Aloha Classic Hotel Playa Sur El Medano Tenerife Grand Final Day 3
by International Windsurfing Tour 27 Oct 12:59 PDT
21 October – 1 November 2024
The final day delivered outstanding performances from both a sports legend and a potential future star.
The under 21 Pro Juniors and over 45 Masters categories were completed in logo-high waves and light cross-offshore winds.
Dunkerbeck Declared U21 Champion
Spain’s Liam Dunkerbeck secured a convincing win today in the Pro Junior Aloha Classic. He set a high standard on his initial wave with impressive top-to-bottom rail surfing, tail blows, and aerials, achieving a 7.6, the highest single wave score in the final. While many competitors struggled to connect multiple maneuvers on the waves, Dunkerbeck demonstrated excellent judgment in his choices. He picked a smaller wave, executed smooth turns, and finished with a 360 maneuver.
This year, Dunkerbeck’s superiority leaves no doubt he holds the title of the best U21 rider globally. He has triumphed in every event he has participated in, including Japan, Chile, Canary Islands, and now Hawaii. “I’m in the division for three consecutive years and have won every heat and final,” he explained. “My next focus will be the Pro Men’s division where I’m in the quarter finals. The upcoming heats will be tough, but I plan to enjoy myself and keep learning.”
Japan’s Hayata Ishii secured second place, solidifying his reputation with fearless performances at Hookipa. Ishii executed sharp aerials and a goiter during the final and would have posed a greater threat if he could locate waves with connecting sections.
Germany’s Marlon Maethner completed the podium in third, demonstrating aggressive riding on a sizable wave to earn a 6, the third-best wave score in the final. Japan’s Ryu Noguchi, despite a strong semi-final performance, seemed to feel the pressure in the finals when the others caught larger waves early, leading him to pursue smaller ones instead. Nonetheless, Noguchi should be encouraged by his remarkable progress in the Pro Men’s division, where he advanced all the way to Round 5 with an attacking style.
Teboul Wins an All-Goya Masters Final
Keith Teboul showcased impressive speed and fluidity as he tackled critical sections to defeat his fellow Goya riders. The standout participant exhibited a vertical approach and fin-releasing maneuvers on some of the largest sets of the day.
Teboul rode a new board, partly inspired by surfers’ styles such as Kai Lenny.
“This is a new board I created for this event. Paul and I have a healthy rivalry, and he was crafting all these boards, so I decided to build a floater for myself. It was only my second time using it,” he remarked.
“When I sail it correctly, it feels fantastic. I was using a thruster fin set that belongs to Kai. It’s a shift from my usual sailing style, but as long as I stayed close to the wave, I achieved good projection and speed along the line. I had to really surf the wave and analyze it differently,” shared the renowned board shaper.
Former World Champion and brand owner, Francisco Goya, finished in second place. Goya was still aggressively attacking critical sections and pushing hard on the rail, yet his waves simply provided fewer opportunities than Teboul’s.
“Sailing with friends brings out the best in everyone. My first event was in 1990 in Maui. I am eternally grateful to be involved for such a long time,” Goya reminisced.
Team rider Vincent Beauvarlet excelled in the competition, achieving third in the Masters category and tying for 17th in the Pro Men. Additionally, Fish Bowl Diaries water photographer and Goya staff member, Paul Karaolides, might receive some good-natured teasing from colleague Teboul after finishing 4th. Karaolides started strong, delivering excellent riding, but appeared to tire after two long days of shooting the event.
The forecast for Sunday suggests a lay day, with Monday looking promising as we move closer to finals day for Pro Men and Pro Women.
The Aloha Classic Wave Grand Final event continues until November 1 at Hookipa Beach Park in Maui, Hawaii.
Follow live competition scores on LiveHeats. The complete live broadcast will be available on the IWT Wave Tour YouTube channel and the official IWT event page. Stay connected through social media at @IWT_Wave_Tour and @PWAworldtour. The event also offers excellent free viewing options at Hookipa Beach Park.
