Starboard's ProKids Freestyle Worlds

[clyde]

Live from Bonaire... A live webcast this weekend, August 4th and 5th:

http://www.prokidsfreestyle.com/

[clyde]

Aug. 2,2007

A record has been set. Yesterday at registration, the Pro Kids
Committee greeted and registered 131 competitors for the event. This
is clearly one of the best freestyle turnouts. It took over 3 hours to
register the masses including the teams from Aruba and Curacao. During
registration, lively music played and the event site was completed. At
6 PM a press conference was held with dignitaries and event officials
welcoming all. A Bonairean style Happy Hour followed adding to the
festive mood of the many sailors and spectators.


Today a tropical storm is passing the north of Bonaire creating heavy
rains and wind. As soon as it passes a skipper's meeting will be held
and the first day of competition will begin. Dasher's in the house as
well as Mark French an Emmy winning producer who will do a documentary
on the event .There are press from the US, Canada, the ABC islands as
well as South America.


For your information the webcast-tv link is now online on our Prokids
website. There will be a live broadcast by www.webcast-tv.com (Sat. &
Sunday).

[clyde]

I am in Bonaire as race director for the pro kids worlds and we just finished the first two days of qualifying rounds.
We have 139 competitors, and we have the dubious and almost impossible task of processing this many sailors thorugh eliminations.
imagine this:
37 kids ages 7 years and YOUNGER...
36 competitors from Curacao Alone
another 37 competitors fom Aruba
kids an djuniros from GErmany, Holand, DR,England.
Ah one from teh USA, coming from our buddies down in Miami. Great to see familiar faces here.

Kiri Thode just arrived from the PWA event in Canary Islands and at the young age of 16 sits #1 in the World, with one event in Sylt to finish off.
And this kid is ALONE Half the world away, trying to remember to buy his own plane tickets back to the tiny island of Bonaire, arrange gear transportation,
etc. How many 16 year olds can do that these days???
Well thankfully for Sarakita Offringa's Mom that accompanies her to the Canaries (this girl has just finished in 2nd overall, at the youg age of 17).
And this is the sort of caliber we will be dealing with with the double elimination format slated to begin tomorrow.
Tv is here, And looks like a Segment will be airing on CBS. there is also media from all the neighboring islands, and you can follow the action ( yes Brian Talma , the Action man is here as well) by clicking on www.prokidsfreestyle.com, where iyou will have LIVE coverage. Keep checking As I am planning some pretty special
events around lunch time. And Sunday we will have something special as well, I will post a schedule here tomorrowe night.
By for now,
Tinho

[clyde]

Was that Josh filling in for the regular commentater?

[clyde]

They just announced Josh is there!!!!!!!!!!!!

[clyde]

Anybody watch the webcast?

[clyde]

The Live Streaming Video is being run by Tom Grey (www.webcast-tv.com) assisted by Andy Brandt of ABK Boardsports. Josh Sampiero from Windsurfing Magazine (USA) is also on hand for commentary assistance as well as the windsurf ambassador, Brian Talma. This is a unique opportunity to see the action live via www.prokidsfreestyle.com.

The day ended with a beach BBQ and a reggae beach party. Sunday is set to be a jam packed day with the finals, Baby Class at 12 PM and the Classic Freestyle Session at 1 PM. The awards ceremony will he held at 5 and then the closing party.

[clyde]

http://www.windsurfingmag.com/article.jsp?ID=53434

[clyde]

Sunday was the finals as the best freestylers in the world set to face
off for the big win. The heats were very intense with a high level of
competition. The winds started off fresh for the heats. One of the
best heats of the morning was the dual between Arthuro "Payo"Soleano
and Kiri Thode. Their rapid succession of moves was almost too much
for the announcers to keep track of. Some of the moves with crazy
names included a Double Matrix and a Sleepy Hollow (clew first heli
tack into a duck in the boom), Hoss Tacks, and some switch stance
moves including Kiri's signature, the Gecko Flaka.

In the 10-11 year old boys final Amada Vrieswijk (BON) and Nick Von
den Eereben (AUA) went off against each other executing some sick
moves. Nick threw an Ankle Biter while Amado returned with Seated
Tack. Nick attempted a Boomerang. There was a dizzy array of
combinations including a Fin First Board Jibe with some amazing
combinations including Nick's Clew First Sail Spin, a Combo Pirouette
Hoss Tack and a flawless Body Sail 360 for Amado.


