NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic

Day 6: Trophies with a special meaning for the winners’ of the NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic

A lay day was called on Day 6 of the NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic as the wind and waves finally took a break after a relentless, but amazing run of world class conditions. With the fleets released for the day we caught up with Cesare Cantagalli — 99NoveNove Brand Manager — to find out about this year’s trophies which have a personal touch. You can find out more about the trophies below:

Italy’s Art Ceramics will provide this year’s NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic Trophies.

The winners will receive a trophy made out of fine ceramic from Faenza.

We are combining the art of riding South Pacific waves together with precious objects from Italy's historical tradition to create these wonderful, unique and coveted trophies. 

NoveNove commissioned an artist from Faenza to award the winners of this historical Hawaiian competition - The 2015 Maui Aloha Classic.

The art workshop of Silvana Geminiani (mother of Cesare Cantagalli) aims to create an authentic piece of art by combining modern materials and primary colours, which interpret the expression of the sea in all its majesty. Sculptures are refractory plasticate forms of waves and glazed majolica of Faenza.

The Master of Art Silvana Geminiani, began his artistic career at the age of 11; It owes its first training to the studio master Carlo Zauli. Since 1969, the shop has a very personal style related to the study of form and looking for colours and glazes in a trend for renewal ceramics out of the traditional schemes.

Cesare Cantagalli explains the personal touch to this year’s NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic trophies:

“From my past experience when competing in the early day’s, I have experienced that some trophies are the ones that become part of your furniture, the rest will go into a box for you to show your kids one day eventually.”

“For this reason it was important for me to reward the winner's with something special coming from personal creation and making. The meaning of the trophy is to provide a message and a memory that will stay for the rest of their lives. Something you look at sometimes and it gives you a flash-back.”

“Thanks to my mother, considered one of the most popular and respected ceramic artists in Italy, and the help of my brother Sergio we had this unique opportunity. 

The clay allows you to create and shape with your own hands what you want to express.  The idea behind the trophy was to produce a plate/tale that would become a breaking wave. There are several phases to the technique that are unique and step-by-step you can see it coming to life just like a board.”

“As a matter of fact, you do not really know and see what comes out until after being cooked at 900° in a special oven. The opening of the oven door is a very special moment for the artist!”


“I really hope the winner’s like it and feel the same connection to the trophies as the amount of heart and soul that went into making them. We also hope it will become part of your furniture and not end up on a box — A trophy that you are truly proud to display.”


“This is the philosophy of NoveNove!. Love the sport and life!”


“Thank you mom! Thank you Aloha Classic and everyone following us!”

“Ciao CESARE”

Another lay day has been called for the PWA fleets tomorrow with the forecast continuing to look better towards the end of the week. There will be another announcement tomorrow evening at 7pm to decide the plan of action for Wednesday. 

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