Maui Makani Classic Pro Single Elimination from American Windsurfing Tour on Vimeo.

Whilst the women have also been in action, these are their results from day two:

1st: Tatiana Howard (Maui) 2nd: Miho Tanaka (Japan) 3rd: Katie McAnaena (Ireland) 4th: Sam Bittner (Maui) 5th: Carolina Butrich (Peru).

Pacasymayo action

The competition is set to continue over the coming week, so follow all the AWT action at http://americanwindsurfingtour.com/

With the World Tour suffering some setbacks and several events cancelled, the AWT are very happy to announce the addition of a new tour stop. The Pacasmayo Classic will be held from the 17th-26th August in Peru. As one of the longest waves ever seen, Pacasmayo promises to deliver some unbelievable conditions for the contestants and some endless wave rides. Don’t believe us? Check out the preview video below which shows the wave in all it’s glory…

The organisers have arranged some exclusive deals for the riders and free registration for female competitors, so head over to the AWT website for further details.

Looking Back, Looking Forward:

We had an excellent turn-out at all events.  Santa Cruz had 76 competitors, Pistol River had 86,  San Carlos 25, and Maui a whopping 107 competitors. Unfortunately the Hatteras Wave Jam was canceled due to Hurricane Irene, but we are looking forward to competing there next year. In all, there were 223 different windsurfers registered for the 2012 AWT. Congratulations to all who participated!

Media coverage was great this year as well.  There were over 115,000 views of the live cast from the Maui contest and we can look forward to seeing coverage of the event on Ocean Paddler TV and the Hawaiian Airlines in flight video starting in February.  We are bringing windsurfing back into the eye of the public.

I had a blast organizing the events and have already started preparing for next year.

2012 AWT Windsurfing Tour dates

> Santa Cruz Classic: May 3rd-6th

> Pistol River Wave Bash: June 14th-17th

> San Carlos Cactus Cup: July 28th-August 4th

> Hatteras Wave Jam: September 12th-15th

> Maui Makani Classic: October 25th- November 3rd

The event sites may be the same as last year but there’s plenty new and exciting things to look forward to:
> Prize Money – The Expert division will now be called Professional with prize money on the line at each stop.
> Live Casting of US Events – Competitons will be broadcast live on the internet so the action can be followed all over the world.
> Grand Masters Division Added – Windsurfers over the age of 55 will now have their own time on the water.
> New AWT Website coming soon -  a new-look site with all the info you need to know about the AWT.
> Facebook Fan Page – Be sure to follow this link and click ‘LIKE’

Register today for one or all the events atamericanwindsurfingtour.com. It will be another exciting year of wavesailing around the US.

This was one of my best trip of the season. It had to do with the great vibe and the over all positive energy of everyone involve in this American Windsurfing Tour event.

We made our camp right at the point, facing the famous San Carlos perfect point break. This was the ideal set up as it turn out that we got glassy waves in the morning and amazing windsurfing conditions in the afternoon right in front of our living room. And this everyday for the entire week we were there.

It was cool to hang out with the US RRD team Riders, Jordan Reid and Royn Bartoldi, and between the 3 of us we had a large quiver of boards to use, test, share and enjoy.

This trip was a non-stop waveriding festival, full of adrenaline rush, tacos and cervezas. The Baja California, San Carlos Mexican Desert point-break once again lived up to its reputation, delivered the goods and had us return to the modern world with a big smile on our face.

More at www.insidertrrding.blogspot.com

Nathan Mershon Ho'okipa aerial, courtesy of AWT

It’s official! Naish Team rider, Nathan Mershon, has been announced the overall winner of the 2011 American Windsurfing Tour.

After a series of three events throughout the year, Nathan positioned himself on top and came into this last and final event – the Maui Makani Classic in Hookipa, Maui – as tour leader.

Expectations were high as the event unfolded. The winds were light and gusty during the series of divisions before the final showdown of the Expert division’s single elimination. On the last day of the event, the conditions provided a massive swell but very light wind. Nathan fought his way to the semi-finals with outstanding bottom turns, cut-backs and aerials on his Naish Session sail and Naish Wave 80 board. Ending up in 5th place in this competition, he was still able to maintain his lead and will be crowned the 2011 AWT Champion in tonight’s Closing Ceremonies gala.

Congratulations Nathan!

More at www.americanwindsurfingtour.com and www.naishsails.com

Camille Juban, 2011 AWT Maui Makani Classic Champ, by Dave White

The American Windsurfing Tour report from the last day of action at the AWT Maui Makani Classic 2011…

Wow, what a ride! Today rounds out the last day of competition in the 2011 Maui Makani Classic. Event directors decided to finish out the Double Elimination brackets for both the Youth and the Amateur divisions and run the remaining heats in the Expert division’s Single Elimination. Due to time constraints, we were unable to complete the Double Elimination for the Women and Masters divisions.

By mid afternoon, the conditions had significantly improved – prompting the judges to increase the heat length in the three finals scheduled for the day. The Youth and Amateur divisions (each with two competitors) were run at 18 minutes each while the Expert final heat (with four sailors) ran for 30 minutes. We saw some jaw-dropping wave rides in all three final heats – giving the huge crowd on the bluff plenty to cheer about. Although there were a few instances where competitors found themselves on the rocks, we are happy to say that everyone made it out safely (not necessarily the same for their gear).

What a great way to end the event – wind, waves, and a complete rainbow across the sky. Don’t forget to join us Tuesday evening at the Maui Tropical Plantation for our closing ceremony and award presentations!

1st – Camille Juban

2nd – Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne

3rd – Josh Stone

4th – Kai Katchadourian

Full results online at www.americanwindsurfingtour.com – and here’s a final day photo gallery from our very own man on Maui, Dave White!

