ricki
09-26-2005, 07:34 PM
First Place: Andy Hurdman
Second Place: Madison VanHeurk
Third Place: Sam Medysky
Wednesday September 21, 2005, Last day of Summer, Competitor arrival and check in
Weather: Sunny 85 degrees
Wind: SW 25 knots
Riding Spot: Point Betsie
“One of the most beautiful SW days of the year” all the local boys kept chanting. Miss Betsie’s golden nugget was firing. Solid eight-foot faces shaped up nicely on the outside sandbar with perfect booters building on the inside. A dozen to two dozen kiters took full advantage of the conditions, slashing waves and sending it huge on 8 and 10-meter kites. One rider in particular stood out amongst the rest, Madison Van Heurck, not because of his 6-meter kite and small size, but because of his explosive style and balls out commitment. He made the unknown mistake of traveling a little too far downwind and luffing his kite behind the lighthouse. As I helped untangle his lines, pull his kite from the break wall, and explain the points wind shadow, the little grommet hailing from St. Thomas just smiled at me and said, “I just wanted to try one more trick sooo bad!!” This statement set the tone for the remainder of the weekend.
Thursday September 22, 2005, First day of Fall, First day of Competition
Weather: Spots of rain early with clear skies in the afternoon
Wind: NW 25 knots
Riding Spot: Event Location Platte River Point
“It is going off!!!” echoed throughout the beach. Starting at three o’clock, just after lunch and the riders meeting, the fierce NW winds unleashed their furry dishing out powerful winds, rough chop and overall very demanding conditions. Heats started quickly and ran full steam through the day. 32 riders rigged and rode 12 to 8 meter kites, with the groms on 6 and 4 meters. The judging was extremely tough with such high caliber talent and riders just flat out hucking themselves. The crew of groms from Canada blew minds, as well as local legend Brad Knoth and Chris Landis’s laid-out kiteloops. Spectators cringed at pile drive after pile drive. Qualifiers ran all the way to sunset, with standouts Andy Hurdman, Madison V., Sam Medeskey and Joel Hageman advancing to the Finals. To say the riders went balls out and gave it all they had in the final round is an understatement. Kiteloops, F-16s, powered mobes, slim chances, and blind landings in the chaotic chop looked effortless from these professionals. Spectators cheered as the four finalists walked off the water after the final horn of the day, landing their kites with huge smiles from an unforgettable Lake Michigan session.
Friday September 23, 2005, Second day of Competition
Weather: Clear sunny skies
Wind: N 20-25 knots
Riding Spot: Event Location Platte River Point
Quite possibly this is the most epic kiteboarding day in the history of Michigan. Nearly fifty kites dotted the clear sunny sky as strong steady North winds gave riders perfect side shore conditions. The top three finalists from Thursday’s elimination (Andy Hurdman, Sam Medysky, Madison Van Heurck) all rode so solid the judges were unable to come to a final decision on a winner. The event hosts decided to challenge the riders in three different categories in order to select the best all-around champion; Kiteloops, handlepasses and slider jam. Fully lit on 8-meter kites, the three competitors held nothing back as they hucked themselves as hard as possible. F-16’s, L-3’s, kiteloop slim chances, blind kiteloops, and tricks that are unable to even be named were thrown down in a 20-minute heat. Immediately following the kiteloop comp, the three finalists left everyone on the beach speechless by sticking the most technical powered handlepasses in the book. Madison’s KGBs and Slims looked better than Dre’s, and Andys front Mobes were so powered and fast it looked like he was being pulled behind a boat. Next up the slider jam; placed on a sandbar thirty yards offshore, spectators crowded around the beach and the up-wind side of the slider to stand only a few feet away from the trio rocking the slider in a one-hour heat. Frontside, backside, boardslide and every other slide to blind and flat three from the slider were attempted. Madison and Andy both stuck back to blinds onto the slider while Sam finally landed the cleanest boardslide to flat three of the day. The crowd was screaming at the top of their lungs, pushing the riders to their limit. Once the three competitors finished the intense and extremely progressive day of competition, they left the water with their faces showing the excitement of an eight year old at Christmas, it was unanimously stated that this had been the best riding experience of their lives. With massive sand dunes along the horizon and the ability to stand only feet away from riders pushing themselves as hard as possible on a 32 foot slider made for some of the best spectating the sport has encountered. Trying to select a winner from the three different specialty heats was also nearly impossible once again. The caliber of riding is world class, comparing to any top professional rider around the globe. It was truly amazing to witness such positive competitive spirit, rider camaraderie, and support from family and friends.
