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NO MAUI ACTION TODAY AS WIND FAILS TO ARRIVE
Despite the arrival of a huge 6 - 8 foot swell here today at Ho'okipa beach park, there was no competition due to the fact the wind only picked up to a light onshore breeze which was barely enough for a few sailors to drift out and catch a few waves. This morning looked promising with clear blue skies and the trades blowing in the right direction but wind barely made it over 10 knots throughout the day conditions turned into a perfect day for surfing rather than wave sailing.
Josh Stone, the always-enthusiastic Hawaiian wave sailing specialist, who is hoping to make a comeback in the loser's bracket, drifted out this morning and managed to catch three or four waves. His last ride was a solid mast and a high mountain on which he cranked three of four turns before riding the white water all the way back into the beach. His efforts were not enough however to convince the judges to start running heats. Stone is one of the lighter sailors on the tour and was only just able to float out and catch waves.
Yesterday, Nik Baker and Kelly Moore both took first places in their respective men's and women's divisions of the single elimination finals. With only two days remaining of possible competition they are probably the only two sailors here hoping the wind doesn't blow! Nik Baker was in exactly the same position at the Aloha Classic back in 1994 and suffered major disappointment after being beaten By Bjorn Dunkerbeck twice in the final of the double elimination. Kelly Moore also had her share of upsets in the past here at the Aloha. Last year the women's elimination needed to complete one more heat and she would have become the Overall World Wave Champion. The wind died late in the day however which meant Swiss sailor Karen Jaggi took the Wave crown following only one counting wave result from Pozo, Gran Canaria.
The wind for tomorrow is forecast to be stronger and judging by the size of the swell this evening which was pumping in with some solid eight feet sets, the stage is set for an awesome climax here at most coveted wave sailing competition on the PWA world tour.
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