looks like the wind kicked in on the last day...
Press Release
Date: 25th January 2003
Adecco Asian Windsurfing Tour, Presented by Foster’s
Boracay International Funboard Cup, Presented by Neil Pryde
20-25 January 2003
The Boracay Funboard Cup, the penultimate event on the Adecco Asian Windsurfing Tour, Presented by Foster’s, ended today on Bulabog Beach. After three days of light winds Boracay produced ‘the goods” for a spectacular action packed finale to an already great event. The competitors awoke to find a solid 18-20 knots of breeze howling through the palm trees and quickly made their way down to the competition area.
At the start of the day it was defending AWT champion Robbie Radis who led with Thailand’s Phanuthat Ruamsap in second and Conrad Kerber from Guam in third. In the ladies division it was local champion Nanette Graf who led in front of fellow Filipina Fele Mayer with Korea’s Choi Young Mi in third.
Race officials set the downwind slalom course and at 12:45 the green flag was raised and competition commenced. In the first final of the day Radis appeared to have a disastrous start, crossing the line in fifth place. He pushed hard but while sailing in the leaders “dirty wind” was unable to catch up. To his relief Robbie was later to find out that the first four competitors had been judged over early by start-line judges. This vital win edged Radis one step closer to the event title. In true champions form Nanette Graf dominated the ladies division finishing well ahead of second placed Choi Young Mi with Fele Mayer in third.
After a short break, race three started with a frenzy of action on the start line. Said Thailand’s Phanuthat Ruamsap “choice of equipment and start line tactics are vital. I choose smaller equipment because it’s faster to gybe around the marks. The disadvantage is that if you get a bad start you find yourself under-powered behind the leaders who have stronger and cleaner wind”. Phanuthat’s tactics were perfect as he advanced into the third final along with Robbie Radis, Conrad Kerber and Manny Cabili. Racing in the third final was fierce. After three full rounds of competition, competitors were dialled in to the conditions and punishing anyone who made a mistake.
Robbie Radis put in a flawless performance to take first place ahead of Kinetic/Lava team mate Phanuthat Ruamsap who finished second.
In a dramatic finish Keiichi Kobayashi from Guam came out of nowhere to take third place on the podium ahead of Filipino German Paz who knocked his fellow countryman Manny Cabili into fifth place. The ladies title was also hotly contested but at the end of the day Nanette Graf proved too strong for the competition and claimed her eighth Boracay title. Second in the ladies was Fele Mayer from the Philippines with Korea’s Choi Young Mi narrowly beating Rachel NG from Singapore into fourth place.
Says winner Robbie Radis “ What a fantastic climax to this years event! The conditions today were just perfect and I’m thrilled to have won against such strong competition. Tonight we’re going to party hard!”
Winning the Masters Division for over 40’s was Dea Poong Jeun from Korea ahead of George Gesner from the USA.
In the speed trials Robbie Radis takes the honours again with an incredible 53.7 kph. Nanette Graf clocked an equally impressive 44.2 kph to win the ladies speed title.
Results
Men’s Over-All
1st Robbie Radis, Australia
2nd Phanuthat Ruamsap, Thailand
3rd Keiichi Kobayashi, Guam
Woman’s Over-All
1st Nanette Graf, Philippines
2nd Fele Mayer, Philippines
3rd Choi Young Mi, Korea
Master’s
1st Dea Poong Jeun, Korea
2nd George Gesner, USA
3rd Felix Guggenheim, Switzerland
Parties are also a major part of the Funboard Cup and the fleet will gather one more time tonight after an excellent week of great conditions, powerful sailing and carnival atmosphere. The Adecco AWT then moves on to the Pacific Island of Saipan where the last event on the Tour begins on February 11th.
The Adecco Asian Windsurfing Tour, Presented by Foster’s, is filmed for international TV broadcast. The series of half hour shows is broadcast in over 100 countries worldwide. The first broadcast worldwide will be on Star Sports in April.
The Boracay International Funboard Cup is supported by the Philippine Department of Tourism, Green Yard Funboard Centre, Philippine Airlines, PhilStar.com, JP and Asian Spirit. The Adecco Asian Windsurfing Tour is presented by Foster’s Beer and supported by Neil Pryde, Lava Eyewear and Action Asia Magazine. For more information contact Proteus Sports by tel +852 9472 1704 e-mail
proteus@netvigator.com or turn to
www.asianwindsurfingtour.comimages courtesty Proteus Sports
Borocay - Start Line
Fleet heads to Mark 1
[ 26. January 2003, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: sukhdev ]
