The Maui Strong Aloha Classic Grand Final

The Maui Strong Aloha Classic Grand Final - Overall

by International Windsurfing Tour 6 Nov 2023 23:54 AEDT 23 October - 3 November 2023

Day 5: Marcilio Browne claims back-to-back wave world titles after an intense final day results in heartbreak for Ricardo Campello.

On the last day of the holding period for the 2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic Grand Final, the race for the Men's Wave world title all boiled down the final heats, while the remaining two places on the overall podium for the women were also on the line. With so much riding on the day, emotions understandably ran high with some sailors experiencing pure elation, while others were left dealing with heartbreak as the curtain was brought down on the 2023 unified PWA / IWT Wave World Tour.

2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic Grand Final - photo © International Windsurfing Tour

Women's - Double Elimination

Sarah Hauser (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing) mounted the comeback of the Women's Double Elimination as the 34-year-old came storming back from a shock quarterfinal exit in the single to eventually finish 3rd at this year's Aloha Classic after winning 6 consecutive heats. Unfortunately the Double Elimination couldn't be completed meaning Hauser didn't have the opportunity to climb even higher, but today marked an important comeback as fighting back into third place means she finishes the season as the vice-world champion - behind eventual Aloha Classic and newly crowned world champion - Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins).

Coco Foveau (Flikka / GUNSAILS) completes the prestigious podium of this year's Aloha Classic, while she also clinches the final place in the overall rankings as she pips Maria Andrés (Duotone / Duotone Sails) to the overall top 3.

Elsewhere, Maria Behrens (Duotone / Duotone Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) just misses out on securing back-to-back podiums after losing a close fought battle against Sarah Hauser with just 0.23 of a point separating the two sailors come the end of the heat.

2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic Grand Final - photo © International Windsurfing Tour

Men's - Double Elimination

All eyes were on Ricardo Campello (Naish / Naish Sails) and Marc Paré (Duotone / Duotone Sails) at the start of the day with everyone eager to see if either of them could successfully make a come back and deny Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing) the world title, while the Brazilian had to endure a nervous wait on the beach.

Both Campello and Paré successfully navigated their way through the opening heat of Round 4 to keep their world title aspirations alive, but unfortunately they both fell at the next hurdle with Maui locals - Morgan Noireaux (JP / NeilPryde / Black Project Fins) and Kai Lenny (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing) securing the top two places with Campello missing out on a place in the next round by under a point. Campello still finishes the season as the vice-world champion, but this will be a bitter pill to swallow for the 38-year-old having led the title race for the majority of the season and he was just two heats away from securing a maiden wave world title.

2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic Grand Final - photo © International Windsurfing Tour

Meanwhile, having had to watch from the beach Marcilio Browne's nervous wait was brought to an end as the Brazilian pips his good friend and long term rival, Ricardo Campello to the world title as he successfully defends his world crown from 2022, which means he now has 3 wave world titles to his name and 4 overall as he continues to write his name into the record books.

With the world title in the bag Browne was able to enjoy a relatively stress-free heat against Camille Juban (AV Boards / S2Maui) in the battle for third and fourth, which proved to be incredibly close, but Browne came out on top to claim the final place on the podium at the Aloha Classic, while Juban finishes fourth.

With the Double Elimination not being completed that means that Antoine Martin (Starboard / North Sails) walks away with his second Aloha Classic title - adding to his previous success from 2019, while victory here sees him leapfrog Marc Paré to the final place on the prestigious overall podium. Elsewhere, Bernd Roediger (Flikka / Hot Sails Maui / Black Project Fins) finishes this year's Aloha Classic in second place.

Morgan Noireaux eventually finishes 5th this time around in Maui with Kai Lenny a further place back in 6th, while the top ten is completed by Ricardo Campello - 7th - Marc Paré - 8th and Takara Ishii (RRD / RRD Sails) and Jake Schettewi (JP / NeilPryde / Black Project Fins), who share joint 9th.

2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic Grand Final - photo © International Windsurfing Tour

Master's - Single Elimination

The final heat of the day saw an all-in Masters Final. 7 of the final 8 riders took to the water (unfortunately Josh Stone could not make it) for a very exciting conclusion to the Maui Strong Aloha Classic. It was action packed, and one of the more exciting heats of the day. Every set wave was ridden and the riders performed. Big aerials and searing cutbacks were on display in a tight race for the podium. Jeff Henderson started things off with a very good wave score to take the lead, and he soon followed that up with another solid ride, linking aerials and turns. In the end it would be Keith Teboul's day though with a highlight wave nailing a big aerial hit, and his classic surf-style carves to take the highest wave score and the win. Paul Karaolides was right behind coming in 3rd place. Congrats to all the Masters. They put on quite a show.