PWA FREESTYLE KING OF THE CARIBBEAN FINALE

Finals Concluded In Spectacular Fashion…

Tuesday December 17, 2002
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The PWA freestyle finals concluded in spectacular fashion yesterday
afternoon after Tonki Frans (Gaastra, AHD) closed out the event with his
final move the Chacho in the mens’ third round final. The move ensured the
King of the Caribbean title for the local sailor in front of his home
crowd and celebrations are in order at tonights closing ceremony. Tonki
Frans has impressed the judges all week with his smooth seemingly
effortless style and the chacho in the final heat of the competition was a
fantastic way to close the event.

Matt Pritchard (Gaastra, AHD) will also be in high spirits after clinching

the overall PWA Freestyle title after yesterdays performance. Pritchard
has fought his was through the season with dedicated passion and came to
Bonaire with winning the title as his main mission. Despite a spirited
comeback from his prime challenger Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde) of
Venezuela, Pritchard won his way through vital heats yesterday against
Konan Lang (Naish) and Nik Baker (Mistral, North) to ensure the championship.

Pritchard also ran away with second place in the King of the Caribbean
battle here in Bonaire. The twenty-nine year old Californian sailor did
enough to stay ahead of young Douglas Diaz (Fanatic, North) who finished
narrowly behind in third.

TONKI FRANS
I am not a great one for speeches. All I can say is thanks to all the
sponsors and all the people who put in the hard work to make this event
happen!

MATT PRITCHARD
I definitely had a lot of pressure coming here especially when Kevin won
the wave title and the Formula worlds. He has been telling me how I have
got to keep it in the family name. I have trained very hard for this
event. I did everything I possibly could to prepare myself and coming here
I knew that I was as ready as I could be, there was not one thing I had
missing. I had back up boards and all my sails tuned perfectly. I knew all
the young guys were going to be pulling off some pretty sick stuff but
what it all comes down to is that six minutes! It is making the moves in
those six minutes when the pressure really is on. Thats where I think my
consistency really shined through. I was able to pull off the moves when I
needed to pull them off.

RICARDO CAMPELLO
The first round here was really bad for me. I dont know what happened to
me. In the other two rounds I did OK. I needed a discard to win the
contest here but that was bad luck!

In the womens title chase it was Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows) who came out on
top after a riveting battle with Colette Guadagnino (JP, Neil Pryde) of
Venezuela. After four rounds of intense competition the two sailors were
neck and neck and the title chase all boiled down to the final heat of the
day yesterday afternoon. In the end it was Jaggi who held her nerve and
produced the performance that won the judges’ favor.

The level of sailing in the PWA freestyle finals here in Bonaire has
literally gone through the roof. Mind boggling tricks and routines largely
inspired from the younger sailors competing on the PWA tour have brought
the standard to a new all time high.

Bonaire is now officially on the map as one of the freestyle capitols of
the world! Not only has it delivered amazing conditions but it has also
revealed to the world its huge array of home grown talent amongst its
youngsters. Tonki and Tati Frans have proved that they are world-class
talents and their success here in Bonaire will inspire many of the local
kids to follow in their tracks.

KARIN JAGGI
It was a very close competition. I came here early and learned a lot
because it was windy before the event. The first two days I completely
lost it. I dont know why really. I think I relaxed after that a little
bit. In the end I think I was sailing as good as I could. At the end it
was super tight and I was super stoked to win!

COLETTE GUADAGNINO
It has been a great event here. The organization has been great, the water
has been warm, its been sunny and windy every day you cant ask for more!

FINAL MENS RESULTS: KING OF THE CARIBBEAN

1. Tonki Frans (Gaastra, AHD)
2. Matt Pritchard (Gaastra, AHD)
3. Douglas Diaz (Fanatic, North)
4. Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde)
5. Robby Swift (JP, Neil Pryde)

MENS FINAL OVERALL FREESTYLE RANKINGS 2002

1. Matt Pritchard (Gaastra, AHD)
2. Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde)
3. Nik Baker (Mistral, North)
4. Robby Swift (JP, Neil Pryde)
5. Tonki Frans (Gaastra, AHD)

FINAL WOMENS RESULTS: QUEEN OF THE CARIBBEAN

1. Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows)
2. Colette Guadagnino (JP, Neil Pryde)
3. Tanja Emig (RRD)
4. Julia Duetsch (Naish)

WOMENS FINAL OVERALL RANKINGS 2002

1. Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows)
2. Colette Guadagnino (JP, Neil Pryde)
3. Daida Moreno (Mistral, North)
4. Tanja Emig (RRD)
5. Angela Martinez (Neil Pryde, Naish)