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Wellington windsurfers battle for glory
Monday, 21 November 2011 10:40

James Court: Kiwi wave dominator

James Court and Tim Haxell have taken the lead of the Wellington Freewave 2011, after winning the Freeracing and Freestyle divisions of the opening round of competitions, at Evans Bay.

Weather conditions were light, but just enough to run a race and a 30-minute expression session. Eight competitors started the freerace from the shallows, racing out to a bouy on the far side of the bay and back to a finishing bouy downwind of the start.

Marginal wind saw competitors slugging to the far mark with most requiring a couple of tacks to make the rounding. Leading from the front James Court tacked his way to round first, while Tim Haxell pinched his way upwind to follow him in second.

A straight blast to the finish saw no change in position with Nick Hunn finishing in third ahead of Rob Harrison. This was a fun new aspect to the freewave and will continue at the next round, conditions permitting.

The freestyle expression session was battled out between Court, Haxell, Hunn and Harrison. Marginal planning conditions saw the competitors hunting for the gusts.

Harrison decided to change down sails which saw his heat limited to non-planning moves coming in fourth place. Hunn edge ahead of Harrison with an array of old school freestyle moves.

Court and Haxell slogged it out for first. Court struggled to nail his spocks, leaving his vulcans to do the talking while Haxell easily trumped him with a couple of solid flakas, gruby and vulcan to take the freestyle section of Round 1.

Freeracing

1. James Court
2. Tim Haxell
3. Nick Hunn

Freestyle

1. Tim Haxell
2. James Court
3. Nick Hunn

Overall Standings

1= James Court/Tim Haxell
3. Nick Hunn
4. Rob Harrison


 

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