ALOHA CLASSIC – DAY 1

FIRST DAY OF COMPETITION AT HO’OKIPA – MEN GRAND MASTERS/WOMEN MASTERS
COMPETITORS FROM 13 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN 2005 STARBOARD ALOHA CLASSIC

Maui, Hawaii (USA) – Despite on and off heavy rain over
the entire day, over 200 people gathered today at Ho’okipa Beach Park, for
the first day of the 2005 Starboard Aloha Classic Wave Championships. Winds
were averaging 20kts and waves were averaging around 5 feet. With the
forecast for bigger waves, the 20th anniversary of the Aloha Classic is set
to provide great excitement and fun on and off the water. Around 90
competitors signed up, from 13 countries around the world, Argentina,
Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Holland, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Spain, USA, with the youngest, Bernd Roediger from Kihei,
Maui, (nine years) and the oldest, George Ward from Paia, Maui (61 years).
This truly stands for the spirit of this traditional Maui windsurfing
competition which brings the Grand Masters and the juniors together in one
event.

Today was the first day of on-water-action and saw the Men Grand Masters and
Women Masters Divisions, with 16 men and 6 women sailing.

The divisions were run in 4-man single elimination heats, with the top two
advancing saw some of windsurfing’s great names on the water at Ho’okipa,
like Klaus Simmer, Fred Haywood, Matt Schweitzer, Doug Hunt, and Buzzy
Kerbox.

Results:
MEN GRAND MASTERS.
In Round 1, Heat 1, Ralf Sifford and Buzzy Kerbox advanced to Round 2. Semi
Finals In Round 1, Heat 2, Yoshi Hasumi and Peter Sullivan advanced to Round
2 – Semi Finals In Round 1, Heat 3, Matt Schweitzer and Klaus Simmer
advanced to Round 2 – Semi Finals In Round 1, Heat 4, Yoshitaka Ikeda and
Bill Hogan advanced to Round 2 – Semi Finals

In Round 2, Heat 5, Ralf Sifford and Yoshi Hasumi advanced to Round 3 –
finals In Round 2, Heat 6, Yoshitaka Ikeda and Klaus Simmer advanced to
Round 3 – finals

In Round 3, Heat 7, The FINALS, 1st place goes to Ralf Sifford, 2nd place
goes to Yoshitaka Ikeda, 3rd place goes to Yoshi Hasumi, and 4th place goes
to Klaus Simmer.

As well as the Grand masters, the Women Masters heats were run today. The
occasional shower didn’t stop the wahines to charge for victory. Dressed in
Pompei’s beautiful mutil-colored rash guards (just shipped in from Italy
last week), they made quite a nice appearance. Previous Aloha Classic
winner, Maui’s own Jennifer Henderson turned out to be strong again at her
home spot.

Results:
WOMEN MASTERS:
In Round 1, Heat 1, Jennifer Henderson and Caroline Buckner advanced to
Round 2 – Finals In Round 1, Heat 2, Chihagi Chiu and Maria Giquel advanced
to Round 2 – Finals

In Round 2, Heat 3, The FINALS, 1st place goes to Jennifer Henderson, 2nd
place goes to Chihagi Chiu, and 3rd place goes to Maria Giquel, and 4th
place to Caroline Buckner. Tomorrow’s action is locked and loaded and ready
for action with MEN MASTERS and OPEN WOMEN hitting the water.

The 2005 Starboard Aloha Classic is set to run at Ho’okipa Beach Park,
starting on November 7th with registration, at Livewire Café in Paia,
followed by competition on November 8 through November 12, with Athletes
briefing 10am each morning, and competition starting at 11:00am, running
till 5pm.  The Division Schedule has already been drawn up starting with Men
Grand Masters and Women Masters running on Tuesday, November 8th; Men
Masters and Open Women on Wednesday, November 9th; Open Men running all day
on Thursday, November 10th; Menehune and Juniors running on Friday, November
11th; and lastly on Saturday, November 12th will be open to finish up any
division that didn’t complete previously, followed by the Awards Ceremony.
Registration forms are available at the shops, online, and at registration.

EVENT SUMMARY:
The Aloha Classic is one of the longest running wave sailing events in the
world. Since its inception in 1984, the Aloha Classic has been the
traditional finale of the Pro World tour. The top ranking international
competitors are invited to the Aloha Classic competing side by side with
Hawaii’s best.  The consistent trade winds and seasonally large surf make
the Aloha Classic the most popular destination for windsurfing media,
spectators and athletes. The Aloha Classic is the crown-jewel of wave
sailing events. Don’t miss the 2005, 20th anniversary edition, November
7-12, at Ho’okipa Beach Park, on Maui, Hawaii.

The historic 20th Anniversary of the Aloha Classic brings much needed focus
and attention on the youth and amateur market and is be the show case for up
and coming talent around the world.  In addition, Pros, past and present,
are be gracing this event, providing a high level of sportsmanship and
excitement to the world over, and inspiring the next generation of
windsurfers to take to the water.

SPONSORS:
20-156 Hawaii Clothing . Anthony’s Coffee . Cafe des Ami . Cafe Mambo .
Casanovas . Charlies Restaurant . County of Maui . Dakine . Fed Haywood
Realty . Fly.com . Gillo Sunglasses . Hot Sails Maui . Hula Grill . Hawaiian
Island Surf&Sport . Hawaiian Ocean Sports . Hali’imaile General Store .
Hi-Tech Surf Sports . Jacques Bistro . Kanaha Kai . Kimos . Live Wire Cafe .
Mamas Fish House . Maui Tacos . Maui Metal Works . Maui Ocean Center . Maui
Windsurf Company . Maui Windsurfing Association . Neil Pryde Maui . Paia
Fishmarket . Paia Pizza . Paul Ehman Productions . Polli’s . Pole Position
Reports . Pompei Beach Swimwear . Jim Sanders Realty . Ray Masters Studios .
Sailboards Maui . Second Wind Sail&Surf . Salon Synneve . Side Shore Media .
Sign Solutions . Simmer Style . Starboard . SoulRider . The POINT 101/Waki
Jaki . Wet Women . Windsurf Journal . WindsurfingClassifieds.com .
Windsurfing School of Maui

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.alohaclassicwindsurfing.com/