First name in racing & #1 on the WATER!

[kent]

Please check the release below. I must say that after all of the events that I have been to and competed in, this one takes the cake. It has a killer venue, unbelievable organization, and support from the local media and community like no other. The follow up press resulted in out of industry coverage including a pod cast on SAIL MAGAZINES website. An event of this magnitude legitimizes the competitive side of this sport and takes it to a new level. This is the first real, sanctioned nationals in kitesurfing and opens the door for international sanctioning and maybe even the Olympics in the future. If you have any interest in racing or are looking for the best equipment for the upcoming light wind season read on. I’m working on a detailed account of the event that will be posted later.

Kent




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CONTACT: Adventure Sports, Inc. 305-591-3922


Cabrinha Team Rocks 2008 US Kiteboarding National Championships!


Cabrinha team members Damien Leroy and Clarissa Hempel take top honors at kite racings most competitive and prestigious event.


June 9-15, 2008 US National Kite Course Racing Championships, San Francisco, California

The 2008 US Nationals were held in wild conditions just under the Golden Gate Bridge. Like the 2007 event, the 08 event was hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club and run with the precision of a finely tuned Swiss watch.
The US Nationals are sanctioned by US Sailing, the governing body of sailing in the US. This designation helps to pave the way for kite racing to be sanctioned by ISAF, the international body of sailing and hopefully an Olympic berth in the future.
This year’s event could only be described as COMPETITIVLY HEATED! The world’s top racers were in attendance, including last years champion, Anthony Chavez, top Bay area racers Shawn Richman and Jeff Kafka, kite master Sky Solbach, and of course reigning PKRA world champion Sean Farley. On the women’s side, Kristine Boese was on hand to fearlessly defend her 2007 title.
The international fleet of racers was looking for top racing conditions and Crissy Field and the Golden Gate delivered. A total of 15 races were held in a variety of wind conditions that ranged from 15 knots to what even respected waterman and Bay area local Jeff Kafka described as “brutal” with winds gusting to over 30 knots!.
Early on, Damien Leroy and Sky Solbach set the tone of the event by splitting firsts and seconds in the qualifier rounds while pre-race favorite Sean Farley started off with inconsistent results. Clarissa Hempel charged full on and finished several races in a respectable position well in front of most of the male competitors and tops among the women. The difficult conditions and high level of racing caused many registered racers to withdraw from the event prematurely to watch the action. The smaller fleet allowed race organizers to start all remaining riders on a single line and go directly to finals scoring.
In the finals, it was a team effort for Cabrinha. Making new fins, sharing kites, mending boards, and discussing race tactics all helped to propel top Cabrinha riders into excellent positions. Damien rode a variety of kites but opted to ride his usual weapon of choice, the tremendously rangy Crossbow 3’s in sizes from 7 to 12 meter. His choice of board was an NJS designed 6’1 racing quad with custom fins of his own making. Clarissa was riding Switch Blade 3’s and a Kafka race quad 5’6.
As the event raced on, Damien showed incredible consistency finishing 1st or 2nd in all races but one where he finished 3rd that he was able to discard. As the points were very close, the young racer remained composed, yet when the situation called he was able to aggressively attack. His arsenal included nail biting port tack starts and full throttle blasts off the wind to protect and sometimes increase his points lead. While Damien was among the fastest riders down wind, it was his totally dominate up wind angle that helped him to win this most important title. Clarissa was able to stay the course and finish 18th overall among the men and 9 points ahead of Kristen Boese to take the women’s title.
Other Cabrinha riders with top results were Jon Modica finishing 4th overall using the new Crossbow IDS, Kent Marinkovic finishing 8th using the CB3 and Crossbow IDS, last year’s second place winner, Jeff Kafka using a mix of Contra and CB3 finishing 9th, 4 x Olympian Mike “Gebi” Gebhardt using Crossbow IDS in 11th, race organizer John Gomes using Switchblade 3’s in 12th, and Nils S. racing on Switchblade 3’s rounding out the top 15.
“Having been a member of the US Olympic Sailing Team for 7 years and competing on a top level in windsurfing, seeing Damien and Clarissa take these titles at this stage of the sport made me feel like a proud parent. Being there as part of this incredible team and helping contribute to their success made me feel like I was standing a top the podium with both of them, it was inspiring. Damo, Clarissa, and the rest of the team are the best personalities in the sport regardless of their outstanding results. I couldn’t be happier!” Kent Marinkovic

2008 US National Kite Championships

Results Men’s overall

1st Damien Leroy CABRINHA
2nd Sean Farley north
3rd Sky Solbach north
4th Jon Modica CABRINHA
5th Anthony Chavez naish
6th Jon Van Malsen north
7th Shawn Richman waiman
8th Kent Marinkovic CABRINHA
9th Jeff Kafka CABRINHA
10th Ken Winner north

Results Masters

1st Mike Gebhardt CABRINHA
2nd Nils Stolzlechner CABRINHA
3rd Chip Wasson Flexifoil

Results Women

1st Clarissa Hempel CABRINHA
2nd Kristin Boese best
3rd Melissa Gil CABRINHA


For more photos and info:

http://www.wmd.com/200806uskitenationals
http://www.teamcoyote.net/2008Coyote...surf_2008.html

[fearlu]

It should probably also be noted that Sean Farley had some pretty decent rounds too and maybe wasn't really that inconsistent. He was 1st in qualifying rounds #5 and #11, 2nd in qualifying round #3 and 3rd in qualifying round #8 (not too shabby.)

Further, he won every heat on the last day of racing and six-out-of-nine championship rounds during the finals, finishing 2nd overall. This is not meant to diminish the outstanding performance of your team in any way, but I winced a little when I read the press release since I think he did a fine job too.

(Not to mention a bunch of 3rds and 4ths from you, battling hard with this talented group...)

[Steve-O]

Kent...that's awesome. I too am stoked with the diverse personality of the Cabrinha team. Great people with some talent to boot.

Congrats to Damo....maybe he will compete in the Olympics after all.

[ricki]

Glad you folks did well on the coast. All that practice and fun sessions paid off. Keep at it!


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