Aloha Classic Hotel Playa Sur El Medano Tenerife Grand Final Day 1
by International Windsurfing Tour 25 Oct 13:09 PDT
21 October – 1 November 2024
Aloha Classic Hotel Playa Sur El Medano Tenerife Grand Final © Fish Bowl Diaries
Day 1 of the Aloha Classic Playa Surf CBbC Hotel Grand Final in Hawaii delivered thrilling mast-high waves. With dreams of world titles on the line, the action was intense, though the light, slightly onshore wind posed challenges for less experienced competitors at Maui’s Hookipa Beach Park.
Round 2 featured dangerous local wildcards like Kai Lenny, Levi Siver, Graham Ezzy, and Francisco Goya. Competitors were anxious to see which talented riders they would face. Lenny came close to winning his heat, finishing second to Arthur Arutkin, but he will face a formidable Round 3 opponent in Aloha Classic champion Bernd Roediger, another fierce local favorite.
Unexpectedly, Roediger had to switch from his relaxed approach when he saw Lenny in his heat, stating, “Seeing Kai in my heats, that changed my energy.”
The crowd favorites did not disappoint, utilizing their local knowledge to catch the best waves. Roediger’s smooth flowing style allowed him to execute a 360 maneuver. Lenny, however, responded with an impressively tweaked aerial and his own wave 360, claiming victory. He shared insights on his approach,
“It’s really about wave selection. If I can catch the steepest wave, I can perform my surfing tricks. The board I’m on is one I shaped and Quatro built. It draws significant inspiration from shortboard surfing. It stands out from what others are using and is particularly suited to today’s need for strong thrust at the base.”
In the meantime, the highest heat scores of the day were recorded by two world title contenders: Maui locals Morgan Noireaux (France) and Marcilio Browne (Brazil).
Browne, who won the world title in 2022 and 2023, showcased deep riding, seamlessly transitioning from critical move to critical move—something few others managed to do in the challenging conditions. His timing was spot-on, and his maneuvers were superb. He finished the day as the only rider with all wave scores at 6 or above. His range of moves and their consistent execution suggest a realistic shot at a third consecutive world title.
Ezzy, finishing second to Browne, was thrilled with his flawlessly executed wave 360.
In Heat 3, Noireaux raised the stakes by scoring some of the day’s highest scores, including two sevens. In the lighter, onshore conditions, he too rode deep and gained more critical hits than anyone else, executing a perfect goiter. Noireaux has elevated his performance this season to become a top podium contender for both the Aloha Classic and the world title.
A sharp Siver made his way into second place as well, clinching a direct entry into Round 5 with impressive under-the-lip hits, tweaked airs, and explosive top turns.
Other renowned wave riders lived up to their reputations, delivering spectacular displays. Antoine Martin (Guadaloupe) made tough moves appear easy, seamlessly executing one-handed aerials and perfect goiters, as well as confidently tackling critical under-the-lip maneuvers.
Similarly, Camille Juban from Guadaloupe exhibited his trademark precision, effortlessly landing multiple aerials and dazzling the spectators with his tweaked airs.
As expected, French rider Thomas Traversa charged through the bigger waves, attacking the lip aggressively to secure a strong win.
Traversa compelled world title contender Marc Pare (Spain) into finishing second, but an aggressive Pare qualified for Round 5.
Takara Ishii (Japan) raced through a tight heat in the lightest winds of the day, progressing alongside an ecstatic Vincent Beauvarlet. Their impressive maneuvers, including goiters and well-timed lip hits, resulted in sending former world champion Philip Koster (Germany) and Chilean competitor Alex Vargas to the elimination round.
Current world number two, Victor Fernandez from Spain, comfortably won the last Round 3 heat of the day, showcasing blow-tail top turns, aerials, and lip hits.
The Pro Women only competed in the first challenger round, where local favorite Shawna Cropas excelled in the larger surf. Her effective bottom turn / top turn combinations earned her a spot in the main event, where she is poised to be a formidable contender. Advancing alongside her were Toia Sanjurjo and Svenja Chudoba.
The Aloha Classic Wave Grand Final event is ongoing until November 1 at Hookipa Beach Park in Maui, Hawaii. The forecast predicts promising winds and swells for the upcoming days, ensuring incredible performances in the Grand Final.
Keep up with live competition scores on LiveHeats. The full Live Broadcast will stream on the IWT Wave Tour YouTube channel and the official IWT event page. Follow updates on social media @IWT_Wave_Tour and @PWAworldtour. The event also provides spectacular free viewing at Hookipa Beach Park.
