STARBOARD SEVERNE PWA WORLD CUP

Event Summary: Iballa Moreno and Thomas Traversa on top of the world, whilst Morgan Noireaux wins Aloha Classic

Ho’okipa Beach Park, Maui, played host to the thrilling finale of the 2014 PWA Wave World Tour and the stage couldn’t have been better set as the spiritual home of wave sailing produced wind, waves and stunning sunshine, as the title race went down to the wire. At the start of the event three men - Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails), Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North / MFC) and Ricardo Campello (Patrik / Point-7 / MFC) - were all still in the running for the male title, but after several hard fought battles, Thomas Traversa, proved to be the last man standing as he claimed a well deserved, maiden world crown, having finished second, just behind Morgan Noireaux (JP / Hot Sails Maui) who claimed the prestigious Aloha Classic - his first victory on the PWA Wave World Tour. Meanwhile, the women’s fleet came down to another fight between - Daida Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) and Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) - this time around it was Iballa who came out on top, after lifting the Aloha Classic title - just as she did in 2006 - to pip her sister to the 2014 PWA Wave World Title.

Men’s

Morgan Noireaux made his debut on the PWA Wave World Tour this time last year at the Aloha Classic. However, in that instance Noireaux suffered a broken foot in the double elimination, which stopped him progressing from the fourth place he had fought back to. This time around though, the twenty year old, remained fully fit throughout the contest and his powerful vertical cutbacks, combined with critical aerials and radical takas were rewarded as he held off the rest of the competition to claim his maiden victory - will we now see Noireaux try his luck on the rest of the tour?

Thomas Traversa entered the final event of the year in pole position and the Frenchman thrived under the pressure to secure himself the 2014 PWA Wave World Championship - the first of his career - after finishing in an excellent second place at the Starboard Severne Aloha Classic. Victory on the biggest stage in the world caps a quite incredible year for TT, which has seen him dominate in the Red Bull Storm Chase to be crowned the ultimate storm chaser, before also winning the Poland indoor jump contest, whilst also becoming the first man to win two event titles in Cold Hawaii. Traversa’s title winning season has seen him capture one event victory and three, second places, such has been his drive and consistency this year. 

The world champion for the first time in his career - Thomas Traversa speaks: "Wow! I can't believe I am wave world champion!!! If I am then Sophia Regerbis is the real world champion, together with my parents, my shaper, and all my friends who sailed at home or did trips and competitions with me!” 

“I am who I am, and where I am, because of you!” 

“And now I have a good story to tell our future baby!”

Last year’s world champion - Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne (Goya windsurfing / MFC) - completed the season with back-to-back podiums as the Brazilian takes home fourth place overall for 2014. Browne sailed an almost perfect heat, in heat thirty, as he posted the highest scoring heat of the contest with two wave scores of 9.5 and 9.27 points as he linked powerful gouging hacks, with a combination of stunning air takas, goiters and one-handed goiters, as Brawzinho gave an evening masterclass.

Having pushed Thomas Traversa all the way in the title race - Victor Fernandez - ultimately had to settle for second place overall, after finishing fourth in Maui. The Spaniard went into the final day of the event knowing that he would need to win the event in order to snatch the title away from TT, but couldn’t quite defeat Marcilio Browne to keep his title hopes alive. Fernandez will now have to wait until next year to launch another bid for his first world title since 2010. 

Graham Ezzy (Quatro / Ezzy) enjoyed his best result to date on the PWA Wave World Tour as he finished fifth in his backyard. The American produced a stunning comeback through the double elimination, which saw Ezzy win five consecutive heats, as he combined powerful gouges with effortless takas and goiters. 

Ricardo Campello returns to the overall podium for the first time since 2011 - having finished sixth here in Maui - to finish third overall. The Brazilian/Venezuelan takes home victory for the Best Wave and Best Move competition sponsored by Dunkerbeck Eyewear - thanks to a huge goiter, which was backed up by a solid turn to score 9.88 points from the judges. 

The 2014 Aloha Classic also saw two legends return to the competition scene as Robby Naish (Naish) and Jason Polakow (JP / NeilPryde) returned with a bang to show the younger generation that they are still more than a match for anyone. The duo used their years of experience at Ho’okipa to consistently pick out the best waves, before executing them as well as anyone in the business. Naish and Polakow eventually finished seventh and eighth respectively. 

Completing the top ten at this year’s Aloha Classic are - Alex Mussolini (Tabou / GA Sails) and Boujmaa Guilloul (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / MFC). The Spaniard landed one of the moves of the contest as he unleashed a radical frontside 360 right in the critical section, to prove that he is still the frontside 3 king, whilst Guilloul won the AWT Pro fleet before finishing in joint ninth with Mussolini. 

