2018 Aloha Classic - Day 9
by International Windsurfing Tour 6 Nov 17:37 PST
28 October - 10 November 2018
2018 Aloha Classic © Si Crowther / IWT
An action-packed day of wave-riding power and speed was on display at Ho'okipa Beach today as the world's best amateur riders battled it out to progress towards the much-coveted finals for amateur divisions: Youth, Masters, Grand Masters, and Amateurs. All of these finals will be run tomorrow as a special finals day.
The Youth division final now includes Schettwei, Takuma, and Ishi, who are all PWA World Cup Youth contenders. After a full year tour, two of them are in the final straight for a shot at the overall PWA Youth World Cup Podium. Depending on their results in the coming final, Schettewi and Ishi could both end up on the overall PWA Youth World Cup podium for 2018, so the results of this final are a very big deal!
The Masters division was super competitive as always with the four most competitive riders of the day coming down to the legendary long-time professional Maui stalwart Katchadorian, the intense Canadian big air master Bergeron, the famous Cypriote photographer from FishBowlDiaries Karaolides, and the wild ex Spanish professional Escario, who is still running as hot favorite for this division after a series of blistering victories to reach the final.
The Grand Masters final includes local Maui HotSails maker and many time Aloha Masters Champion Henderson, the in-form father of Aloha Classic Pro Men's runner up from Guadeloupe Martin, the local Maui unofficial Mayor of Ho'okipa Funk, and another legend from the early days of the sport and local big name Aguera.
The Amateur final now includes the aforementioned and prolific heat winner Henderson, the also aforementioned red hot favourite Escario, the IWT Amateur champion for 2018 from Australia Glasson, and the local young gun who has surprised everyone, Guidroz
The stand-out story of the day was local boy, Luc Guidroz who stunned the Aloha Classic field of experienced international riders fighting his way through the largest field to become the first 14-year-old to make the Amateur final for as long as anyone can remember. Luc was born and raised on Maui and his father Leonard competed in the first ever Aloha Classic back in the early 80s.
All of these finals look very likely to run tomorrow at Ho'okipa. All will be fierce battles with an international field of riders who have come here to test themselves against the best in the world. Tomorrow promises to be a spectacular day of fierce competition at the Aloha Classic.
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