The day was greeted by clear sunny skies and light winds (9-10 knots) which delayed the games for a few hours. The competition got started at 3:00 pm.

Before the Cabarete stop formally drew to a close, heat #20 of the women’s double final between Bruna Kajiya (Best, Brazil) and Gisela Pulido (Slingshot, Spain) was run after a long wait for the wind. Kajiya emerged the victor, stomping some technical moves with extra power added, including a blind judge, non-inverted slim chance, 313, blind judge with aerial handle pass and s-bend to blind with airpass. Pulido on the other hand, landed a slim, 313 and front mobe. Kajiya’s lower kite angles coupled with speed and greater elevation in her moves were the deciding factors of the game.

After the women’s heat, there was a short breather before the board off competition was started. In the board off competition, riders jump as high as they can to give them enough time to take the board off their feet and perform some really nice tricks before putting the board back on as they come down to the water.

The competition had a slow start because of light winds so the riders had time to warm up, performing some nice old school tricks that delighted the cheering crowd. Having practiced in the men’s final yesterday, Onieva was on fire, winning with a high triple front roll board off. Hadlow took second place with a front roll board off varial while Rui Meira (Naish, Portugal) secured the 3rd spot with a double front roll board off followed by Naish teammate Kevin Langeree (Netherlands) with a double back roll board off.

In the women’s board off contest, Susie Mai (Cabrinha, Germany) put on an awesome show landing a double front roll board off, finishing in 1st place while Kajiya did a front roll board off, securing second place. Pulido completed the top three with a running man board off while Jalou Langeree (Naish, Netherlands) struggled to land her moves.

An awarding ceremony was held on the beach immediately after the competition where the winners of the womens freestyle competition and board off contest received their trophys and prizes. Alvaro Onieva was presented a Sportsmanship Award while Billy Parker received the H2O Audio Most Improved Rider award.

Freestyle results

Men’s
1) Ariel Corniel (EH, Dominican Republic)
2) Alvaro Onieva (Best, Spain)
3) Mallory de la Villemarque (North, France)
4) Alex Soto (Cabrinha, Dominican Republic)

Women’s
1) Bruna Kajiya (Best, Brazil)
2) Gisela Pulido (Slingshot, Spain)
3) Karolina Winkowska (Naish, Poland)
4) Angela Peral (North, Spain)

Board off competition

Men’s
1. Alvaro Onieva (Best, Spain)
2. Aaron Hadlow (Flexifoil, UK)
3. Rui Meira (Naish, Portugal)
4. Kevin Langeree (Naish, Netherlands)

Women’s
1. Susie Mai (Cabrinha, Germany)
2. Bruna Kajiya (Best, Brazil)
3. Gisela Pulido (Slingshot, Spain)
4. Jalou Langeree (Naish, Netherlands)

Sportmanship Award - Alvaro Oneiva
H20 Audio Most Improved Competitor – Billy Parker (Flexifoil, US)

Next stop will be Tarifa, Spain from July 4 to July 8, 2007.