The final day of the Euro Millions Kitesurfing World Cup 2006 was picture perfect with   sunny skies, warmer temperatures and good wind. Competitors took to the water at 12:30 pm for the second discipline of the event, Big Air/Best Trick.  Judges were looking for mostly “big air,” with 60% of a rider’s score appointed for height and hang time and 40% going towards technical difficulty.   The riders had to first clear an outer buoy in the competition area and then perform one trick afterwards, either coming in or going out.   It was their choice on which tack to perform their move but they had to clear the outer buoy each time before going for a subsequent jump.  This caused some initial confusion and half way through the contest PKRA officials put up the checkered flag to abandon the current heat and review the rules.  The tide was also coming in and there was quite a strong downwind current so the outer buoy was adjusted to assist the competitors.

With the wind holding steady at 15-20 knots, ten men and nine women decided to test their skills in the second discipline with only six each advancing to the finals.  The initial men consisted of Kevin Langeree (Naish, Netherlands), Randy Hereman (F-One, Netherlands), Madison Van Heurck (Naish, US Virgin Islands), Victor Borsuk (Naish, Poland), and Paul Caswell (Cabrinha, USA) rounding out heat one.  Heat two consisted of Aaron Hadlow (Flexifoil, UK), Mikael Blomvall (JN Kites, Sweden), Bjorn Viane (Flexifoil, Belgium), Bas Koole (Best, Netherlands) and Leander Vyvey (JN Kites, Belgium).  Langeree, Hereman, Van Heurck, Hadlow, Blomvall and Viane made it through the first round and to the finals.

The judges had a tough time deciding on the winners as the riders wowed the crowd with their biggest, best moves.  In a close decision, Aaron Hadlow with his signature big air, front mobe to kiteloop edged out Randy Hereman, who performed a killer front mobe 5.  Kevin Langeree, having a strong event overall, took third with a huge 360 handle pass along with a front mobe, one hand on the bar, the other on the chickenloop and Mikael Blomvall secured fourth with a triple indy frontroll.

The women’s first heat consisted of Ania Grzelinska (North, Poland), Joe Wilson (Naish, UK), Katja Roose (Airrush, Netherlands), and Claudine Podvin (Best, France).  And in the second heat Kristin Boese (Best, Germany), Bruna Kajiya (Best, Brazil), Jalou Langeree (Naish, Netherlands), Pauline Boussard (Wipika, France) and Emma York (Airrush, UK).  Passing to the finals were Grzelinska, Wilson, Roose, Boese, Kajiya and Langeree.

The women had a tougher time staying upwind to clear the outer mark each time and had to frequently run up the beach before heading out again.  In another close judge’s vote, Joe Wilson landed first place with a long, floating clean one foot 360, while Kristin Boese placed second going for her air handle pass, not quite sticking the landings.  Ania Grzelinska snagged third place with a big frontloop kiteloop and high 360 kiteloop, and Bruna Kajiya took fourth with various downloop maneuvers.

The award ceremony occurred at 4:30 pm in the big beach lounge tent with plenty of Moet Champagne flowing.  Men and women’s Big Air/Best Trick winners were announced first, followed by the Freestyle Double Elimination final results (see below).  Perrier even awarded a special “Rookie of the Event” prize to Belgian, Vian Bjorn (Flexifoil).  Tonight more festivities are planned for the closing evening and the riders are sure to be out celebrating their victories.

Men’s Double Elimination Final Results:
1) Aaron Hadlow (Flexifoil, UK)
2) Kevin Langeree (Naish, Netherlands)
3) Etienne Lhote (F-One, France)
4) Randy Hereman (F-One, Netherlands)

Women’s Double Elimination Final Results:
1) Kristin Boese (Best, Germany)
2) Jalou Langeree (Naish, Netherlands)
3) Angela Peral (North, Spain)
4) Ania Grzelinska (North, Poland)

Men’s Final Results Big Air/ Best Trick:
1) Aaron Hadlow (Flexifoil, UK)
2) Randy Hereman (F-One, Netherlands)
3) Kevin Langeree (Naish, Netherlands)
4) Mikael Blomvall (JN Kites, Sweden)

Women’s Final Results Big Air/ Best Trick:
1) Joe Wilson (Naish, UK)
2) Kristin Boese (Best, Germany)
3) Ania Grzelinska (North, Poland)
4) Bruna Kajiya (Best, Brazil)

Perrier Rookie of the Event:
Bjorn Viane (Flexifoil, Belgium)

Thanks go out again to event organizers Nadine Van den Bergh and Kim Haenen as well as all the event sponsors who made it possible: Euro Millions, Hyundai, Perrier, VYF, thefoodmaker, Flanders Incentives & Events, the town of Knokke-Heist, Bloso, Peugeot, donna, Metro/Metro, Funradio, jim and PLUG.