It was a very wet and gloomy day in Surfer’s Paradise during the 2nd day of the PKRA in Australia. Rainsqualls swept through the area on more than one occasion throughout the morning and afternoon. It was the perfect weather conditions to make any quacking duck happy, but not so to the eager kitesurfer waiting on the beach.
Race director Olaf Van Tol had very tricky and difficult decisions to make whether or not to run the wave discipline heats. At around 2:00pm Van Tol released the freestylers for the day and would focus on running as many wave heats given the wind decides to cooperate.
A series of attempts to run the first set of heats were successfully completed once the wind became more suitable in the middle to late afternoon. A total of 2 heats were completed. Australian competitor Mike Walker (Globe, AUS) from the first heat defeated Kelby Bright (North, NZL) as well as Sebastien Garat (RRD, FRA) enabling him a place in the second round. Abel Lago (RRD, ESP) will also advance to the second round having achieved a better overall score eliminating Australian riders Matt Tobin (Slingshot, AUS) and Paul Jackson (Naish, AUS). The wind and wave conditions were extremely difficult and the wave selection was minima, but everyone made the best out of the conditions and turned out to be an overall successful day.
Shortly after 5:00pm the conditions became unsuitable and the competition was called off for the day.
Tomorrow’s weather report looks similar but it is constantly changing and extremely unpredictable so we are going to hope the rain gods let the sun and wind come out and play tomorrow.
The mandatory skippers meeting will be held tomorrow at 10:00am with a first possible start at 10:30am with the continuation of live streaming of the wave discipline from Surfer’s Paradise, Gold Coast, Australia.
The PKRA Gold Coast Kitesurfing Pro 2010 event is sponsored in part by Nissan, Cabrinha, Red Bull, Gold Coast International Hotel, Fakie and Temple with official partners Queensland Events, Gold Coast City Council, Tourism Queensland, Gold Coast Tourism, Katz Management, Glamorous Life Swimwear, Lovebirds Australia, Mojoz Swimwear with special support by Minotaur Sports Management Party Ltd. MSL – Michael Sing Lawyers, Keystone Events and 12 Below.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
2010 Gold Coast Kitesurf Pro - Near Windless First Day of Competition
The Gold Coast extends from the Queensland Capital of Brisbane down to the New South Wales Border. With excellent transport infrastructure, hotels and a lively, welcoming atmosphere the Gold Coast is the perfect location to host Australia’s first ever Kiteboarding PKRA World Tour Event.
The weather conditions were not favorable in Surfer’s Paradise today, causing a slight delay for the kick off of the final tour stop of the PKRA World Tour 2010 season due to lack of wind. The wind was very unstable and would pick up to near 15 knots in front of the squalls and drop within minutes of the passing fronts. It would have been possible to run the competition if the wind direction would have been sideshore instead of full onshore. Due to the onshore wind, the wind speed would have needed to reach 20 knots or greater in order for riders to have enough power to fight against the current and kite away from the shore.
Even though heavy rainsqualls hovered over the event site throughout the day, the beach was crowded with spectators anticipating the wind to pick up in strength for some kiteboarding action. At 1:00pm PKRA race director Olaf Van Tol announced that all freestyle riders were released for the day as well as the long distance race competitors. It was a day of waiting for the wind, something that is extremely familiar to every eager kiteboarder.
Shortly after 5:00pm the wind and weather conditions were more favorable, however Van Tol decided to call it a day and released all riders.
Tomorrow’s mandatory skippers meeting is set for 10:00am.
The PKRA Gold Coast Kitesurfing Pro 2010 event is sponsored in part by Nissan, Cabrinha, Red Bull, Gold Coast International Hotel, Fakie and Temple with official partners Queensland Events, Gold Coast City Council, Tourism Queensland, Gold Coast Tourism, Katz Management, Glamorous Life Swimwear, Lovebirds Australia, Mojoz Swimwear with special support by Minotaur Sports Management Party Ltd. MSL – Michael Sing Lawyers, Keystone Events and 12 Below.
The weather conditions were not favorable in Surfer’s Paradise today, causing a slight delay for the kick off of the final tour stop of the PKRA World Tour 2010 season due to lack of wind. The wind was very unstable and would pick up to near 15 knots in front of the squalls and drop within minutes of the passing fronts. It would have been possible to run the competition if the wind direction would have been sideshore instead of full onshore. Due to the onshore wind, the wind speed would have needed to reach 20 knots or greater in order for riders to have enough power to fight against the current and kite away from the shore.
Even though heavy rainsqualls hovered over the event site throughout the day, the beach was crowded with spectators anticipating the wind to pick up in strength for some kiteboarding action. At 1:00pm PKRA race director Olaf Van Tol announced that all freestyle riders were released for the day as well as the long distance race competitors. It was a day of waiting for the wind, something that is extremely familiar to every eager kiteboarder.
Shortly after 5:00pm the wind and weather conditions were more favorable, however Van Tol decided to call it a day and released all riders.
Tomorrow’s mandatory skippers meeting is set for 10:00am.
The PKRA Gold Coast Kitesurfing Pro 2010 event is sponsored in part by Nissan, Cabrinha, Red Bull, Gold Coast International Hotel, Fakie and Temple with official partners Queensland Events, Gold Coast City Council, Tourism Queensland, Gold Coast Tourism, Katz Management, Glamorous Life Swimwear, Lovebirds Australia, Mojoz Swimwear with special support by Minotaur Sports Management Party Ltd. MSL – Michael Sing Lawyers, Keystone Events and 12 Below.
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