Day 4: Event directors wasted no time jumping right into competition today. Shortly after the skipper’s meeting, the heat order picked up where we left off from yesterday. We progressed through Youth, Amateur, and Women’s divisions today – finishing up their single eliminations and moving into the double eliminations for some.
Here’s a recap of the Single Elimination results for the four completed divisions:
WOMEN: 1. Junko Nagoshi 2. Anne-Marie Reichman 3. Ingrid Larouche 4. Shawna Cropas
MASTERS: 1. Jeff Henderson 2. Giampaolo Cammarota 3. Yasuhito Ogasawara 4. Rob Funk
YOUTH: 1. Morgan Noireaux 2. Bernd Roediger 3. Zane Schweitzer 4. Ridge Lenny
AMATEURS 1. Jehyug Jay Lee 2. Neil Turpin 3. Jordan Reid 4. Nick Dudet
The Expert division still has three heats in round three, two heats in the semi-final round, and a final heat yet to run before their single elimination is completed. Postponing the Expert division is in hopes that the wave size increases and the wind remains steady – two factors that could make for a very exciting final heat.
People’s Choice Expression Session was today around 4:30 in the afternoon. Fans tuned in to watch online then texted their votes for the windsurfer they felt impressed them the most. Jordan Reid came out on top to become the first ever People’s Choice Champion. His prize package includes 2012 American Windsurfing Tour Event Registration, Dakine Wheeled Duffle, Chinook Pro Carbon Boom, and an afternoon Hookipa Photoshoot with high resolution DVD by Jimmie Hepp. Way to go Jordan!

AWT Maui Makani Classic - day 2

Here’s the latest release from the American Windsurfing Tour after the first day of action at Ho’okipa (overnight for us Euros!)

Today kicked off the first day of competition in the Makani Classic 2011. The weather started off cloudy and cool but as the day progressed, we saw more sunshine and the wind and waves picked up – allowing for some exciting windsurfing. The Amateurs competed first, showing off some great talent. Next, was the Masters. Although this division is for our oldest competitors, they displayed classic style mixed with inspiring passion for the sport. Conditions stayed steady as we got into the Expert division. We saw a mix of clean, technical wave rides, risky aerial manoeuvres, and some personal flair from all of the riders.

Rounding out the end of the day was two of the four Women’s heats. Those talented ladies were ripping right to the end. After the first two heats, Head Judge, Matt Pritchard, decided the conditions were not suitable to continue. Tomorrow we will finish the remaining heats from Round One and move right into Round Two of the competition.

Thanks to all of the spectators who came out to watch and support our windsurfers! The beach was covered with colorful sails and the hillside with tons of fans. We would also like to say “Aloha” to all of our fans who watched LIVE from home! Tune in tomorrow [from 9pm UK time] ]for more action at www.americanwindsurfingtour.com/live-4

In addition to the normal contest, voters who follow the link at the MauiSails widget will be able to vote for their favorite contestant as well as be eligible for winning a new 5.3 Ghost XT wave sail, one of the hottest new designs from the first sail brand to emerge on Maui. The GhostXT utilises Technora fabric to produce amazing handling and range in an ultralight, soft feeling performance package. Get in early and vote for your favourites.

Go to the MauiSails Facebook page for your chance to win – www.facebook.com

Tanya Saleh in Baja

British export Tanya Saleh reports from the first day of the AWT Cactus Cup, Punta San Carlos, Baja: Miraculously the whole crew and all compeitors managed to make it down to SoloSports Camp before midnight on the day before competition began in one piece. Well, sort of…

We woke to glassy head high surf which encouraged most to go for a surf or SUP before the first skippers meeting.

If you’ve never been to San Carlos before then you need to try and imagine rolling out of your tent facing the water every day. There is no phone signal, but there are amazing conditions, good company, and therefore there is such a laid back, chilled out vibe in camp.

With 6 potential days of competition ahead of us it was suggested that we would likely run a series of single eliminations until 2 discards are allowed (assuming conditions permit). The small sized fleet of 30 competitors would allow for a super relaxed event with the main stage being down at the point break.

And the conditions didn’t fail to deliver off the bat; head high to logo high waves with the guys on 4.7-5.0′s and the women on 4.2′s we finished round one before the day was out.

When you look at the board it’s really true to say that there were NO easy heats. Most of the competitors live in Maui, and watching the heats is like watching a pre-edited Windsurfing DVD.

Day 1 single elimination results:

Men’s

1st Kevin Pritchard

2nd Keith Taboul

3rd Matt Pritchard

4th Graham Ezzy

Amateurs’

1st Robert (Norway)

2nd Yossy (Israel)

3rd Jay (The Gorge)

Women’s

1st Miho (Japan)

2nd Tanya

3rd Sam (Maui)

4th Catherine (San Francisco)

Juniors’

1st Jordan

2nd Morgan

3rd Jay

Full results at americanwindsurfingtour.com

After two long days and a full double elimination in the books the results are…

EXPERT – 1st Nathan Mershon, 2nd Josh Stone, 3rd Boujmaa Gouilloul

YOUTH – 1st Morgan Noireaux, 2nd Bernd Roediger, 3rd Zane Schweitzer

WOMEN – 1st Ingrid Larouche, 2nd Miho Tanaka, 3rd Christine Vogt

MASTERS – 1st Royn Bartholdi, 2nd Atilla Tivadar, 3rd Dana Miller

AMATEUR – 1st MacRae Wylde, 2nd Casey Rehrer, 3rd Ingrid Larouche

Full results at americanwindsurfingtour.com

Full results at americanwindsurfingtour.com