Mui Ne has lived up to its reputation as one of Asia's most consistent wind venues by giving round three of the KTA tour four days of competition. This saw the event beginning with both the men's and women's course racing on day one, with day two and three focusing on the freestyle events, plus the added bonus of the extremely popular Big Air contest, which left the final day open again for further course racing to finishing things as they were begun.
After some very tough technical racing on day one, which left Yo from Thailand and Kathryn Bogwardt on top of things, the winds increased more to favour a call for the freestyle, which ran the double eliminator for the 12 women competitors and the 26 men.
There were many great rounds on the way through to the finals, with standards noticeably on the up from the first two rounds of the tour with the great conditions and the improving level of riders taking part from 19 different countries. In the end many heats were so close that only a split decision would separate who carried on and who would have to fight back through the loser brackets. The finals were fought out between the Philippines Ken Nacor and Thailand's Yo, with this time Yo turning the tables and taking the top spot. For the women it was upsets all round as Vietnam favourite Julia Diep Anh Thu gave some very strong performances to challenge for the top spot, which in the end was fought out between Kathryn and Nuria Goma, with the final judges decision going Kathryn's way.
The racing was again extremely tight between the top girls, so much so that both Nuira and Kathryn ended up with identical results for the week and unfortunately as the thermal wind began to shut down and it became clear that a decider could not be run, the KTA head judge referred back to the IKA for clarification on breaking the tie. The decision took the winners place to Nuria on the basis of her winning the last of the women's races held during the event, a very tough rule and one which all riders on the KTA agreed needs some revision. For the men's side of things Yo remained dominant putting in some very fast finishing time's in each heat, that left all the battles to take place for the remain podium positions behind him.
So thumbs up for the KTA Vietnam with great competition throughout and great support for the event from local sponsors. The next tour stop will take place at Boracay / Philippines from February 24th to 27th.
Course Racing - Men
1. Pudla Narpichit - Yo
2. David Romeu Rojas
3. Lai Hong Phi
Course Racing - Women
1. Nuria Goma
2. Kathryn Bogwardt
3. Ali Dudfield
Freestyle - Men
1. Pudla Narpichit - Yo
2. Ken Nacor
3. Lai Hong Phi
Freestyle - Women
1. Kathryn Bogwardt
2. Nuria Goma
3. Diep Anh Thu Julia
After some very tough technical racing on day one, which left Yo from Thailand and Kathryn Bogwardt on top of things, the winds increased more to favour a call for the freestyle, which ran the double eliminator for the 12 women competitors and the 26 men.
There were many great rounds on the way through to the finals, with standards noticeably on the up from the first two rounds of the tour with the great conditions and the improving level of riders taking part from 19 different countries. In the end many heats were so close that only a split decision would separate who carried on and who would have to fight back through the loser brackets. The finals were fought out between the Philippines Ken Nacor and Thailand's Yo, with this time Yo turning the tables and taking the top spot. For the women it was upsets all round as Vietnam favourite Julia Diep Anh Thu gave some very strong performances to challenge for the top spot, which in the end was fought out between Kathryn and Nuria Goma, with the final judges decision going Kathryn's way.
The racing was again extremely tight between the top girls, so much so that both Nuira and Kathryn ended up with identical results for the week and unfortunately as the thermal wind began to shut down and it became clear that a decider could not be run, the KTA head judge referred back to the IKA for clarification on breaking the tie. The decision took the winners place to Nuria on the basis of her winning the last of the women's races held during the event, a very tough rule and one which all riders on the KTA agreed needs some revision. For the men's side of things Yo remained dominant putting in some very fast finishing time's in each heat, that left all the battles to take place for the remain podium positions behind him.
So thumbs up for the KTA Vietnam with great competition throughout and great support for the event from local sponsors. The next tour stop will take place at Boracay / Philippines from February 24th to 27th.
Course Racing - Men
1. Pudla Narpichit - Yo
2. David Romeu Rojas
3. Lai Hong Phi
Course Racing - Women
1. Nuria Goma
2. Kathryn Bogwardt
3. Ali Dudfield
Freestyle - Men
1. Pudla Narpichit - Yo
2. Ken Nacor
3. Lai Hong Phi
Freestyle - Women
1. Kathryn Bogwardt
2. Nuria Goma
3. Diep Anh Thu Julia
