Godetevi un po’ di video delle ultime gionate del KIA Cold Hawaii… ah, giusto manca il resoconto finale: molto in breve Thomasino Traversa (Tabou/Gaastra) ha vinto la tappa, la prima della sua vita, Philip Köster (Starboard/NeilPryde/Maui Ultra Fins) in virtù dei risultati raccolti si conferma con una tappa d’anticipo campione del mondo wave anche per il 2012, e Marcilio Brawzinho Browne (Goya Windsurfing/MFC) si aggiudica la City Lift Super Session!
http://youtu.be/PRgEbLQb3rI
http://youtu.be/RXVgZl8IjJM

EVENT SUMMARY: KOSTER WINS BACK-TO-BACK WORLD TITLES, WHILST TRAVERSA WINS IN COLD HAWAII
The third installment of the KIA Cold Hawaii World Cup proved to be another huge success, as Klitmoller maintained its amazing wind record. Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra) produced a fantastic display, as he became the first man to defeat Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) in five events and in doing so, Traversa, claimed his maiden event victory. After finishing fourth in the single elimination, Köster, fought his way back through the double elimination and in the end the wonder kid finished in second place, more importantly though, by finishing ahead of his long term rival, Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North), Köster secured the 2012 PWA Wave Championship.
Single Elimination - Winners’ Final
After defeating Philip Köster in the semi-finals, Thomas Traversa, met Victor Fernandez in the winners’ final. The Frenchman continued his irresistible form in the final as he landed a superb one-handed backloop, whilst demonstrating, time and time again, an unrivaled fluidity and style on the wave in the challenging onshore conditions. Fernandez tried everything in his power to clinch the victory, but his perfect double forward and radical backside 360 were not enough to defeat Traversa on this occasion, who claimed his first ever victory.
Thomas Traversa speaking after his maiden elimination victory: “It was my best result ever, it’s the first time I have won anything, it’s crazy. I don’t know how I won against the best guys but whatever.”
Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) was the last man to beat Köster, before Traversa, at the 2011 KIA Cold Hawaii PWA World Cup, and history repeated itself again this year. The Brazilian sailed brilliantly against Köster and he deservedly claimed his place on the podium. Amazingly Köster was absent from the top three, something that no one would have believed at the start of the week.
Double Elimination
The reigning world champion, Philip Köster, made a rip roaring return in the double elimination, as he went in search of securing the 2012 PWA Wave title. Having put an end to, Kauli Seadi’s (JP / NeilPryde), rampaging run and then exacting revenge against Ricardo Campello, he set up a clash of the titans with his long time rival, Victor Fernandez. If the eighteen year old could defeat Fernandez, then the wonder kid would claim his second successive world crown, whilst a loss would mean he would have to wait until Sylt, in nine days time, to seal his fate. Köster drew upon all of his warrior like qualities as he prepared for the battle of his life; furthermore he managed to transfer all of his previous anger and disappointment from the single elimination, into an unbeatable winning formula. Both sailors gave a display of epic proportions as Fernandez opened with a perfect double forward, before changing to a smaller board for his wave riding mission. Unfortunately for him, Köster responded with a trademark, bolt upright double forward as well as a couple of remarkable waves. The pick of the bunch saw the reigning world champion land a huge backside 360 on a logo high section, as he put everything on the line for the victory. Even an exceptional wave from Fernandez couldn’t halt Köster from marching to the title. The Spaniard scored one of the waves of the day, as he linked a couple of powerful turns, sending plumes of spray flying, before launching into an outrageous frontside aerial. After a few minutes of deliberation, the result was made official and Köster found himself on top of the world once more, after another superhuman effort.
Words from the Defending World Champion Philip Köster: “I’m super stoked, it’s the second time that I’ve won the world championship. It’s pretty crazy for me. Cold Hawaii (Klitmoller) seems to bring me a lot of luck, I’m not sure why, but I feel amazing!”
Winners’ Final
