Adecco AWT Marianas Open Last Day

Press Release
Adecco Asian Windsurfing Tour, Presented by Fosters

The Marianas Open, Presented by Neil Pryde
13-15 February 2004

Date: 15 February 2004

Robbie Radis from Australia was crowned Champion today of both the Marianas Open and the Adecco Asian Windsurfing Tour. A lack of wind today means that the six rounds of racing run on Friday are the only results for the event – and Radis wins ahead of Keiichi Kobayashi of Guam and Yoon Sung Soo of Korea. Japan’s Ayako Suzuki also took the double today, winning the ladies division to successfully claim the ladies title on the Adecco AWT.

Once again it was a quite day on Micro Beach today as the wind failed to arrive. Competitors sat on the beach listening to the music and enjoying what most people would consider a beautiful day in paradise. But this crowd was looking for wind and they left the beach a little disappointed. But any thoughts of failure are quickly banished by remembering the six full rounds of racing that took place on Friday and which give the event the result it needs.

Radis won comfortably while behind him Keiichi Kobayashi won a close contest with Yoon Sung Soo of Korea. Japan’s Yuji Wakimoto came in fourth. In the Mens Masters division Dan Harding from Saipan won while Ann Jordan won the Ladies.

And that drew to a close another superb season on the Adecco Asian Windsurfing Tour, Presented by Foster’s. The Tour started with a blast in Penghu, Taiwan back in November of 2003 and for the last month the Tour has been visiting shores of sublime beauty where the region’s elite windsurfers have battled it out on the waves. For a record 6th stratight year Robbie Radis takes the regional title and he does so in style this year, winning in the Philippines, Indonesia and Saipan and coming second in Taiwan and Malaysia.

Said Radis “I’m so happy to win again – both in the Marianas Open, but also the whole Tour. This is the greatest Tour –w e go to some fantastic locations all around the region and in each place we get welcomed like family. The windsurfing has been awesome and the competition tough – so it means a lot to me to defend my title. And to finish here in Saipan is always special. I can’t wait to come back next year to defend my title”.

Meanwhile Japan’s Ayako Suzuki has been even more impressive in the ladies division, sweeping all before her to win every event on the Tour and take the ladies division easily.

Said Suzuki “This is my first year competing on the Tour and it’s been fantastic. Before now I have only windsurfed in Saipan and Japan – so now I’ve not only sailed in more places, I’ve also visited so many countries and enjoyed myself very much. The mix of conditions has also been amazing – with 40 knots of wind in Taiwan to the lagoon cruising in Saipan. I’ve loved it and I’m very proud to be Champion”