Photo by Fish Bowl Diaries
Grand final day produced some impressive performances from both a legend of the sport and a potential future one. The under 21 Pro Juniors and over 45 Masters divisions were run to completion in logo-high waves and a light cross-offshore wind.
Dunkerbeck Crowned U21 Champion
Spain’s Liam Dunkerbeck claimed a decisive victory today in the Pro Junior Aloha Classic. He set the bar high on his first wave, with top-to-bottom rail surfing, tail blows and aerials to earn a 7.6 – the highest single wave score of the final. While many competitors struggled to find waves with multiple maneuver opportunities, Dunkerbeck showed great maturity in his wave selection. He picked off a smaller wave, snapped some turns and finished with a wave 360.
Dunkerbeck’s dominance this year leaves no doubt he is the top U21 rider in the world. He has won every competition he’s entered, including Japan, Chile, Canary Islands and now Hawaii. “It’s been three years in a row that I’m in the division and I’ve won every heat and every final for three years,” he said. “My focus will now be on the Pro Men’s where I am in the quarter finals. It will be hard heats from now, I will just go out and have fun and learn more.”
Finishing in second place, Japan’s Hayata Ishii cemented his reputation with fearless riding at Hookipa. Ishii delivered crisp aerials and a goiter in the final and would have been more dangerous if he could find waves that offered connecting sections.
Germany’s Marlon Maethner rounded out the podium in third, showcasing aggressive riding on a big set wave to score a 6 and the third best wave of the final. Despite a strong semi-final, Japan’s Ryu Noguchi appeared to feel finals pressure as the others caught bigger waves early on, leading him to chase smaller waves. However, Noguchi should feel encouraged by his impressive progress in the Pro Men’s division, where he advanced all the way to Round 5 with an attacking style.
Teboul Takes Out An All Goya Masters Final
Keith Teboul looked fast and loose as he hit critical sections to take down his all Goya colleagues. The stand-out rider showcased a vertical attack and fin release hits on some of the biggest sets of the day.
Teboul was riding a new board, partially inspired by the surf style direction Kai Lenny is taking.
“This is a new board that I made for this event. Paul and I have a good rivalry and he was making all these boards so I thought I would make myself a floater. It was only my second time sailing it,” he said.
“If I sail it right, it feels incredible. I was using a set of Kai’s fins, a thruster set. It’s a departure from the way I usually sail, but as long as I stayed close to the wave, I was getting good projection and down the line speed. I had to really surf the wave and think about it differently,” revealed the renowned shaper.
Brand owner and former World Champion, Francisco Goya, finished in second place. Goya was still attacking critical sections and pushing hard on the rail, however his waves simply offered fewer opportunities than Teboul’s.
“When you sail with friends, it brings out the best in everyone. My first event was in 1990 in Maui. I’m just forever grateful to be part of it for this long,” said a nostalgic Goya.
Team rider Vincent Beauvarlet has had a cracker of a competition, finishing third in the Master and equal 17th in the Pro Men. Meanwhile, Fish Bowl Diaries water photographer and Goya staff member, Paul Karaolides might face some good natured ribbing from colleague Teboul after finishing 4th. Karaolides started the event well with excellent top to bottom riding, but seemed to tire during the day after two long days of shooting the event.
Sunday looks to be a lay day, with Monday looking excellent as we progress toward finals day for Pro Men and Pro Women.
The Aloha Classic Wave Grand Final event is running until 1 November at Hookipa Beach Park in Maui, Hawaii.
