Maui Pro: Opening Press
Source: www.ibaworldtour.com
posted by Mark Fordham on 2nd January 2005
Who will be crowned the IBA World Super Tour Champion for 2004?
The Rockstar Games Maui Pro is about start – swell is predicted for the first days of the waiting period
The US$10,000 Rockstar Games Maui Pro at Honolua Bay, Maui will be the final event of the 2004-’05 World Qualifying Tour (WQT) and World Super Tour (WST) series. This dual-sanctioned International event is the final stop for the 2004 IBA men's bodyboarding tours. It will also signal the end of the World Super Tour, with the WQT and WST combining to create a single men's World Tour (WT) in 2005.
Located on the island of Maui, Honolua Bay is one of the world’s greatest point breaks, and definitely Hawaii’s most famous wave outside of the golden seven miles of Oahu’s North Shore. The 13-day waiting period enables the organizers from IBA Hawaii to wait the magic combination of wind and waves that allows Honolua to be as perfect as it can be.
For the start of the 13 day waiting period a big NW swell is predicted to pulse for Honolua Bay though the wind is expected to also come from the W / NW which renders conditions onshore / cross shore for the world famous right hander. “ The weather can change, it’s so unpredictable,” explains contest director and IBA Hawaii boss Corey Correa, “ We will just have to wait and see, the swell looks solid so lets just hope that the winds swing around during the next few days”.
IBA World Super Tour (WST) contender, Australian Dave Winchester is feeling no pressure heading into this last tournament of the year, despite having at least 10+ others vying for the World Title. “I just want to get out there and hopefully surf it with some descent size,” said a relaxed Winchester. “I have been on the North shore of Oahu for the past few weeks, it’s been fun. We have had some good waves so hopefully we will score some at Honolua. I know it’s going to be a good contest especially with the amount of contenders going for the title.”
IBA WQT Managing Director Derek Hulme adds ”It is possible for many riders to win the title. Anyone with more than 880 points as their top event is in the running, because there will be 32 riders in the Round before the 1/4 finals and those who come 4th will receive only 525 points in 25th position.”
Current rankings going into the Rockstar Games Maui Pro
1 Guilherme Tamega 2880
2 Andrew Lester 2830
3 Damian King 2460
4 Jeff Hubbard 2190
5 Dave Winchester 2045
6 Josh Kirkman 1865
7 Grahame Miller 1815
8 Beau Day 1670
9 Mike Stewart 1640
10 Mitch Rawlins 1525
11 Paulo Barcellos 1490
12 Ben Player 1465
13 Luis Villar 1460
14 Toby Player 1345
15 Michael Chapple 1310
16 Jason Hazle 1135
17 Sean Cooper 1105
18 Cedric Dufuare 1000
18 Uri Valadao 1000
20 Ryan Hardy 880
20 Hugo Pinheiro 880
22 Nicolas Capdeville 760
22 Roberto Bruno 760
24 Sean Virtue 640
For those wanting to catch live updates during the competition days Eddie Solomon from 662mob.com will be covering each heat as they progress, so stay tuned to the www.ibatour.com and www.662mob.com websites for more information on the Rockstar Games Maui Pro.
1279 views
Comments
