Judges seek wow factor

Some of the best kitesurfers in the world are planning to show Rarotonga their tricks today at Muri.

Tomorrow they leave for Aitutaki, where they will be competing at Manureva International Competition and Festival the Cook Islands first-ever kitesurfing competition.

CINews met with prominent kitesurfing judge Brad Price, professional kitesurfers Jesse Richman and Moehau Goold and Tahitian kitesurfer Orava Terai yesterday.

Price is a head judge on the Kite Surf Pro tour and will be head judge at next weeks competition. He says that while judging criteria differ between competitions, he and his panel of judges which includes top female kitesurfer Susi Mai will be looking for the wow factor.

We want to be dazzled, Price said yesterday.

Two-time world champion Richman is prepared to dazzle, and looks forward to his first competition in over a year. Richman has been out of the water with an injury, and is getting amped for the Aitutaki competition.

Hes just 18 but can claim a world record for hang time and two world titles, and says that whether hes competing in big air, wave or freestyle competitions hes all about going big.

It looks like a super fun event and Im excited about it, he said yesterday.

Richman was born and bred on Maui but has never before travelled anywhere in the South Pacific apart from Tahiti.

Tahitian pro rider and Hinano kitesurfing team captain Moehau Goold has never been to Rarotonga, either. From Bora Bora, he splits his time between kiting in French Polynesia and doing kitesurfing photo shoots abroad he recently did a shoot in Cape Verde but hasnt done much travelling throughout the South Pacific.

I just want to get there (to Aitutaki) and see it, he said yesterday. The videos look really good it looks like one of the nicer spots.

While the wind forecast predicts a drop-off in the coming week, Price and the competitors dont seem too worried. In the event of low wind, Price says: We will make it up as we go!