy
Gersten for 1st overall in the Hawaiian Tour with Byron Kitkousky
consistently placing 3rd at both Mokuleia and Diamond Head, making
him 3rd in the Hawaiian Tour.
Congratulations to all competitors for their efforts. The last stop for the
National Tour is at Pistol River, OR, June 24-28, and the last event for the
Hawaiian Tour is October 9-10 at Hookipa, Maui.
Aloha,
Josh Seymour
Event Director