By Andrew Jaspan

Picture this: a sub-tropical Queensland beach protected from rough water by the Great Barrier Reef but sliced in two by Wild Cattle Creek which is a home to a family of crocs….who live much further upstream, or so we were told. Across the beach in front of the judges’ podium fl ap maybe 100 kites in the warm Capricornia winds while in the distance spinnaker billowing yachts race for the finish line of the annual Brisbane to Gladstone race. And best of all the Gods smiled on the Nationals: blowing wind for four days. Sick!

We are at the 2009 Tannum Sands Coconet Classic and National Kitesurfing Championships. Competitors have come from all parts of Australia to participate in what everyone has dubbed “the friendly comp”.

What few knew was that the Nationals almost didn’t happen this year. At the last moment Chris Waddell, aka Uncle Sid, played midwife to the Nationals.

Working with Danielle Straatmans of Coconet (the main sponsors and yes, they make nets to catch coconuts) Chris pulled things together from the start of February and crucially invited Kiwi superstar kitesurfer and KPWT tour competitor Torrin Bright to be the main judge along with pro wake riders Scott Green and Tim Brasser.

Torrin last attended the Australian Nationals in 2007 and this year he felt the standard had definitely picked up with everyone pushing hard. With reigning champ, Andy Yates away this year the field was also much more open.

The comp opened on Wednesday morning, April 8, with strong but gusty and at times messy winds bouncing between 13 and 30 knots. In all 34 heats were run over the first two days.

The water conditions were not the fl at water everyone was promised because the sandbanks had moved from last year and the pool of water at high tide had largely disappeared leaving most of the riding in choppy seas.

What everyone appreciated was the double elimination, so for those who were knocked out of their heats on the first day, they all got a second chance the next day.

Over the two days the Open Men’s finally whittled down to Keahi DeAboitiz, Ben Winding, Michael Bell and Alex “Rowdy” Lewis-Hughes.

Keahi (16) and Michael (17) had entered both the Open and Juniors and between them competed in about 20 heats, some of them back to back.

Perth-based Michael, who was undefeated in the heats, was finally beaten by Keahi who then took on Ben, who also was unbeaten in the heats.

But because Ben had been undefeated in the heats, under PKRA rules, Keahi had to beat Ben twice if Ben lost in the first final heat. And that’s what Keahi did, finally winning in his eleventh heat of the day.

Based in Noosa, Keahi, who won the Juniors in 2008 is the second Junior after Andy Yates to win the Open event. He won by pulling off a series of stylish tricks with his own unique style including a Blind Judge 3, back to Blind, 313 and L3.

“I was really sore the next day in my legs, back, stomach. But it was a real step up for me after winning the Juniors two years ago. I found the comp this year tough as I was not expecting the choppy waters and variable wind conditions.”

Adelaide’s Ben Winding who is 20 and studying Mechanical Engineering at Uni has been kiting since he was 12. He loved the competition this year and the wind.

“Last year’s Nationals we spent the first day with no wind at all. Also the standard of the competition this year is pretty high. He was delighted with his performance and that he landed his favourite back mobes and Flat 5s.

Junior champion and Open third place getter, Michael Bell said he never expected to do as well in the Open and felt overall the standard of competition was higher than last year.

“I entered the Open to test myself.” He was full of praise for

Keahi.

“He has a unique style that no one else has, it’s very powered and fluid.”

But Michael will work hard to come back a more stylish and powered rider himself next year, “and I’ll be doing more grabs!”

The Women’s Finals also produced a similar run-off between Michelle England from Newcastle and reigning champ Marine Sudre, from Botany Bay.

Michelle was unbeaten in the heats so Marine had to beat Michelle twice before taking the title. Natalie Clarke from Melbourne (Brighton) finished third and Charlotte Simsar also from Melbourne (St Kilda) fourth.

After the event Marine reflected on how she had felt very comfortable in the strong winds.

She nailed S Bends to blind with surface pass, Raley to blind with surface pass and unhooked Kite Loop and huge airs.

Marine is delighted with how many women are coming into the sport and her message to all prospective women kiters is: “Be less scared, harden up and win or lose just get into this great sport.”