Youp Schmidt faced off against Dylan Robles. Youp displayed a Switch
Stance Duck Jibe right around the bouy into a One Handed Gecko. Dylan
threw back a One Handed Upwind Tack in the footstraps. The heat was
adrenaline packed from start to finish.


For the 13-15 year olds Dieter van der Eyken set off against Bonaire's
own Bjorn Saragoza in the finals. Both evenly matched with same gear
and body size had succession of supe moves including a Back To Sail No
Hands for Bjorn with Dieter returning with a Sail Flip Gecko. Bjorn
dazzled the crowd with a Rail Ride with No Hands.


The Baby Class was the hit of the day. Sarginho Finies and Nathan
Finies advanced after showing constant sail maneuvers including the
ONLY jump thru the boom accomplished by Sarginho. The only US
competitor was Nicolas Sanchez from Florida. This 7 year old is
preparing for his windsurf career by attending his first freestyle
competition. What a place to learn how to compete. The energy of the
baby class was completely contagious. The bay was chock full of wee
ones and their parents and coaches creating a dynamic energy. The Baby
Class Fleet grew to 33 sailors this year.


The Classic Freestyle Expression session featured some old school
sailors showing off some old school moves, Brian Talma and Andy Brandt
showed off their old school tricks whilst Bonaireans Caesar Finies
and Charlton Soliano showed off their new school talent. There were
lots of jumps, spins and laughs.


As the day progressed and the scoring was completed the crowd was
treated to a concert by the popular Aruba Rap Band Basic 1. Event
Director Elvis Martinus introduced a new rap song that was written for
the Bonaire Team. The spectator crowd crew and the event site was
jumping. A body building contest and fashion show provided further
entertainment. The Award Ceremony featured the lead sponsors on hand
to celebrate the win in all the categories. Handcrafted Starboard Tiki
Plaques, Digicel goodies, Starboard Rash Guards, Dakine harnesses, Red
Bull and other prizes were given to the winners. As the sun set with
the Red Feather Drum Line playing the spirits remained high and new
found friends exchanged information to keep in touch promising to meet
back for next year.


Results


AUA = Aruba
CUR= Curacao
BON= Bonaire


Amateur Women
1st Hilde Tuinbeek CUR


Amateur Men


1st. Caesar Finies BON
2nd Charlton Soliano BON
3rd Quincy Offringa AUA


Classic Freestyle


1st Caesar Finies
2nd Andy Brandt USA
3rd Brian Talma Barbados


Baby Kids Girls 0-7


1st. Blana Veeris BON
2nd Chloe Da Costa Gomez CUR
3rd Alima Lageveen AUA


Baby Kids Boys 0-7


1st Nathan Finies BON
2nd Jules Van Der Horst CUR
3rd Sarginho Finies BON


Girls 8-9


1st Anais Pauletta BON
2nd Esther Van Zadelhoff CUR
3rd Noa Stomp CUR


Boys 8-9


1st Jurgen Saragoza BON
2nd Steven Lageveen AUA
3rd Mack Dylan Van Der Eerenbe AUA


Girls 10-11


1st Camile Van Zadelhoff CUR
2nd Isabelle Van Zadelehoff CUR
3rd Ana De Windt CUR


Boys 10-11


1st Amado Vrieswijk BON
2. Nick Van Der Eerenbe AUA
3rd Jamil Jonis BON


Girls 12-13


1st Renee Kanaar CUR


Boys 12-13


1st Youp Schmidt BON
2nd Dylan Robles BON
3rd Mozart Sances BON


Girls 14-15


1st Mallory De Palm CUR
2nd Nadia Daboussi BON
3rd Monica Harmsen CUR


Boys 14-15


1st Bjorn Saragoza BON
2nd Dieter Van Der Eyken Belgium
3rd Felix Kervel AUA


Girls 16-17


1st Sarah Quita Offringa AUA
2nd Andrea Simal BON
3rd Andreina Figaroa BON


Boys 16-17


1st Kiri Thode BON
2nd Arthuro Soliano BON
3rd Archuendro Finies BON


Queen of Pro Kids 2007


Sara Quita Offringa AUA


King of Pro Kids 2007


Kiri Thode BON