PWA Cold Hawaii World Cup - Major upset on day 3

by Chris Yates on 20 Sep 2012 Day three of the PWA KIA Cold Hawaii World Cup proved to be one of, if not the most dramatic day of the 2012 PWA World Tour. The sailors and the committee arrived at the beach for 7am in anticipation of the forecast wind, and unlike yesterday, the wind Gods delivered. The day saw an epic marathon, as the competitors battled it out over the duration of 12 hours, as the single elimination was completed by the early morning, which saw a maiden elimination victory for Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra).

Meanwhile, in the double elimination, there is only the super final to sail, between Thomas Traversa and Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins). The biggest news of the day though, without doubt, belongs to Köster, after he came storming back through the double elimination to secure his second PWA Wave world title in a row, at the age of just eighteen.

The semi-finals saw a major upset as, Thomas Traversa, proved that the formidable, Philip Köster, is still beatable as the Frenchman became the first man since the 2011 KIA Cold Hawaii World Cup to defeat the wonder kid and in doing so, destroyed Köster’s perfect 2012 record. Traversa fought his way into the winners’ final after giving an absolute master class in onshore wave riding. Before this, Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North), was able to defeat Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) to book his place in his third consecutive single elimination winners’ final of the season.

After suffering his first defeat of the season, Campello, seized the initiative to hammer the remaining nails into Köster’s coffin by also defeating him in the losers’ final. Remarkably this created a podium without Köster, which no one would have believed at the start of the week. Campello landed an amazing double forward, combined with a couple of radical waves to knock the stuffing out of the wonder kid, and claim his place on the podium.

Thomas Traversa effectively gave, Victor Fernandez, the opportunity to take control of the title race, with Köster missing from the winners’ final. If the Spaniard could defeat the Frenchman, then ‘all’ Fernandez would have to do to reclaim his 2010 world title is claim victory in Sylt. Unfortunately, for Fernandez, Traversa had a different plan in his mind, as the French maestro continued his superb form in the final.

After landing a quite brilliant one-handed backloop, Traversa, went on to rip his waves to pieces with some irresistible riding. He demonstrated an unrivaled fluidity with his style and the only thing that he couldn’t quite pull off was an outrageous frontside wave 360. Fernandez sailed a superb heat, opening with a perfect double forward, before unleashing a massive backside 360 and several big, powerful backside slashes, but unfortunately this didn’t prove enough for him on this occasion. It did however, set up a mouth-watering scenario for the double elimination.

Thomas Traversa speaking after his maiden elimination victory: 'It was my best result ever, it’s the first time I have won anything, it’s crazy. I don’t know how I won against the best guys but whatever.'

After Philip Köster put an end to, Kauli Seadi’s (JP / NeilPryde), rampaging run and then exacted revenge against Ricardo Campello, he set up a clash of the titans with his long time rival, Victor Fernandez. Heat fifty held the power and potential to make or break Köster’s dream of defending his PWA wave world title.

If he defeated Fernandez, then the wonder kid would claim his second successive world crown, whilst a loss would mean he would have to wait until Sylt, in nine days time, to seal his fate.

Köster drew upon all of his warrior like qualities as he prepared for the battle of his life; furthermore he managed to transfer all of his previous anger and disappointment from the single elimination, into an unbeatable winning formula. Both sailors gave a display of epic proportions as Fernandez opened with a perfect double forward, before changing to a smaller board for his wave riding mission. Unfortunately for him, Köster responded with a trademark, bolt upright double forward as well as a couple of remarkable waves.

The pick of the bunch saw the reigning world champion land a huge backside 360 on a logo high section, as he put everything on the line for the victory. Even an exceptional wave from Fernandez couldn’t halt Köster from marching to the title. The Spaniard scored one of the waves of the day, as he linked a couple of powerful turns, sending plumes of spray flying, before launching into an outrageous frontside aerial. After a few minutes of deliberation, the result was made official and Köster found himself on top of the world once more, after another superhuman effort.

Words from the Defending World Champion, Philip Köster: 'I’m super stoked, it’s the second time that I’ve won the world championship. It’s pretty crazy for me. Cold Hawaii (Klitmoller) seems to bring me a lot of luck, I’m not sure why, but I feel amazing!'

Thomas Traversa was hoping to secure his first ever event victory in the second winners’ final of the day, and the Frenchmen set out as though he meant serious business as he threw himself into and end-over-end double forward. Unfortunately he couldn’t sail away cleanly, and perhaps worse, he thought he had landed the one jump he needed for the heat. From here, Traversa, set about solely hunting out the waves, but he wasn’t quite in the same irresistible form as earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, Köster, with the pressure off him landed the jump of the contest as he rotated his way through a trademark, fully planing double forward. The landing resulted in the sacrifice of his board and with no spare on the beach he lost a couple of minutes from the heat. However, even this inconvenience couldn’t stop Köster, and the wonder kid was soon attacking the waves with more venom than ever. By the end of the heat he had landed a superb backside 360 and a simply stunning reverse as he stomped his authority over the event. It was soon revealed that Köster had won the winners’ final, however the fading light meant that the super final will have to wait until tomorrow at least.

Leon Jamaer (Fanatic / Hot Sails Maui) enjoyed a brilliant day as he secured his best finish to date. The young German was able to win three successive heats as he dispatched of fellow countryman Michael Kleingarn (Starboard / Severne), the super talented Jules Denel (Exocet) and Ireland’s Mikey Clancy (Fanatic / North) as he secured equal ninth overall, with his super tweaked pushloops in particular proving to be a massive hit with the judges. The next battle against, Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360), though proved one hurdle too many in heat forty-five. Peter Volwater (Fanatic / Avanti) also experienced a fine day as the Dutchman fought his way from the very first round of the double elimination to claim joint ninth as well, after winning four heats in a row.

At this point he met an on fire Kauli Seadi. The Brazilian was ripping right from the off today, as his no fear, radical attitude proved to be a winning formula. On several occasions the three times world champion delivered some astonishing, vertical, backside slashes, which were unrivaled. It was only the formidable figure of Philip Köster that halted, Seadi, from breaking into the top four.

Heat forty-five proved to be the closest heat of the day as Klaas Voget (Fanatic / Simmer / MFC) competed against Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra). Both sailors provided a fine account of themselves, as the level went sky high. By the end of the heat there was just 0.38 of a point in between the two sailors. Thankfully, for Voget at least, the decision was in his favor and the German secured his place in the top seven.

Dany Bruch claimed the highest scoring wave of the day in heat forty-five as he scored 8.6 points across the board. Bruch let loose against, Leon Jamaer, as he ripped a wave to shreds. To top off his super slick turns he finished the wave with a monstrous, super clean, frontside wave 360, which left the crowd and the judges in awe.

The skippers’ meeting has been called for 10am tomorrow morning with the action commencing from 10:30am.

Results After Single Elimination:

1st Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)
2nd Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North)
3rd Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
4th Philip Köster (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)

Current Standings:

1st Philip Köster (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)
1st Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)
3rd Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North)
4th Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
5th Kauli Seadi (JP / PWA World Tour Cold Hawaii World Cup website