It was a festive Friday on the Arutanga wharf, as Aitutaki celebrated kitesurfers both visiting and local.

A night market and prize-giving ceremony marked the end of a week of kiting, kite-crafting and cultural immersion for a handful of visiting kitesurfers, who hailed from as far away as Thailand and the Philippines.

This was the second year running for Manureva, which this year made it onto the Kite Tour Asia (KTA) circuit and attracted high-profile judges and passionate riders from New Zealand and Australia.

Cook Islands Kitesurfing Association (CIKA) president Teanaroa Worthington took the podium on Friday night to thank a litany of helpers who made the week-long event possible, among them Cook Islands Tourism, Air Rarotonga, Brendon, Poaru and Stephen Doherty, Terangi Tamati and Aitutaki oe vaka, Lawton and Marie Story, Ianis Boaza, Sarah Moreland, Christina Maoate and Andre Raoult.

Doherty thanked Worthington for his efforts, noting that last year Manureva was a ”small event with small beginnings“ but continues to grow and gain exposure and credibility with each passing year.

As usual, there were three prize categories – locals, women and open. This year there were two separate components to the competition – freestyle and course racing – and judges tallied total points to determine overall winners.

In the freestyle division, Kiwi kitesurfer Olly Brunton took first, followed by 18-year-old Tauranga native Steven Nicholls and Rarotonga’s own Ina Nooroa. And in the course racing division, Kiwi Glenn Bright took first, followed by Brunton and Nooroa.

But judges doled out prizes based on overall performance.

First place went to Brunton, who visited Aitutaki for Manureva last year but didn’t enter. He is currently ranked fifth in New Zealand, and impressed judges in Aitutaki with his trick base and execution. For his efforts he won a Pacific Resort voucher for a lagoon cruise (valued at $140), a Pacific Divers voucher for $85 and a $1000 cash prize.

Second place went to Bright, who runs a kitesurfing business in New Zealand and is a regular visitor to Aitutaki. For sweeping the course race and placing second overall, Bright won a Pacific Resort voucher ($140), Pacific Divers voucher and $800 cash.

And in third was the Cook Islands’ own Nooroa, who Worthington pronounced the Cook Islands’ best kitesurfer of 2012.

”Ina is from Rarotonga and started kitesurfing just two years ago – he really progressed quickly,“ Worthington said in introducing his prize. ”He’s put a lot of time and effort into it and that’s why he’s standing where he is tonight.“

In the locals division Nooroa took first, earning a Computer Man voucher and a 12-month membership from Fitness Cook Islands.

In second place was Evaraima Koteka, who also competed last year, winning for his performance vouchers for Computer Man and Fitness Cook Islands.

Third went to Pauro Arnold, last year’s local winner, who also got vouchers from Computer Man and Fitness Cook Islands.

In announcing winners for the women’s division, Worthington pointed out that women beat out most of the men in the course racing division.

First overall went to Alice Child from Australia, who won $120 to Vonnia’s, a pearl from Paka’s Pearls and $400 cash. Kiwi rider Rebecca Taggart took second, which won her a Mareko pareu, a pearl from Paka’s Pearls and $200, and third went to the Cook Islands’ own kitesurfing instructor Brynn Acheson, who also won a pareu and a pearl.

A handful of Aitutaki school kids were also crowned winners on Friday night. Earlier in the week they had participated in a kite-making competition, using recyclable materials to fashion their own flying masterpieces.

Judges took into consideration the creativity and practicality of the designs, and named three winners in the preschool division and three in the primary.

Teana Paeraua of Araura School swept the preschool division, followed by Pururangi Mataiti and Teamaru Tamariki. Vavia Puapii won the primary school category, and second went to Mana Marsters and third to Tavita P David.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Air Rarotonga took Aitutaki by surprise in announcing that it had sponsored a gift of two kites, a board and a harness for the local community.

Vane Henry, president of the Aitutaki Sailing Club, accepted the donation on the island’s behalf.

Worthington said that three instructors – Brunton, Dean Joyce and Mike Lee – would remain behind to train local people to use the gear.