Arrived a bit late - though got to watch the Big Air semi and final, Womens Big Air, and the final of the Mens Wave and strapless air.
Incredible to watch the Big Air - some amazing commitment and degrees of difficulty (and risk). Seemed like the guys were all on around 14m kites and boosting huge airs. The kiwi seemed like a machine! Fast hard landings sometimes made me cringe - though others were so perfect. Some landing so close to the beach seemed way too risky ???
The mens wave final (they both looked barely voting or drinking age
) was incredible - both were rippers. Both powered on 9m kites. Billy the kid was so quick and smooth and was pulling off some moves that looked like he wouldn't. James was laying it on the line - trashed a kite and was leaving his turns really late - both were hitting the lip on a dredging onshore close outs..... Still would have liked to see Brazil nuts let his riding do the talking - it would have been close!
Good to see a kite comp for the first time really. The standard was incredible - though the comp itself seemed a bit ad-hoc with the guys on twin tips out during the strapless air final. Seemed like confusion - the beach PA was a bit quiet (should have told them to get out of the way).
There weren't that many people on the beach watching - perhaps if the organisers had kept the Seabreeze audience up to date - more people would have been there? Guess it's always going to be a marginal sport - perhaps the less people that do it the better?
Was thinking it would have been confusing for spectators - the whole time I sat there I wondered how it was being judged and left feeling none the wiser.
Thumbs up to all that contributed to it.....was good to watch, any decent shots or videos being put up?
