Aloha from North Shore Maui The 2005 Maui Kite Festival was a huge success with the Maui Kiteboarding community. Competitors and volunteers enjoyed three days with almost perfect wind and weather conditions at Kanaha Beach Park this week and the spectators witnessed some cool manoeuvres, great jumps and an exciting final for the Men’s Pro. Day one saw the first rounds of the Men’s pro, with the Richman brothers Jesse (12), and Shawn (16) emerge unbeaten. Hiro Nakajima (Japan), Patri Mc Laughlin (Maui), came in 3rd and 4th respectivel, followed by Scott drexler, Garfield King (Maui), who had to give up due to a skateboarding injury, troy Schafer (USA), Juan Ricci (Argentina) and Wes Anderson (USA). Patri Mc Laughlin (14), probably the busiest man in the event, since he competed in the Men’s Pro as well as the men’s Amateur divisions, won the latter, ahead of Kai Lenny (12), Todd Davis and Ovi Banuta (Romania). Kai had a busy weekend as well, he proceeded to compete in the Maui Racing series Windsurfing event one day later, and therefore unfortunately he missed out on the Big Air hangtime contest. The Girl’s contest saw some great Wahine water and jumping action with Roni du Preez (South Africa) winning the Final ahead of Michelle Brown (Maui), Fe Garcia (Brazil) and Ala Huntley (Poland). |