Race number one of the 2009 Cabrinha Race Series saw 30 riders on the start line. Incidentally, 54 racers have signed up, so we’re looking forward to the best
season ever.
Along with a pretty significant flood , conditions saw winds in the first and 3rd races from 15-23 and drop in the second race to 12-20. Kite sizes ranged for most from 11-13m
A new comer from France, Bruno Sroka (Cabrinha) dominated the racing. He not only finished first in all three races, he did so by impressive margins. Bruno finished each race in approximately 8min 20 sec, and bested the next competitor, Chip Wasson (Ozone) by 45 sec in race number two, and by 1min and 20sec in race number 3. This past week, Bruno was crowned the European Champion besting 100 competitors by again dominating the field. Bruno was first in 6 of the 12 races, with 4 seconds a third and a DNS (three throwouts)
Wasson finished second overall with three seconds; 6 points on a Mike Z race board, and this last week, Chip finished 5th overall at the US Nationals. Another first timer, Paolo Rista (Cabrinha) from Maui, finished third overall with 15 points (4,4,7). Incidentally, Paolo is a board designer and designed the board used by Bruno.
Geoff Headington (Ozone) finished with a 3 in the first and third races and tangled at the start and didn’t race the second race. He has filed a protest and it is my opinion that he will prevail and also get a redress and end up with a 3 in the second race (average of his scores in races one and two) for a total of nine points. Geoff was followed by John Gomes (Cabrinha) with 15 points ( 7,5,4) and the 2007 Champion Jeff Kafka (Cabrinha) with 17 points (6,3 ,8).
A special note, Sandy Parker, finished 8th overall, but this last week she was crowned US National Champion narrowly besting the 2008 third place finisher and the 2009 world speed champion, Melissa Gill (Cabrinha) and the 2008 world course racing champion, Kristen Boese (Best).
Next race, Thursday May 14.
