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11-year-old World Number One Female Kiteboarder through to Gravity final

2005 Gravity Games H2O, presented by Vodafone

Results from Day One
Thursday, October 6

Extreme action erupted in Western Australia yesterday with day one of the Gravity Games H2O, presented by Vodafone, unleashing itself on Perth's skyline and waterways.

Western Australian entrants Jake Gordon and Jessica van den Berg won their heats in spectacular fashion and will now go head-to-head against the World Number One male and female riders today (subject to weather conditions). Jess will be up against current KPWT World Champion, Gisela Pulido from Spain - who is just 11 years old!

A location change for the Kiteboarding event was called early in the morning and the contest shifted to the popular kite spot, Dutch Inn beach at Cottesloe (approx 1km south of Cottesloe main beach). Event officials deemed the offshore wind direction of the planned location (on the Swan River at Sir James Mitchell Park) unfavourable and potentially unsafe for riders.

After a four-hour beachside wait, the coastal conditions picked up and 15 to 20-knot southerly (side shore) winds kicked in to produce perfect kiting conditions and thrilling opening rounds.

Placings were tight in the men's heats, with international competitors demonstrating spectacular skills and style as seasoned competition professionals, knocking out all Australian competitors, with the exception of local pro Jake Gordon.

Gordon's intense preparation schedule leading up the Games helped produce a show of spectacular skill and aerial tricks that saw him progress through to the Quarter Finals. Now positioned as Australia's only hope of taking out the Gravity Games H2O Kiteboarding title, Gordon will go head-to-head with current KPWT World Champion Mickael Fernandez (France) in the Quarter Finals.

Through to Men's Quarter Finals (from 20 competitors):

* Mickael Fernandez (France) v Jake Gordon (Perth, WA)
* Stefano Maselli (Italy) v Antione Auriol (France)
* Thomas Cocquelet (France) v Jamie Barrow (New Zealand)
* Nicholas Olivier (New Caledonia) v Tom Herbert (New Caledonia)

Mother Nature caused a break in proceedings in the afternoon, before the four female competitors took to the water in their opening round heats. Local pro Jessica van den Berg will now take on current world number one, 11-year-old Gisela Pulido (Spain) in the final.



Enjoy .. Lozzza

p.s. Next round is Friday, 13.40 - 17.30 - Kiteboarding Elmination Round Two & start of Women's Quarter Finals - looks like a tidy 15 knot South Wester might be present.

Full schedule at http://www.gravitygamesh2o.com/default.aspx?s=2005schedule

there are repecharge rounds (double elimination format) if winds permit but i expect the winners brackets (quarters/semis/finals) will take priority.

oh yeah i forgot that we might have to wait for film crews so i take it back and your guess is as good as mine

quote:

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Originally posted by galajoh

G'day all

I'm an official down at the kitesurfin and it looks like the comp will be over tomorrow however, if so there may be a second chance round where the kiters will come back and try again, but that all depends on mother nature or they'll just spread the heats out to make the comp last longer. The girls will almost certainly be finished tomorrow as there were only 4 competitors.

The comp was a knock out system if you hadn't already noticed, one try, get beaten and you are out...

Lata guys, come down and watch, should be a wicked day tomorrow, not like today where there were 4 seasons in the space of 5 hours...crazy!!!!!

Enjoy

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Seems a bit silly having single elimination with 7 minute heats. Fly all the way from east or another country to do two tricks.