Friday September 24, 2005, Third day of Competition
Weather: 80 degrees, clear sunny skies
Wind: ESE 20 knots
Riding Spot: Chimney Corners Resort, North Shore Crystal Lake
What better way to end an already unforgettable weekend than to kite directly in front of the Red Bull resort on a steady 20 knot wind that only blows in this direction a few times a year. Starting around 9:30 am, 9 and 12 meter kites started popping up and filling into Crystal Lake. Red Bull ordered up some killer tunes right there on the beach along with lunch and videos. Competitors enjoyed the day just chilling and riding, getting to know each other and learn about the different kiters from all around the Midwest. As the wind and sun dropped into the horizon, the entire camaraderie of 60 riders and friends pilled into the “Broneah School Bus” and blazed a trail into downtown Traverse City for the awards ceremony at Bubbas Bar and Grill. Red Bull properly decorated the bar and served up meals and drinks in style. Awards were given to nearly every one of the 32 qualifiers. Winner Andy Hurdman happily received his free trip to Maui to compete in the King of the Air finals, while runner up Madison Van Heurck and third place qualifier Sam Medysky each received a free camp in Puerto Rico to ride and train thanks to Broneah Kiteboarding. Once awards and dinner were finished, the crew was set free in downtown Traverse City, knowing that the only thing that mattered was to make it back to the bus at the Broneah shop by 2:15am.
In the end the event was one to remember, with good wind every day and a solid crew of kiteboarders all with very positive attitudes. This is the type of life experience that will be remembered for many years to come with incredible memories that were formed both on and off the water, the type of lifestlye that you never want to separate from.
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM1.sized.jpg
Hurdman going huge during Day 1 Finals
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM2.sized.jpg
Madison droping the bar during Day 2 KITE LOOP comp
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM4.sized.jpg
Sam with his clean style over the slider during Day 2 SLIDER JAM
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM6.sized.jpg
Hurdman with another back to blind on the rail during Day 2 SLIDER JAM
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM3.sized.jpg
Overhead of the event site
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM5.jpg
These boys deserve mad respect!
more info at www.broneah.com
From: http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2320349
Second Place: Madison VanHeurk
Third Place: Sam Medysky
Wednesday September 21, 2005, Last day of Summer, Competitor arrival and check in
Weather: Sunny 85 degrees
Wind: SW 25 knots
Riding Spot: Point Betsie
“One of the most beautiful SW days of the year” all the local boys kept chanting. Miss Betsie’s golden nugget was firing. Solid eight-foot faces shaped up nicely on the outside sandbar with perfect booters building on the inside. A dozen to two dozen kiters took full advantage of the conditions, slashing waves and sending it huge on 8 and 10-meter kites. One rider in particular stood out amongst the rest, Madison Van Heurck, not because of his 6-meter kite and small size, but because of his explosive style and balls out commitment. He made the unknown mistake of traveling a little too far downwind and luffing his kite behind the lighthouse. As I helped untangle his lines, pull his kite from the break wall, and explain the points wind shadow, the little grommet hailing from St. Thomas just smiled at me and said, “I just wanted to try one more trick sooo bad!!” This statement set the tone for the remainder of the weekend.
Thursday September 22, 2005, First day of Fall, First day of Competition
Weather: Spots of rain early with clear skies in the afternoon
Wind: NW 25 knots
Riding Spot: Event Location Platte River Point
“It is going off!!!” echoed throughout the beach. Starting at three o’clock, just after lunch and the riders meeting, the fierce NW winds unleashed their furry dishing out powerful winds, rough chop and overall very demanding conditions. Heats started quickly and ran full steam through the day. 32 riders rigged and rode 12 to 8 meter kites, with the groms on 6 and 4 meters. The judging was extremely tough with such high caliber talent and riders just flat out hucking themselves. The crew of groms from Canada blew minds, as well as local legend Brad Knoth and Chris Landis’s laid-out kiteloops. Spectators cringed at pile drive after pile drive. Qualifiers ran all the way to sunset, with standouts Andy Hurdman, Madison V., Sam Medeskey and Joel Hageman advancing to the Finals. To say the riders went balls out and gave it all they had in the final round is an understatement. Kiteloops, F-16s, powered mobes, slim chances, and blind landings in the chaotic chop looked effortless from these professionals. Spectators cheered as the four finalists walked off the water after the final horn of the day, landing their kites with huge smiles from an unforgettable Lake Michigan session.
