NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic - Day 14 - A dramatic final day

by Chris Yates on 14 Nov 2016 After a week of light winds the trades finally returned on the last day of the 2016 NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic to provide a pulsating end to the event, which saw Kevin Pritchard (Starboard / Ezzy / MFC) defend his single elimination crown, while Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) fought her way back through the double elimination with be crowned the women’s Aloha Classic Champion.

Women’s

Sarah-Quita Offringa produced a scintillating comeback through the double elimination as the Aruban gem won five heats on the bounce to deny Sarah Hauser (Tabou / Simmer / MFC) the event title. On her road to final, Offringa produced a 10 point wave against Motoko Sato (Starboard / Severne) as she unleashed a gouging turn before launching into a sick aerial, which the 25-year-old celebrated with cheers upon landing. Sato, sailed a terrific heat with a stylish backloop of her own as well as severally fluidly linked waves, but couldn’t quite defeat Offringa, who also landed a big end forward. Offringa’s next victim was Junko Nagoshi (Goya Windsurfing) and this setup the final.

In the final the wind dropped, so the decision was made to remove the jump and the final was a close run affair throughout, however, Offringa came out on top to force a super final.

In the super final the wind dropped further making Heat 50 a true tactical battle with wave selection being absolutely crucial. The super final proved to be another tight-knit affair with both girls showing excellent selection and execution, but in the end, Offringa was able to edge the duel by just half a point.

Hauser saved her best effort until last as she timed a super late hit off the lip, but it wasn’t quite enough, while Offringa’s fluid more powerful turns earned her a first victory on the wave world tour and had this to say upon winning: “I’m feeling super, super excited, but I’m feeling pretty tired after today’s sailing so I’m not fully celebrating yet. I didn’t expect today’s conditions and I was already happy with fifth place, but this is the BOMB! (runs off shouting and screaming).”

Men’s

The battle for second and third place between Levi Siver (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing / MFC) and Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) lived up to expectations with frontside 3s, air takas silky smooth turns throughout, but Siver couldn’t find a response to Browne’s sensational double forwards and the Brazilian marched on to set up a repeat of the single elimination final against Kevin Pritchard.

In the final Pritchard and Browne were almost inseparable on the wave scores for a long time, but Browne once again pulled the trigger on a sublime double forward to open up a lead. KP fought back with an 8.5 point wave, which left the two sailors tied on 24.76 points. However, immediately afterward Browne earned perfect 10s as he landed another impeccable air taka to force a super final.

There was an explosive start to the final with both Pritchard and Browne finding sizeable ramps on their first runs. Browne launched into a monster backloop, but couldn’t quite stick the landing, while KP broke into an early lead with a textbook one-footed backloop. Over the remainder of the heat the two of them went blow-for-blow, but as the end of the heat approached it looked Browne had turned the tables.

However, Pritchard wasn’t done yet and he produced a stunning buzzer beater consisting of a tweaked air straight into a one-handed aerial and a tag on the end section, which swung the tie on its head to be crowned the 2016 Men’s NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic.

The margins are so fine at the top of the game that Browne will be left reflecting on possibly what could've been as if he’d have stuck his opening backloop or landed his goiter on his penultimate wave then he may have claimed victory. However, you cannot take anything away from Pritchard, who has excelled in all conditions and deservedly ends the event as the champion.

Kevin Pritchard reflects on a week of waiting and finally being crowned champion: “That’s probably the most stressful week of my life. It’s just been unbelievable. My mind is blown and I’m super happy.”

That concludes an enthralling last day and another epic edition of the NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic. Congratulations to all the sailors and sponsors involved. We’ll be back next year with the 2017 PWA World Tour.

Result 2016 NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic - Women’s

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Sarah Hauser (Tabou / Simmer / MFC)
3rd Junko Nagoshi (Goya Windsurfing)
4th Fiona Wylde (Starboard / Sailworks)
5th Motoko Sato (Starboard / Severne)

Result 2016 NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic - Men’s

1st Kevin Pritchard (Starboard / Ezzy / MFC)
2nd Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC)
3rd Levi Siver (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing / MFC)
4th Kai Lenny (Naish / Naish Sails / MFC)
5th Bernd Roediger (Naish / Naish Sails / MFC)
6th Camille Juban (Quatro / Simmer / MFC)
7th Morgan Noireaux (JP / Hot Sails Maui)
8th Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / SWOX)
9th Kauli Seadi (99NoveNove / Hot Sails Maui / MFC)
9th Graham Ezzy (Tabou / Ezzy)