PWA Cold Hawaii World Cup overall

by Chris Yates on 25 Sep 2013 The fourth edition of the PWA Cold Hawaii World Cup saw Cold Hawaii show almost every dimension it has to offer - from cross off down the line wave riding, in perfect peeling waves to cross onshore jumping, as well as a couple of days with amazing surf with light winds, which was mixed with a combination of sunshine, rain and rainbows - to demonstrate just how dynamic and amazing this place really is.

This years event boiled down to the final day - Super Sunday - in order to gain the fourth consecutive result, and that’s exactly what happened as Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) produced a superb display to claim his maiden victory on the PWA Wave World Tour.

The trials for the main event were held on the second day in amazing down the line wave riding conditions in waves of half-mast to logo high. After the three trials heats had been completed Moritz Mauch (Starboard / North), Lars Gobisch (RRD / NeilPryde), Albert Pijoan (Starboard / Severne), Markus Rydberg (Hot Sails Maui), Peter Volwater (Fanatic / Avanti) and Robert Baldyga (Quatro / MFC) all advance into the main draw. Before the close of day two the first heat of the single elimination was completed as Marcilio Browne safely advanced past Mads Bjornaa (Fanatic / Simmer), whilst seventeen year old Mauch claimed the biggest scalp of his career thus far with a magnificent display against Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360) to cause the first upset of the contest.

Over the next three days the wind machine, which has been so consistent in Cold Hawaii over the last three years took a temporary break, leading to a few relaxed days which saw a brilliant SUP wave riding and race contest. In the wave riding contest Dany Bruch exacted a little revenge against Moritz Mauch in the final - also featuring Sebastian Kornum (JP / NeilPryde) and Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Gaastra / MFC / AL360) - as he secured the victory.

All focus then turned firmly towards the weekend, which still showed the possibility for some fantastic conditions, which would hopefully enable a result to be gained, whilst maintaining Cold Hawaii’s 100% record. The penultimate day - Saturday - proved to be a tantalizingly teasing affair as the wind returned allowing the majority of the fleet out onto the water, however there was one critical factor missing from the equation, waves.

The forecast for Sunday still showed winds of up to 35 knots and waves building up to three meters come the late afternoon, thankfully for everyone involved with the event the forecast came true as Cold Hawaii erupted back into life allowing for a grandstand finale to another epic event.

Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne booked his place in his first ever winners’ final where he was faced by the formidable force of Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins). The final was contested in extremely challenging jumping and wave riding conditions, but the two sailors didn’t disappoint as they dug deep to deliver some outstanding sailing. The reigning world champion was able to land an absolutely sensational stalled double forward and a brilliant one-footed backloop, but Brawzinho didn’t panic as he launched himself into a superb double forward, just moments later, before landing a one-footed backloop of his own. With the final tightly poised Browne rotated through an amazing forward loop of the lip, which he landed planing before backing it up with an aggressive frontside hack. In the meantime Köster was able to land two smooth takas in quick succession, on the same wave, but without a good second wave there was an opportunity for his opponent to strike and that’s exactly what the Brazilian did. On the final wave of the heat, Browne beautifully connected several fluid front and backside smacks to give himself every chance possible of beating the wonderkid. After an agonizing wait the result was eventually revealed, as an astonished looking Browne got to taste victory for the first time on the PWA Wave World Tour.

Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne speaks after his maiden victory on the PWA Wave World Tour: 'I’m so surprised, I don’t really know what to say I can’t believe it. Philip [Koster] is such a machine, I have so much respect for his sailing and he’s been dominating so hard that for me just having the chance to win here was unbelievable. I kind of had a hard time because the conditions were really hard in the final, but I sort of figured maybe it was the same for him and I might get lucky. I just tried to focus on getting whatever points I could. I’m so happy - this has always been a childhood dream for me.'

The result now throws the title race wide open with the possibility for events in both Maui and Chile, likely to deliver more shocks and different results. The likes of Köster, Browne, Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra) - who finished third ahead of teammate, and last years Cold Hawaii champion - Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra) - and Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North / MFC) are all still in with a chance in what is shaping up to be a nail biting finish to the season. The next installment of which you will be able to see from the 27th September as the PWA returns to Sylt for another superb event.

Elsewhere in the single elimination Leon Jamaer (Fanatic / Hot Sails Maui) and Jules Denel (JP / NeilPryde) enjoyed their best results to date on the PWA World Tour as both sailors finished in equal fifth. The latter of which recovered from the verge of a first round exit against Alessio Stillrich (Fanatic / North / AL360), after a change in result due to Denel’s greater wave score. The Frenchman then also narrowly saw off the challenge of teammate Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) after Denel’s wave riding proved crucial once more, after the two sailors had finished on equal points.

Having broken his leg only two and a half months ago Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) defied the medical odds to complete a stunning comeback. Not only did Swift manage to recover in time to compete, but he excelled as he showed no fear by repeatedly throwing himself into double forwards and powerful wave rides to finish in a sublime fifth place. The Englishman defeated Aleix Sanllehy (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) in the first round before dispatching of fellow compatriot Adam Lewis (Patrik / Point-7). The Brit also came agonizingly close to defeating Thomas Traversa for a place in the top four, but the 2012 stole the victory with a fantastic final wave to swing the tie in his favor.

Alex Mussolini produced the wave ride of the week - earning him tens across the board from the judges - as he first rotated through a radical frontside wave 360 right in the critical section of the wave before also adding a super smooth taka and a vertical, powerful frontside slash against Jules Denel.

The next event on the PWA World Tour will see slalom, freestyle and wave all taking place on the shores of Sylt, Germany, from the 27th of September to the sixth of October.

Overall Results of the KIA Cold Hawaii PWA World Cup: Men’s Wave

1st Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC)
2nd Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra)
4th Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)
5th Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Leon Jamaer (Fanatic / Hot Sails Maui)
5th Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North / MFC)
5th Jules Denel (JP / NeilPryde)
9th Klaas Voget (Fanatic / Simmer / MFC)
9th Martin ten Hoeve (Goya Windsurfing / Point-7)
9th John Skye (RRD / MFC)
9th Omar Sanchez (Loft / Patrik)
9th Ben Proffitt (Simmer)
9th Moritz Mauch (Starboard / North)
9th Adam Lewis (Patrik / Point-7)
9th Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) PWA World Cold Hawaii World Cup