Aloha hawaii!

Its been a crazy start to the DKWT for 2012 with epic waves at Pipe in the first week of the contest window. Most would agree that the IBA are definatley doing justice for the sport with such great infrastructure and media now in place. It was super hard for me watching such epic waves(if that makes scence) for the mens event, but in the end the right call was made with great conditions for DK yesterday. Not for a while have i seen such awesome DK riding in heavy waves. Miles Kauhaahaa and Bud Miyamoto just blew backdoor to bits with a backdoor barrell fiesta almost every wave.

 

With some pretty heavy names in the draw this year, like Kainoa McGee, it was always going to be hard for a non-hawaiian to win I would have thought. The hawaiians domninate the lineup so well with a mix of local knowledge and the obvious intimidation to an extent! Also the IBA implemented a 4 man priority system for the contest which I thought was a outstnading success, as it gives the riders the chance to get the right waves and bust the biggest moves, which in the end raises the level of contest surfing. But in the end you have to execute on the waves you select and Sacha Specker did so. There were points in the final where the end result could have changed dramtically, with waves for all the riders but they just couldnt convert. Miyamoto had an awesome late take off barrell at Pipe that netted him an 8.25 and then held position with 2 minutes to go and a set on the horizon, but the set went to off the wall and missed Pipe altogether which just left the boys high 5-ing each other as the countdown went 5-4-3-2-1 and the hooter sounded the first ever GSS win for Specker.

 

That was one of the great moments in a final where all the riders showed respect for each others ability, regardless of the final outcome. Props to Kainoa, Bud, Miles and of course Specker for gracefully acknowledging his opponents and their abilities in winning the final. As a matter of fact all the guys that made it to Pipe showed some great ability in waves of consequence so its a great start for the tour.

 

Thanks to everyone that had anything to do with the event, until you see it live you just have to respect the job these guys n girls do to get it to your screen. Next up…..Peruvian Inka Challenge! $12000 prizemoney and 2200 points, the BIGGEST event on the tour.

 

Yew 

Clayton Pickworth  (Photo Clayton and Kainoa)