Conditions first thing for the start of the competition finals on Monday 27th August 2012 were ideal. The approaching typhoon was giving rise for concern and an emergency programme was put in place to complete the championships within the day. This involved maintaining the two separate ski and wakeboard sites.
The tournament waterskiing competition resumed with the women’s slalom finals with Phillipa Yoong (MAS) scoring 0.5 buoys at 55kph on a 13 metres line (0.5/55/13) to capture the Asian gold medal. The Asian, Australasian & Oceanian (AAO) gold went to Michale Briant (AUS) with Lana Donaldson (NZL) taking silver.
Conditions remained ideal for the start of the men’s slalom with eighth off the dock Salvador Chiha (LIB) posting an excellent score of 2/58/11.25, a target which, as the wind picked up and conditions deteriorated, looked increasingly like a medal contender. Lying in at least silver medal position with just Ryan Green (AUS), who had matched this score in his first round, to go, Green having completed the 14.25-metre pass opted to return on a 12-metre line but scored just four before crashing out. The gold medals in both the Asian and AAO were Chiha’s, being the first Asian to take the AAO title.
Whilst the U17 awards were being presented the women’s jump competition commenced with the three Japanese women Kazumi Inoue, Harue Kamiya and Saaya Hirosawa taking the Asian podium positions with bronze, silver and gold medals respectively. However, Hirosawa’s jump of 41.1 metres was also good enough to capture the AAO gold with Chelsea Scott’s jump of 38.5m relegating Kamiya to bronze.
The Stars of Florida then performed their entertaining ski show before the men’s jump got underway.
Unfortunately by then the breeze had continued to strengthen and the Chief Judge called a temporary
halt to proceedings. With conditions failing to improve skiing was called off for the day with a decision to be made early the next morning whether the men’s jump and men and women’s tricks could be completed.
Meanwhile the wakeboarding competition continued but the rescheduling entailed the elimination of the last chance qualifier round.
In the Asian wakeboard championships on Sunday 26th August Miku Asai (JPN) took the gold from Chen Li Li (CHN) whilst Shota Tezuka (JPN) relegated Tatsanai Kuakoonrat (THA) to silver in the men’s with Japan taking the team event.
With a separate competition held for the AAO’s there were different riders on the podium other than Tatsanai Kuakoonrat (THA) who this time captured gold beating out both Australian’s Corey Teunissen and Tony Iacconi. In the women’s AAO gold was won by Bec Gange (AUS) with a score of 59.87 relegating Sasha Christian (SIN) into silver medal position with 56.12. Australia took the team gold and the newly presented Max Kirwan perpetual shield.
Conditions failed to improve the next morning and no further skiing was deemed possible. Consequently using the scores from the first round medals were awarded. Jeong Jimin (KOR) with 55.5m took the Asian gold and AAO silver, whilst Ryan Green (AUS) jump of 58.2 was good enough for the AAO gold
medal.
Likewise with a trick score of 9910 in his first round Green topped the podium AAO positions with Josh Briant 9270 second. Shunjiro Hagama (JPN) took the Asian gold medal with 5180 from Shi Long Fei (CHN).
In the women’s event the two Chinese women Jiang Hui and Song Yu Fei tied their scores on 4930 to share the gold medal with 9-year old Aaliyeh Yoong-Hanifah (MAS) taking bronze with her new Malaysian record of 4220.