Runner-up Michelle England was full of praise for Marine and the standard of all the women’s competitors. She was particularly impressed with Charlotte Simsar.

“We are still behind the boys in standard but we are fast catching up.”

Natalie Clarke loved the atmosphere: “All the girls were really helpful and friendly to each other. Although the winds were tricky I managed to pull off all things I wanted to, including (her trademark) double back roll. It was a really good learning experience and for next year I am going to refine my tricks and be more consistent in terms of nailing them.”

In the Juniors Ewan Jaspan lost to Keahi in the single elimination but then beat Matt Wesson to

finish third in the singles.

In the double elimination he met Keahi in the playoff for the grand final. Ewan landed virtually all of his tricks which included blind judges, double s-bends and back roll to blind grabs. His win put him into the final with Michael Bell who went on to win. The judges described Ewan’s win as the biggest upset of the day and he went on to win the Andy Yates Talent Award.

New Junior champion Michael, who is based at Pinnaroo north of Perth, has been kiting for two and half years was encouraged by Andy Yates who has been training in Western Australia with Michael to enter both the Junior and Men’s Open.

So how did he feel having now done it? “

I feel really good about pushing myself and just running on adrenalin for two days.”

So what’s his secret to keep going?

“Just landing the tricks!”

Runner-up Ewan added: “I came to the comp hoping to get into the top 10, so I can’t believe I came second. The conditions were much easier for someone who prefers trying tricks on their natural stance rather than goofy because of the wind direction.

“It was great meeting up with all the other kiters and I look forward to seeing everyone again next year.”

Along with Michael and Keahi, the third person to enter both the Juniors and Seniors is Newcastle’s Lloyd Wakewood.

Lloyd who is 17, rides Peter Lynn kites and had a completely different style to others: “I went

to Mambo to do wave riding but after seeing Ruben Lenten I decided to focus on freestyle.

While others fl y low I keep my kite higher which allows me to do front rolls with handle passes.” The winner of the Best Up and Comer and a new kite, 14-year-old Lindsey Hobbs, came sixth, “I really enjoyed the comp and I want to do even better next year and then win the PKRA and be world champion!”

His highlight was winning Slingshot sponsorship.

Go Lindsey!

The Masters were won by Richard Milne from Melbourne who fought back after losing in the first round on day one.

“I found the first day pretty difficult with the off-shore wind very difficult to perform in and I was nervous as hell. But the second day was much better with on-shore 25 knot winds and I was much more relaxed and did all the stuff I know I can land: F16, KGBs with kite

loops, pull up mobes, tantrums with kite loops, powered kite loops.” Milne added: “And the competition was great, everyone was very friendly and the water was so warm, which meant we didn’t need wetsuits that just weigh you down. That made for great kiting!”

Results

National Championships

Open Men:

1 Keahi DeAboitiz

2 Ben Winding

3 Michael Bell

Women:

1 Marine Sudre

2 Michelle England

3 Natalie Clarke

Juniors:

1 Michael Bell

2 Ewan Jaspan

3 Keahi DeAboitiz

Masters:

1 Richard Milne

2 Chris Wardell

3 Hayden Fleming

Andy Yates Talent Award:

Ewan Jaspan

Best Junior Up and Comer:

Lindsey Hobbs

Judges’ tips to

Competitors

1. Always be well prepared for your event. Get all your kites pumped up.

2. Make sure you check when your heat is on and be ready to go

3. Kite in front of the judges as much as possible, fight to get your spot

4. Do tricks both way, that will score higher

5. Don’t be like everyone else, bring something extra, don’t just copy others.

6. Ride as you want to ride

Coconet Classic

Free Ride Champion:

1 Zebb Peters,

2 Lee Kavanagh,

3 Luke Bourke

Coconet Women’s Champ:

Charlotte Simsar

Free Spirit Award:

Josh Hickey

Best (worst) injury:

Natalie Clarke

Best on rail:

Alex Lewis-Hughes

Sponsors:

Danielle and Tim Straatmans at Coconet, Slingshot, Gale Force, Best, Arsa, Nobile and Kite Mag