| Mike Raper and Hill Siu win the KTA Hong Kong Course Race |
| Wednesday, 09 December 2009 10:06 |
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Well it has to be said that in the end typhoon Nida has had more than its fair share of input to the 2nd round of the KTA. Nida, which appeared in the region last week has twisted the regions weather patterns, which at the competition venue in Hong Kong has meant wind directions varying from bang on North through to South East and even beyond due South at times. In the end this sadly resulted in no further competition for the event over the last two days. The forecasts however said different giving a force 5 Easterly for the last day in the early morning, so in full anticipation of a day of freestyle competition the riders and KTA crew moved on mass to the East flat-water bay at Shiu Hau. But despite the early start and the stubborn resilience of one and all it was not to be. The wind again moved through from a early NE over to SW almost by the end without much of the predicted strength giving the assembled riders only one short blast of riding as it blew in from due East. Today of course the day after the KTA has ended the wind is perfect and those riders lucky enough not to be on homebound flights, they have finally been given the chance to enjoy the great flat-water conditions at Shiu Hau. Still despite the lack of wind the KTA put together two good days of happens. Day three saw all the riders competing in a very popular and well contested SUP racing event - which for the men gave a great win for Yo of Thailand over New Zealand’s Mike Raper, with an Aussie win for the women as Ali Dudfield beat Kathrin Bogwardt in a surf SUP final with 3 waves to 1. Big thanks to KTA tour sponsor Cabrinha for supplying the event with its new range of SUP boards as one of the tours key ‘no wind’ competition alternatives. The day was then completed with a well appreciated and very interactive pro-riders clinic given by Alberto Rondina and Julien Hosp, both of whom are PKRA riders with Alberto of course recently making all the headlines by putting 5 times world champion Aaron Hadlow out of the running for his sixth consecutive world title. The last day also saw a second riders clinic given by Cabrinha’s chief designer alongside David Hastilow the company’s top test rider, who together fielded a whole range of questions from the riders on kite development. Still despite the no wind day spirits were still high as everyone returned to the Palm Beach centre for the evening closing beach party and prize giving, which partied well in to the small hours of the next day. So although no freestyle was in the end completed there was still the full course racing winners to be awarded in both the national and international groupings. KTA Course Race International men – 1. Mike Raper – (New Zealand)
1. Hill Siu (Hong Kong)
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