The Kone PWA 2004 Bercy Indoor

Saturday March 27, 2004

The return of indoor windsurfing to its spiritual home, Bercy stadium in Paris, thrilled French crowds during an incredible night of extreme windsurfing action. In a night where the new generation PWA sailors went to battle against the experienced old guard, young guns Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde) and Kauli Seadi (AHD, Naish) came through victorious in the freestyle and jump, with Robby Naish (Naish) showing he is still a formidable force on the water, storming to victory in the slalom.

JUMP
The three man jump final saw an incredible battle between experienced indoor veterans Robby Naish of Hawaii and French favourite Eric Theime who were challenged by the explosive Kauli Seadi of Brazil. With the best two of three jumps counting, all three sailors played it safe in the opening bout with forward loops. In the second round Theime, clocked up more safe points opting for a table top, Naish nailed another forward whilst Seadi risked a more difficult back loop but crashed in the process. The final round of jumps saw Robby nail a tweaked out table top and Theime raise his game with a spiralling one handed forward. With Naish holding a clear lead, Seadi needed to produce something outrageous for the final jump of the evening to stand a chance of challenging for the jump title. Willed on by the screaming French crowds the unpredictable Brazilian answered with an insane air chacho, clocking up a massive 28 points which gave him victory over Naish by the narrowest of margins.

Thieme one Handed
Courtesy of Brendan Pyatt

SLALOM
In the four man slalom final, Robby stormed ahead straight off the ramp with Albeau hot on his heals. After a hectic pile up at the first gybe Campello emerged in second place with Naish holding a clear lead way out in front. Racing giant Antoine Albeau put the pressure on in the closing stages and managed to snake into second ahead of Campello, to clinch second behind Naish.

FREESTYLE
An incredible flaka and a perfect grubby were the two moves which confirmed victory for PWA freestyle world champion Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde) in the freestyle finals. Progressive French young gun Nicholas Akgazciyan (AHD, Neil Pryde) took second also nailing a flaka and a willy skipper 360. Akgazciyan could have won if he had landed a radical switch stance chahco, the only one attempted of the evening. Campello’s Margarita training partner, ‘Chao’ Diaz took the remaining podium position nailing an impressive flat water forward, a slick grubby and a flaka.

Kauli Seadi’s air chacho, the final jump of the evening, appropriately was the show stopping move which brought the 2004 Bercy indoor to a dramatic climax. The PWA young gun sent the French crowds into a frenzy after leapfrogging his way into victory in the jump contest over ex world champion Robby Naish. It was Naish However who came away with the overall indoor victory with the combined results of the slalom and jump competitions.

Seadi and Campello will be leaving France as soon as possible to compete in the next event on the PWA tour calendar the The PWA Hawaii Pro, Presented by Severne Sails which kicks of on Monday 29th of March. Stay tuned to the PWA we site for all the news pictures and results brought to you daily when the event kicks off!

RESULTS:

JUMP
1. Kauli Seadi (Naish, AHD)
2. Robby Naish (Naish)
3. Eric Thieme (Neil Pryde)

SLALOM
1. Robby Naish (Naish)
2. Antoine Albeau (Neil Pryde, AHD)
3. Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde)

FREESTYLE
1. Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde)
2. Nicholas Akgazciyan (AHD, Neil Pryde)
3. Douglas Diaz (North Fanatic)

OVERALL RESULTS
1. Robby Naish (Naish)
2. Kauili Seadi (AHD, Naish)
3. Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde)