Beach Blog

The Maui Race Series continues today with round 4 the Quicksilver Cup – watch it on our Kanaha cam in live streaming video……… If you are on Maui come on down to Kanaha Beach Park and check out the action, meet the sailors or better yet sign up for this fun event.

The Maui Race Series is a series of five windsurfing race events held every summer at Kanaha Park in Maui, Hawaii. Maui typically has strong, dependable trade winds in the summer months, and a year-round population of hard-core windsurfers, including many past,  present, and future pros, so the conditions are perfect for slalom sailing and the competition is always very intense.

The start of racing was delayed in the last round, the MFC Open, due to light wind, but eventually all the heats were held  in consistent trade winds of 15-20 knots. Age group divisions ran in the morning, and ability level classes after lunch.

Veteran racer and Windsurfing ambassador Phil McGain captured two divisions, Men’s Open and Men’s 40-49, while Yoshie Ishinoda pulled in the women’s open title. McGain won two heats to lead the 40-49 division, and also took two of four heats in the Open competition to win that division for the first time.

In some of the most thrilling racing of the event, Ishinoda, a windsurfing instructor from Zushi, Japan, edged out defending state champion Tamara Bockius of Haiku, Maui. The division went down to the wire with Yoshie pulling in the prize after a sterling sail in the final round, which ended up being the tie breaker. Great stuff!

Other winners included Deniz Bicakci (juniors), Dan Ellis (19-39), Mike Yasak (50-59), Michael Warmuth (60 and over), Matt Daniells (semipro) and Olaf Sutor (expert).

All in all another great day of racing action. If you are on island come on down to Kanaha and take in the sights sounds and personalities of this great slalom series.

Be sure to keep an eye on the Maui Race Series Facebook pages for some great photos from Jimmie Hepp and Harry Wiewel.

More details can be found at http://www.mauiraceseries.com/

2011 Maui Race Series:

June 4 – Starboard Slalom
June 18 – Da Kine Classic
July 2 – MFC Open
July 16 – Quiksilver Cup
July 30 – Neil Pryde State Championship

Photos: Jeff Bennett

The Maui Race Series resumes today with round 2 of the 5 round series, The Da Kine Classic.

A full field of pro and amature slalom racers will take to the water at around mid day at Kanaha State Park. The conditions are just about perfect today so expect to see some really great action on the water.

The Maui Race Series is a series of five windsurfing race events held every summer at Kanaha Park in Maui, Hawaii. Maui typically has strong, dependable trade winds in the summer months, and a year-round population of hard-core windsurfers, including many past,  present, and future pros, so the conditions are good and the competition is intense.

Round 1 was held two weeks ago and the winners were Dan Ellis (Mens 19-39), Peter Slate (Mens 40-49), Mike Yazak (Men’s 50-59) and Greg Thomas (Men’s 60 and over).

The women’s open division winner was Argentina Jimenez Bonilla. The Jumiors division was won by Deniz Bicakci.

In the Pro divisions it was Peter Slate who came out on top while Neil Turpin won the Semi Pro group. Finally, Olaf Sutor was victorious in the Expert division.

You can check out some great video action from round 1 here.

Check out these great photos courtesy Jimmy Hepp on his facebook page.