This morning's 2nd heat of the 2010 WAKSA Wave Comp saw a dedicated band of heroes flying 5-7m kites in decidely more challenging conditions than yesterday's first heat.

Strong 20-25knot N/NW/W winds at Brighton made for an interesting 2nd heat with 3 kiters progressing through to the final heat. In the conditions, it was a pleasant surprise to see approximately 20 spectators at various stages of the event - mums, dads, young kids and one old geezer with his metal detector wandering amongs the kites...

The final ended up being too close a call for the judges, so an extra 10 minute run off for 1st & 2nd place was held.

First Place: Corey Brown
Second Place: Carl Bevilaqua
Third Place: Karl Leavy

Congrats to these guys for their work today and yesterday.

Prizes will be distributed at the WAKSA AGM, Wednesday 21st July @ City of Perth Surf Club, Challenger Drive City Beach, commencing @ 7.30pm (bar open from 6.30pm)

Thanks to all participants for making the event.

Some Photos please for us in the desert

that 2nd shot, the one of Will , is the biggest unstrapped punt ive ever seen, nice Will.

Epic pictures. Wow guys great show.

This could be the start of something big.

Looks like all had a ball.
Winter finally arrived it seems.
Tomorrow looks all time.

Thanks again to the WAKSA guys who gave up their time to put the comp on. Its good to see there are people who are willing to put in the the effort to get these things off the ground. Also to the guys taking video and photos so we can all take a look at what happened.

The conditions were far from perfect, but it was fun and everyone was having the same hard time finding the good ones. Pity Carl sent his kite for a swim in the decider so I could claim the win.

The photo of Will is a beast and it shows everyone was giving their best. Im glad to come out on top of a bunch of such good riders. (I think the straps help on a day like today)

That pic of will is very impressive, did he land it?

Straps may be easier but in a shot like that they are never going to have the same wow factor as unstrapped like in wills.

Good work guys , looks like you all had some fun .

Well done Corey .
Unbelievable airs Will , especially in gusty onshore .

Great effort WAKSA , hopefully I am not on shift when you hold the next one .

sir ROWDY said...
Yeah, pretty cool shot, nice one man!
What the wind direction? onshore? hooked in yeah?

sir ROWDY said...

sir ROWDY said...
Yeah, pretty cool shot, nice one man!
What the wind direction? onshore? hooked in yeah?

So what?
whats so great about unhooking?
unhooked, strapless - **** me go surfing instead eh?

Great effort from all involved, big thanks to Russell for allowing my "14 yr old, 55kg" son to have a crack !!!!!!!
I have one of the rashies (sorry juddy) will return it at the agm if thats o.k
Congrats to all
Tony

Sorry didn't mean to start a Rabble, although its always a pleasant suprise.
I actually was more interested in the wind direction. I gathered it was hooked but was giving it benifit of the doubt.

p.s.
I'm not going to say this air is crap if its not unhooked (i reckon its pretty sick photo) But I will say (like Psylor pointed out) that Unhooking is the next level, it's like riding unstrapped. Only recently have people excepted riding unstrapped for what it is, now they need to realise that yes unhooking does play a role in things as well. You could do most wakestyle tricks hooked in to if you wanted, but it's not exactly next level stuff is it... Obviously conditions will alter what can be done in a comp format.

Er... getting back to the positives folks.

Wind at last!!

Kn nice moves to be seen.. even a bit o' sunshine

I thought the comp was gonna suck nutz given the forecast - what the hell do I know? Wish I'd been there.

Monster move from the Will chap must have resulted in a dose of altitude sickness for him to not get a placing.

sir ROWDY said...

If you read through Bevo I don't think anyone at all said people should have been riding unhooked at this event.

Your probably right Rowdy but if one refers to a manouver as FAIL because its hooked in or as per below it could be interpreted the other way?

quote-Well everyone learns to ride there bikes with training wheels, at some point you grow out of the training wheels when you see the benefits of riding without them.

In a competition hooked in riding is only good for getting upwind in this day and age.

This comment is a big fail

If everyone was doing airs that good strapless then maybe you could talk about unhooking but as it stands that's the best punt I have seen, full stop with not many coming close with the wind that strong , waves that massive props. Something that would not be anywhere near as impressive if it was strapped.

IMO.

Looks like the ideal direction for it. Need to see more people giving it a crack.