Kia Cold Hawaii PWA World Cup 2014 winners
After winning in 2012, Thomas Traversa wins the Kia Cold Hawaii PWA Wave World Cup in Klitmøller, Denmark for the second time. The winners final between Thomas and Victor Fernandez was a fight not only for points but also against the darkness. On the final day of the event, finally, the wind and waves arrived and allowed to start with the competition. After a long day, at 20:15 (CET) the two finalists came from the water in complete darkness and we are still impressed, how they managed to show jumps and great wave rides.
Victor Fernandez said, that he had problems to see the waves in the dark, but he seemed to be very happy with his podium finish. Chris Yates, PWA press officer wrote about Thomas Traversa: “The Frenchman was the standout sailor throughout the day, especially on the wave as he showed unrivalled fluidity and speed to pull of crazy frontside Aerials and Takas.” Thomas said in an interview, that the onshore Starboard tack conditions are the conditions with which he grew up and with this having in mind the whole day he was able to win the competition.
The perfect night show by Thomas and Victor
Finishing on the podium in joint third (it was too dark to run the final for place 3 and 4) were the teammates Leon Jamaer and Robby Swift. Chris Yates: “Leon Jamaer claimed the biggest scalp of his career, so far, as he took down the two-time world champion Philip Köster. Jamaer showed superior wave selection, together with big powerful hacks to progress. Victory against Köster, secured Jamaer his first place in the top three and the same was true for his teammate Robby Swift, who defeated the reigning world champion, Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne, to secure his maiden finish on the podium.”
RESULT KIA COLD HAWAII PWA WORLD CUP 2014
1. Thomas Traversa
2. Victor Fernandez
3. Robby Swift
3. Leon Jamaer
5. Alex Mussolini
5. Ricardo Campello
5. Philip Köster
5. Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne
9. Klaas Voget
9. Ben Proffitt
9. John Skye
9. Moritz Mauch
9. Antoine Martin
9. Adam Lewis
9. Florian Jung
9. Graham Ezzy
Thomas Traversa vs. Victor Fernandez – Pic: John Carter/PWA
First Round
Heat 1: Skye, Danielsen | Campello, Bjornaa
Heat 2: Lewis, Stillrich | Fernandez Lopez, Rutkowski
Heat 3: Voget, Pijoan | Jamaer, Petersen
Heat 4: ten Hoeve, Martin | Köster, Pare
Heat 5: Sanchez, Jung | Traversa, Rydberg
Heat 6: Mauch, Sanllehy | Mussolini, Kornum
Heat 7: Swift, Stone | Denel, Ezzy
Heat 8: Bruch, Proffitt | Browne, Ramirez Bolanos
Second Round
Heat 9: Skye, Campello | Lewis, Ferndandez Lopez
Heat 10: Voget, Jamaer | Martin, Köster
Heat 11: Jung, Traversa | Mauch, Mussolini
Heat 12: Swift, Ezzy | Proffitt, Browne
Quarter Final
Heat 13: Campello, Fernandez Lopez | Jamaer, Köster
Heat 14: Traversa, Mussolini | Swift, Browne
Semi Final
Heat 15a: Fernandez Lopez vs. Jamaer
Heat 15b: Traversa vs. Swift
Final
Fernandez Lopez vs. Traversa
Thomas for president!
Wow, what an event !! A textbook for dead onshore ( not side on) wavesailing.I think this is the most difficult and technical aspect of wave riding. There are so many vids about fairy tale DTL cross offshore wave riding and almost nothing for onshore conditions. Victor made some crazy rides: clew first – switch stance – sail flip – frontside aerial and back on the right track again without loosing speed and aiming for a new mushy wave for a taka finish. Holy moly-how is he timing that?!! As for Thomas he is simply the Wizard. No matter where… Read more »
Totally agree!