As day three approached its twelfth hour of competition, Thomas Traversa prepared to take on Philip Köster. The French maestro was aiming to secure his first ever event victory. However, he was up against the newly crowned world champion, who was in imperious form. On his way to forcing a super final the wonder kid landed the jump of the entire contest as he landed a trademark fully planing double forward. The landing resulted in the sacrifice of his board and with no spare on the beach he lost a couple of minutes from the heat. However, even this inconvenience couldn’t stop Köster, and he was soon attacking the waves with more venom than ever. By the end of the heat the eighteen year old had busted out an amazing reverse and a brilliant backside wave 360. With the light fading fast the day ended with just one heat left to complete.
Super Final
The first blood in the super final went to Thomas Traversa as the Frenchman made the perfect start in his bid for his maiden event victory. TT picked up a great first wave within the first few minutes, and he linked a super nice frontside, into backside followed by another frontside hit, whilst Köster’s first wave closed out on him, giving the early advantage to Traversa. A few moments later Traversa then scored his highest scoring wave of the heat, as he unleashed a couple of radical backside smacks, before finishing with a silky smooth frontside. After working his way upwind, Köster, delivered the wave of the heat. The double world champion opened with a quite brilliant backside 360 in the light conditions, before linking in a couple of extra front and backside hacks. This wave saw him score 7.88 points across the board and put Köster right back in contention, after a slow start. However, Traversa notched up another solid wave and despite his best efforts, Köster, couldn’t find the wave he needed to respond as he scored 4.38 points for his final wave. The end result meant that Traversa’s better wave selection had secured him his first ever victory by 0.87 points, he also became the first man to defeat Köster, after a five event winning streak.
Thomas Traversa speaking after his first ever event victory: “I’m super happy, I managed to find one really good wave and then a couple of ok waves. The wind was very, very, very light, but for once I had the advantage of being light. It feels crazy and unreal at the moment.”
A few words from Philip Köster: “It was really tough out there, I spent a lot of my time looking for waves or making my way back upwind. I was on my biggest gear but it was so light that I found it super hard. Thomas sailed really well, I saw him getting tons of waves and doing a lot with them, that was pretty hard for me to watch, but that’s the way it goes. Yesterday was still a perfect day for me, I’m super stoked.”
Elsewhere in the double elimination Leon Jamaer (Fanatic / Hot Sails Maui) enjoyed a brilliant day as he secured his best finish to date. The young German was able to win three successive heats as he dispatched of fellow countryman Michael Kleingarn (Starboard / Severne), the super talented Jules Denel (Exocet / XO Sails) and Ireland’s Mikey Clancy (Fanatic / North) as he secured equal ninth overall, with his super tweaked pushloops in particular proving to be a massive hit with the judges. The next battle against, Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360), though, proved one hurdle too many in heat forty-five. Peter Volwater (Fanatic / Avanti) also experienced a fine day as the Dutchman fought his was from the very first round of the double elimination to claim joint ninth as well, after winning four heats in a row. At this point he met an on fire Kauli Seadi. The Brazilian was ripping right from the off today, as his no fear, radical attitude proved to be a winning formula. On several occasions the three times world champion delivered some astonishing, vertical, backside slashes, which were unrivaled. It was only the formidable figure of Philip Köster that halted, Seadi, from breaking into the top four.
With the contest being completed by day four, a super session was held on the penultimate day of the event. With Northerly winds, Cold Hawaii was transformed into a starboard tack jumping venue. The onshore direction made for difficult conditions, but Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) was able to win the contest with a quite brilliant one footed backloop.

Results of the City Lift Super Session
1st Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC)
2nd Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North)
3rd Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde)

Overall Results of the 2012 PWA KIA Cold Hawaii World Cup
1st Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)
2nd Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North)
4th Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
5th Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde)
6th Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra)
7th Daniel Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360)