Friday September 23, 2005, Second day of Competition
Weather: Clear sunny skies
Wind: N 20-25 knots
Riding Spot: Event Location Platte River Point
Quite possibly this is the most epic kiteboarding day in the history of Michigan. Nearly fifty kites dotted the clear sunny sky as strong steady North winds gave riders perfect side shore conditions. The top three finalists from Thursday’s elimination (Andy Hurdman, Sam Medysky, Madison Van Heurck) all rode so solid the judges were unable to come to a final decision on a winner. The event hosts decided to challenge the riders in three different categories in order to select the best all-around champion; Kiteloops, handlepasses and slider jam. Fully lit on 8-meter kites, the three competitors held nothing back as they hucked themselves as hard as possible. F-16’s, L-3’s, kiteloop slim chances, blind kiteloops, and tricks that are unable to even be named were thrown down in a 20-minute heat. Immediately following the kiteloop comp, the three finalists left everyone on the beach speechless by sticking the most technical powered handlepasses in the book. Madison’s KGBs and Slims looked better than Dre’s, and Andys front Mobes were so powered and fast it looked like he was being pulled behind a boat. Next up the slider jam; placed on a sandbar thirty yards offshore, spectators crowded around the beach and the up-wind side of the slider to stand only a few feet away from the trio rocking the slider in a one-hour heat. Frontside, backside, boardslide and every other slide to blind and flat three from the slider were attempted. Madison and Andy both stuck back to blinds onto the slider while Sam finally landed the cleanest boardslide to flat three of the day. The crowd was screaming at the top of their lungs, pushing the riders to their limit. Once the three competitors finished the intense and extremely progressive day of competition, they left the water with their faces showing the excitement of an eight year old at Christmas, it was unanimously stated that this had been the best riding experience of their lives. With massive sand dunes along the horizon and the ability to stand only feet away from riders pushing themselves as hard as possible on a 32 foot slider made for some of the best spectating the sport has encountered. Trying to select a winner from the three different specialty heats was also nearly impossible once again. The caliber of riding is world class, comparing to any top professional rider around the globe. It was truly amazing to witness such positive competitive spirit, rider camaraderie, and support from family and friends.
Friday September 24, 2005, Third day of Competition
Weather: 80 degrees, clear sunny skies
Wind: ESE 20 knots
Riding Spot: Chimney Corners Resort, North Shore Crystal Lake
What better way to end an already unforgettable weekend than to kite directly in front of the Red Bull resort on a steady 20 knot wind that only blows in this direction a few times a year. Starting around 9:30 am, 9 and 12 meter kites started popping up and filling into Crystal Lake. Red Bull ordered up some killer tunes right there on the beach along with lunch and videos. Competitors enjoyed the day just chilling and riding, getting to know each other and learn about the different kiters from all around the Midwest. As the wind and sun dropped into the horizon, the entire camaraderie of 60 riders and friends pilled into the “Broneah School Bus” and blazed a trail into downtown Traverse City for the awards ceremony at Bubbas Bar and Grill. Red Bull properly decorated the bar and served up meals and drinks in style. Awards were given to nearly every one of the 32 qualifiers. Winner Andy Hurdman happily received his free trip to Maui to compete in the King of the Air finals, while runner up Madison Van Heurck and third place qualifier Sam Medysky each received a free camp in Puerto Rico to ride and train thanks to Broneah Kiteboarding. Once awards and dinner were finished, the crew was set free in downtown Traverse City, knowing that the only thing that mattered was to make it back to the bus at the Broneah shop by 2:15am.
In the end the event was one to remember, with good wind every day and a solid crew of kiteboarders all with very positive attitudes. This is the type of life experience that will be remembered for many years to come with incredible memories that were formed both on and off the water, the type of lifestlye that you never want to separate from.
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM1.sized.jpg
Hurdman going huge during Day 1 Finals
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM2.sized.jpg
Madison droping the bar during Day 2 KITE LOOP comp
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM4.sized.jpg
Sam with his clean style over the slider during Day 2 SLIDER JAM
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM6.sized.jpg
Hurdman with another back to blind on the rail during Day 2 SLIDER JAM
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM3.sized.jpg
Overhead of the event site
http://www.broneah.com/gallery/albums/album02/FORUM5.jpg
These boys deserve mad respect!
more info at www.broneah.com
From: http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2320349