Yoni Klein, Ali Khushruwan, and Rina Kitazawa Claim Wins at Maldives Open 2015
15 September 2015, Hudhuranfushi Resort – Maldives: Israel’s Yoni Klein took the Men’s Open win over Indonesia’s Raditya Rondi, the Maldives Ali Khusruwan bested fellow countryman Ali Javid in the Bodyboarding division, and Japan’s Rina Kitazawa successfully defended her title today in challenging 4-5 foot windy and rainy conditions on the final day of competition at Maldives Open 2015 at Lohis Point in front of the Adaraan Select Hudhuranfushi Resort.
After two days of perfect waves and perfect weather, the final day of the Maldives Open 2015 threw down a challenge to the remaining contestants by offering up a variety of conditions to test their mettle and require them to earn their share of the $15,000 USD prize money up for grabs!
In the Men’s Open final, it was 3-time ASC Champion Raditya Rondi from Kuta, Bali (Indonesia) up against Yoni Klein from Israel, battling it out in strong windy conditions for a 25 minute final. Rondi started out attempting one of his patented forehand aerials but failed to complete the landing, giving Klein on his backhand an opening that he took full advantage of, jumping into the lead with solid series of turns that earned him 6.5 points (out of a possible 10). Klein displayed patience in wave selection and executed his turns with surgical precision, while Rondi chased big scoring opportunities while posting his best score of a 7.0 for a series of aggressive turns and floaters, but not able to put up a score better than 4.84 when he needed a 6.20 to take over the lead when time ran out.
“That was a challenging final for sure, and it really could have gone either way,” said Yoni back on the beach. “I’ve known Raditya for a few years now, and even though I haven’t surfed with him for awhile I know what he can do. I just got the better waves today, so I’m happy to get the win and be with him in the final.”
“It was a last minute decision to come here for me and by girlfriend Caity,” added Yoni, “but because I missed coming last year I really wanted to come back, and I’m stoked I did. Caity used to work here, so I’ve surfed here a lot and for me it feels a bit like I’m a local here in some ways. It’s so good to be back and enjoy this time with everybody here!”
In the Body Boarding Division, last year’s runner up Ali Khushruwan from the Maldives did one better and took the spot this year, having bested last year’s winner Gavin Botha from South Africa in the seminfinals, and holding on to his lead in a nailbiter over fellow Maldivian Ali Javed.
“Last year I was the runner up, so this feels unbelieveable to be the winner this year,” said Khushruwan. “I’ve been training hard, and the waves being bigger this year helped me I think. I really like big waves, but you know we have to compete in all kinds of conditions, so even though it was windy and a bit difficult in the final, you just go out there and try your best.”
“I didn’t know that Javed was doing that barrel spin on his last wave, as I couldn’t see it, and I had just done a backflip and got a 7.33, so thought I had it the final. But then I heard some cheers and didn’t really know what was going on with Javed’s last wave in the finals seconds. Luckily, even though he earned a 7.83 for it, it wasn’t enough and I had the win…but I didn’t know it until we both got back on the beach and the MC announced the scores and that I’d won by less than a point. So stoked!”
The only defending champion to retain a winning record was Japan’s Rina Kitazawa in the Women’s Division. Although Amy Koch (USA), who works at the Resort, put up the second highest score of the final a 7.33, and Caity Griffin (USA) who also used to work at the Resort took 9 waves in the final, it was Kitazawa who surfed with the most consistent and aggressive style, linking her maneuvers with a smooth flow that impressed the judges and got her the win. In an amazing performance, 13-year-old Kailani Johnson fearlessly charged the often unruly waves with style beyond her years to earn an impressive second place finish.
After the final, Rina was all smiles saying, “I’m so surprised to win today, I really can’t believe it! I was so nervous at the start of the final, because I knew that Nilbie (Blancada) was leading the rankings so I had to win. But with Amy in the contest, she knows this wave so well and surfs it all the time, plus the surprise of Caity being here who surfs so good, I knew it was going to be very difficult for me. The conditions were difficult too, but I just tried not to think too much and do my best. I’m so happy to win!”
Today’s Video Highlights by Sean Gilhooley:
Body board finals
Open Division finals
Girls finals
Yesterday’s Video Highlights by Sean Gilhooley:
Bodyboard D2 part 1
Bodyboard D2 Part 2
Open Div D2 Part 1
Open Div D2 Part 2
Open Div D2 Part 3
Contest Results:
Men’s Open
1) Yoni Klein (Israel) – 13.13 pts
2) Raditya Rondi (Indonesia) – 11.83 pts
3rd) Garut Widiarta (Indonesia)/Made Adi Putra (Indonesia)
Bodyboard
1) Ali Khushruwan (Maldives) – 14.00 pts
2) Ali Javed (Maldives) – 13.23 pts
3rd) Gavin Botha (South Africa)/Ahmed Rasheed
Women Open
1) Rina Kitazawa (Japan) – 13.17 pts
2) Kailani Johnson (USA/Indonesia) – 10.13 pts
3) Caity Griffin (USA) – 9.86 pts
4) Amy Kotch (USA) – 8.13 pts
Tomorrow will see the Maldives Open conclude with a huge awards presentation and party at the Lohis Bar starting at 5:00 pm.
The Maldives Open 2015 at Lohis Point ran from 13-16 September in cooperation with the Maldives Body Boarding Association and the Maldives Tourism Ministry as part of the Visit Maldives Year 2016 Campaign, sanctioned by the Asian Surfing Championships. This year’s event was hosted by the Aaron Select Hudhuranfushi Resort and boasts a total prize purse of $15,000 USD in three divisions; Men’s Open, Women’s Open, and Body Boarding.
The Maldives Open 2015 was sponsored by Maldives-The Sunny Side of Life, Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi Resort, Sony Action Cam, Sea Gear, Kudo Surf, SriLankan Airlines, Coca-Cola, Dhiraagu, Public Service Media, Haveeru Online, PrintLab Creations, Event Maldives, Skullcandy, Tourist Police, MNDF Coast Guard, and Maldivian Red Crescent, and is part of the Visit Maldives Year 2016 Campaign.
About the Asian Surfing Championships (ASC)
The Asian Surfing Championships was established in 2010 as the progression of the highly successful Indonesian Surfing Championships that began in Bali, Indonesia in 2004. The mission of the ASC is to develop and progress the sport of surfing in Asia by assisting in the organizing and sanctioning of professional surfing events, which will help their growing surf communities and draw more attention to their areas for the progression of surfing locally, nationally, and throughout the Asian Region.
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