The NAUTIQUE Asian Waterski & Wakeboard Championships 2013 continued on Sunday the 29th of September with the Open finals in the tournament disciplines of slalom, jump and tricks, followed by the wakeboard finals.
Although pushed by Korea’s Han Ah-Reum who improved considerably over her first round score with one buoy at 55kph on a 13-metre line, Saaya Hirosawa (Japan) made two to take the ladies’ title. Third placed Sasha Christian (Singapore), more normally seen on a wakeboard than slalom ski, was delighted to take the bronze medal.
The Open Men’s slalom followed with 12 finalists. Former F1 driver Alex Yoong put in a credible performance but could not compete with the six who got onto a 12-metre line. Of these only the second last off the dock, Kim Dongeon, failed to improve on his first round score. After a mistake on the first buoy it was a matter of trying to catch up on his timing for Salvador Chiha (Lebanon) but he still ran three buoys at 12m leaving the last skier Cho Bumgeun (Korea) to beat his opening round score of 2/58/12. He improved by two buoys to take the title with 4/58/12.
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Saaya Hirosawa (Japan) earned another gold medal in Ladies Open Jump clearing 42.5m with her Japanese team mate Harue Kamiya (37.5m) taking silver and Jan Da-hyeong (Korea) bronze.
The first four Men’s Open jumpers all improved on their first round jumps but with the wind increasing the next four fell short. Lying 2nd after round one, Shunjiro Hagama (Japan ) was unable to repeat his 49m first round jump but did enough with 45.1m to take bronze. Having cleared 46.7m Yuichi Yamamoto took silver while ‘Jumping Jimmy’ Jeong Jimin (Korea) matched his first round score of 51.1 metres on his opening jump to retain his title.
Open Ladies Tricks followed with the young Arianna Chow (Malaysia), who has only been skiing for just over a year, put in a credible score of 3120 points.
Finishing in 4th place in her weakest discipline Saaya Hirosawa (Japan) still earned maximum points towards her Overall title. China’s Song Yu Fei raised the bar with 4880 whilst Jiang Hui (China) pushed the total score higher with 5380. With 5050 points in the Under 17 Girl’s tricks last off the dock, 10-year old Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah needed to complete close to a perfect pass. She did not disappoint with 5690 points winning gold for Malaysia.
It was then straight into the Ladies wakeboard finals where Saasha Christian earned her second bronze medal matching that earned with her slalom exploits. Yun Hee-hyun scored 55.65 but could not match the skills of China’s Han Qiu with 65.45 who took the crown.
The Men’s wakeboard final was to prove a battle between with the old guard on the Asian circuit of Tatsanai Kuakoonrat and Padiwat Jaemjan (Bomb) both of Thailand and the Korean usurpers to the crown.
Tatsanai Kuakoonrat put in a super clean display to finish with 71.12 before Ji Hoon (Korea) responded with two stand-up passes behind the 210 Super Air Nautique. However it was the performance of the young Korean Yun Sang-hyun that wowed the enthusiastic commentator and the spectators. Although not the cleanest of rides he landed his tricks including a KGB and Toe 9 in awesome display to take the lead with 82.12.
The pressure was on the last rider Bomb to maintain the Thai’s preminence or hand over the mantle. Unfortunately a fall on both passes sealed his fate with the 15-year old Korean Yun Sang-hyun crowned the new Asian champion.
Korea likewise took the overall wakeboard team award with Singapore 2nd and Indonesia 3rd.
The Indonesia Waterski & Wakeboard Association is to be congratulated on the success of the 2013 NAUTIQUE Asian Waterski & Wakeboard Championships and there wonderful hospitality.
Results available at:
NAUTIQUE 2013 Asian Under 17 Waterski Championships
http://www.iwwfed-ea.org/classic/13/13ASIA001/13ASIA001.html
NAUTIQUE 2013 Asian Open Waterski Championships
http://www.iwwfed-ea.org/classic/13/13ASIA002/13ASIA002.html