Kite-surfing action truly rocks Cannon

JON HOUZET

FEELING like Goldilocks testing out the bears’ beds, kite surfers found one day "just right” flanked by a day of gale force winds and another of barely any wind at all at the recent Halyards Cannon Rocks Kite-boarding Classic.

Novices got to meet their heroes at the four-day event, including Kite Surf Pro women’s world champion Jalou Langeree, who handily won the pro wave riding and pro freestyle events at Cannon Rocks.

It was Langeree’s first visit to the coastal village and she described the venue as "really lovely”.

POWER TRIO: Head judge Olaf van Tol, Kite Surf Pro world champion Jalou Langeree and contest organiser Cedric Vandenschrik at the Halyards Cannon Rocks Kite-boarding Classic on Saturday Picture: JON HOUZET

"I’ve only been here two days so it’s hard to judge [it as a kite-surfing destination],” she said in an interview with TotT on Saturday.

"[On Friday] we had big waves, but it was messy as it was too windy. Today is pleasant. I would like to see it when it’s perfect,” she said.

"When it gets good for us it’s never good for spectators because they’re eating sand on the beach. That’s just how it goes.”

Organisers called off events on the first day last Thursday as 55 knot winds made for impossible conditions.

But on the second day they were greeted by a strong but manageable westerly wind and four metre swell.

"Friday was by far the best conditions,” said head judge Olaf van Tol. "The first day was too much. You could kite but not compete really.”

Organisers fit as much as they could into the day, completing the freestyle section and moving on to the wave riding section.

"The quality of conditions at Cannon Rocks is world-class,” said Van Tol. "I’ve seen quite a few beaches but the set up here is great.

"For such a relatively unknown event you have a nice field of competitors.”

By Saturday the wind had died down and competitors waited on the beach for much of the day, with the younger kiters playing around by launching off dunes and being towed by their friends.

It was also the first time at Cannon Rocks for men’s pro freestyle kite-surfer Carl Ferreira, from Cape Town.

The 15-year-old, who is sponsored by Naish Kite-boarding South Africa, described the venue as "super-fine”.

He was glad to meet Langeree again, as "I’ve always been a fan”, he said.

After the Cannon Rocks competition, he headed to the Mobe Extreme Challenge in Langebaan and Tableview, which lasts until Monday.

Due to some constraints placed on the pro riders by another event, the Cannon Rocks prize giving was held on Saturday evening to include as many participants as possible. The last day was dedicated to an exhibition for the public.

GRABBING AIR: Cape Town kite-surfer Carl Ferreira used the downtime on the Cannon Rocks beach on Saturday to have fun with friends by launching off the dunes and being pulled by a tow rope Picture: JON HOUZET

Organiser Cedric Vandenschrik said the Halyards Cannon Rocks Kite-boarding Classic had taken one step closer to becoming a fully fledged international event.

"The involvement of international judge Olaf van Tol and some large sponsors like The Halyards, Peter Lynn, Dakine, VanHunks, Thule, Red Bull and Ozone, as well as the support from local businesses, Cannon Rocks Holiday Resort, Cannon Rocks Homebuilders and Pam Golding meant that we have stepped into a new and higher category of event,” he said.

"The conditions were extremely favourable for kiting even if the initial 100 to 130km/h windson the first day did halt the competition for a few hours. All in all three days of wind out of four is an organiser's dream,” he said.

Results:

Men’s pro freestyle:

1 Oswald Smith
2 Colin Heckroodt
3 Oscar Armstrong
4 Carl Ferreira

Women’s pro freestyle:

1 Jalou Langeree
2 Michelle Smith

Men’s pro wave riding:

1 Colin Heckroodt
2 Oswald Smith
3 Josh Emanuel
4 Anthony Berzack

Women’s pro wave riding:

1 Jalou Langeree
2 Michelle Smith
3 Kristin Keppel

Special Ozone prize for most promising novice:

Carmen Gee

"Pimp My Kite” (intermediate) freestyle:

1 Jourits Linders
2 Bruce Hough
3 Bradley Ford

Men’s novice freestyle:

1 Neil Hayward
2 Ross Hassall
3 Smith Jordaan

Women’s novice freestyle

1 Natasha Haller
2 Kristine Keppel
3 Carmen Gee