Women’s 

The women returned to Maui for the first time since 2006, but the same winner materialised 8 years on as Iballa Moreno reigned supreme. Victory at the Aloha Classic also saw Iballa leapfrog her sister, Daida, into top spot as she claimed her second world title in three years. On her way to first place Iballa combined fluid, vertical turns with huge aerials to keep the local girls at bay. 

Iballa Moreno reclaims her world title from 2012: “I wasn’t coming to Maui with this in my head…Only had good memories from 2006 and wanted to come and enjoy the waves again. I missed sailing this tack and I was looking forward to ride some proper waves only.”  

“Daida didn’t have the heats she wanted and it put me in a position to win the title. So I was lucky in that way! I was constant this season and that was a pay off. I’m sure if we had more events on tour, and with a discard, Daida had all the chances to win, but with no discards and not able to have any mistakes, I was in an advantage by making the finals in the Aloha Classic.”

“What does it feel like? I’m happy we are both in top two rankings again!”

Meanwhile, Daida Moreno, takes home an excellent second place in the overall world rankings. Daida made a perfect start to the season with two wins out of two and will be back stronger than ever next year. The legendary twins have now accumulated 24 world titles between them since 1999 as they continue to dominate the female world of windsurfing. 

Making her debut at just seventeen years old - Fiona Wylde (Goya Windsurfing) - showed the world that she is a name to watch in the coming years as she wave selection and execution beyond her age to claim second place in her first event. Wylde consistently selected the biggest set waves, before showing no feat to continually smack the lip, whilst throwing several sick aerials to wow both the crowds and the judges.

Tiffany Ward (Starboard / Ezzy) completes the prestigious podium at the Aloha Classic. Ward, who now lives in Maui, used her additional local knowledge to take down her rivals and secure her place in the top three.

Junko Nagoshi (Goya Windsurfing) narrowly missed out on the podium as she finished fourth, but soon put the disappointment behind her to take the AWT Women’s title just a few days later, with Nagoshi delivering more fluid turns. 

Alice Arutkin (Fanatic / North) produced a stunning comeback in the double elimination to fight her way all the way back to fifth place - after winning four heats in a row. The French beauty defeated Maria Andrés in heat twenty-nine to pip both - Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg) and Amanda Beenen (Tabou / GA Sails) - to the final place on the heralded podium - which is the first time in her career that Arutkin has broken into the top three.

Ho’okipa Beach Park provided the world class conditions it is renowned for, once again, to provide a scintillating conclusion to the 2014 PWA Wave World Tour. The PWA would like to thank the people of Maui - together with all of the respective sponsors - for their unrivalled hospitality, which makes the Aloha Classic one of the most prestigious events in the world of windsurfing. The curtain was closed in spectacular fashion at the closing ceremony, which was hosted at the King Kamehameha Golf Club, as the deserved winners were crowned in front of a packed out crowd.

Where’s Next on the PWA World Tour?

As the sunsets on another fantastic year on the PWA Wave World Tour, attention now turns towards the final event of the year, which sees both the men’s and women’s slalom fleets battling it out one more time as they head to the luscious waters of New Caledonia between the 18th to 23rd November. Make sure you follow the fascinating conclusion to the slalom tour by tuning into www.pwaworldtour.com.

Results Starboard Severne PWA Aloha Classic - Men's

1st Morgan Noireaux (JP / Hot Sails Maui)

2nd Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails)

3rd Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC)

4th Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North / MFC)

5th Graham Ezzy (Quatro / Ezzy)

6th Ricardo Campello (Patrik / Point-7 / MFC)

7th Robby Naish (Naish)

8th Jason Polakow (JP / NeilPryde)

9th Alex Mussolini (Tabou / GA Sails)

9th Boujmaa Guilloul (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / MFC)

Results Starboard Severne PWA Aloha Classic - Women's

1st Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)

2nd Fiona Wylde (Goya Windsurfing)

3rd Tiffany Ward (Starboard / Ezzy)

4th Junko Nagoshi (Goya Windsurfing)

5th Alice Arutkin (Fanatic / North)

PWA Men’s Wave - Overall Rankings 2014

1st Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails)

2nd Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North / MFC)

3rd Ricardo Campello (Patrik / Point-7 / MFC)

4th Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC)

5th Alex Mussolini (Tabou / GA Sails)

6th Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins)

7th Philip Köster (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)

8th Klaas Voget (Fanatic / Simmer / MFC)

9th Antoine Martin (JP / NeilPryde)

10th John Skye (RRD / RRD / MFC)

PWA Women’s Wave - Overall Rankings 2014

1st Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)

2nd Daida Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)

3rd Alice Arutkin (Fanatic / North)

4th Amanda Beenen (Tabou / GA Sails)

5th Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg / SWOX)

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