KIA @coldhawaii World Cup – Day three: Scale breaking waverides and colossal jumps put Philip Koster in the top spot in Klitmoller, and with three event wins under his belt, he walks away as the 2011 men’s world wave champion.

Klitmoller is blessed with a third day of world class wavesailing conditions, allowing the PWA crew to pick up the action where they left off yesterday, and the remaining twelve sailors to fly, spin and slash their way through the double elimination.

With the winds still blowing strong and the waves slightly cleaner than yesterday, the judges opted to keep the format the same with two jumps and two rides counting towards the sailor’s scores.

Double elimination

First onto the water was Brit John Skye (RRD / MFC), against a very on form Kevin Mevissen (Mystic). Having battled his way from the bottom of the ranks, Mevissen was eager to continue with his winning streak. Both sailors launched into their finest jumps, matching each other on points and then spent their time working on the waves, in the end it came down to a 3-2 decision from the judges with Mevissen just taking the advantage for his super-clean pushloop.

On the other side of the elimination, Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360) went head to head with Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra). Bruch opened the heat with a double forward and a backloop, whilst Williams opted to focus on waves. The pair continued with this strategy for the whole heat and their scores were fairly similar throughout, until Bruch managed to score an amazing wave in the closing seconds, knocking Williams out of the competition.

The tight heats continued with local boy Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer / Mystic), taking on Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC). The pair matched each other move for move, but eventually Danielsen’s local knowledge pulled through and he hit the steepest ramp sending him skywards. Danielson’s superb sailing saw him blitz past Mevissen in the following heat and on to face France’s Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra).

Having taken down Phil Horrocks (JP / Gaastra), Traversa was full of confidence when it came to facing deadly Bruch. The pair matched each other on the jumping front, but Traversa secured two amazing wave rides by flowing effortlessly from rail to rail, to secure his pass into the next round.

Tremendous Traversa continued with his warpath through the double elimination, bumping his score all the way up to fourth place. Danielson was next to fall victim to Traversa’s frontside aerials and super-tweaked forward loops. Brazilian Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde) put up a big fight, by selecting the largest waves in the heat but Traversa was obviously in his element and enjoying the onshore port tack conditions.

Having sailed four astounding heats, Traversa was still firing with all guns blazing in his heat against Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins), throwing big backside aerials and super aggressive frontside hits, whilst Koster spent the first half of the heat looking slightly underpowered. However in one swift minute Koster stormed into the lead with a perfect bolt upright double forward loop and a humongous backloop, allowing him to advance onto face the 2010 world champion Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North).

Just one heat separated Koster from the world title, if he defeated Fernandez Lopez he would walk away as the 2011 world champion, and if he lost, Fernandez Lopez would be in with a chance of taking the title. Not one to let the pressure get the better of him Koster, sailed the heat of his life, with a planning double forward loop, a backside 360 and reverse on one wave. Shortly after Koster was awarded the 2011 world champion title, having won the heat with a 5-0 decision from the judges.

Final

However the battle wasn’t quite over and he still had to face Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) for first place. With the adrenaline pumping through his veins, Koster wowed the crowds with his scale-braking wave rides where he was awarded twelve points for one ride that included an insane one-handed goiter and a taka. Campello tried his hardest to slay the master with his double forward but there was no stopping the wonder kid. Aware of how the heat had gone, Campello made his way back to the beach to prepare for the super-final.

Super-final

The hard work wasn’t over for Koster In order to win the event; he had to defeat Campello for a second time. Obviously enjoying his moment, Koster went on to up his game even higher as he launched into a wave 360 where he landed back in the wave, and then he boosted straight into a huge double forward on the way out. Campello replied with a monster double forward in front of the judges, but Koster was on fire.

Having sailed four mind-blowing heats, Koster was awarded the world title and the event win to the cheers from the crowds on the beach.

Words from the world champion

Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins)
“I feel amazing, I can’t believe it, it’s a dream come true. I am so happy I have won another event and now I am the world champion. I can’t imagine a better day, I am so stoked!”

What’s the plan?

With the official competition completed and four days still to go, there will be plenty of action to keep you entertained, starting with the SURF magazine super-session. The skippers’ meeting will kick off at 1pm with the first possible start at 2pm. The sailors will be throwing their biggest and most daring moves for a taste of the prize money.

The 2011 PWA KIA @coldhawaii World Cup Results
1^st Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins)
2^nd Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
3^rd Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North)
4^th Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)
5^th Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde)
6^th Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer / Mystic)
7^th Kevin Mevissen (Mystic)
7^th Daniel Bruch (Patrik / Severne / AL 360)
9^th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)
9^th John Skye (RRD / MFC)
9^th Phil Horrocks (JP / Gaastra)
9^th Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC)

The 2011 Men’s overall results
(after 3 events)
1^st Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins)
2^nd Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
3^rd Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde)
4^th Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North)
5^th Daniel Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL 360)
6^th Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC)
7^th Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)
8^th Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra)
9^th Marcilio Browne (Fanatic / North / MFC)
10^th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)

Scope the action

For more information on all the entrants, and to keep up to date with every piece of the action, click on www.pwaworldtour.com

Here you can use our:

– Live ticker service for heat-by-heat bulletins

– Check live elimination ladders

– View results

– Read daily news summaries

– Browse awesome action photo galleries

– Follow the event live, with top class commentary from pros and industry insiders.

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