Stand Up World Tour SapinusPro 2015

Zane Schweitzer (Starboard) wins the 2015 #SapinusPro – In an exciting and extremely close final that was lead by Caio Vaz (Art in Surf) for the majority of the heat, Maui born Zane Schweitzer (Starboard) was able to dig deep and find one of the best waves of the day in the dying minutes of the heat to score a 9.33 to secure a well deserved win. Zane now shoots into 2nd overall on the World Rankings, with Caio Vaz now taking the lead backing up a second at Sunset with a second here in Tahiti.

Press release : Waterman League 02/06/15

Latest highlight video from the Stand Up World Tour SapinusPro 2015. We can’t wait to see the final highlights with Zane charging to the win. Nice one Zane, Caio and a massive congrats to NZ’s Daniel Kereopa. We hope to see you more this year on the Tour. 

Press release : Waterman League 01/06/15
Australians excel in the day’s building swell to all advance to Rd 3

It was certainly a day for the Australians as all six of the crew from Down Under advanced through to Round 3. Kai Bates (Fanatic) was the first to progress in Heat 4 of Round 1, as the youngster picked off the best waves in what was a slow heat to skip the repechage round and advance directly into Round 3.

With the waves picking up in the next heat, Keahi De Aboitiz (JP Australia) wowed the crowds in the channel with a commited backhand re-entry for his direct advancement.

Justin Holland (Starboard) looked more determined than ever to better his fourth place at Stop 1 at the Sunset Beach Pro in Hawaii. Holland dropped into his second wave and tucked into a beautiful tube to score an 8 point right, sending Noa Ginella (Naish) & Julien Bouyer into the Repechage.

James Casey (JP Australia), Dave Muir (IOPS) & Beau Nixon (Naish) all needed the Repechage to progress onto Round 3. With new boards under his feet for this 2nd stop in 2015, Beau Nixon was stoked with how they were working for him “I’m happy that I got through as I was the last Aussie waiting to get through so to be honest I just wanted to make it 6 into Round 3. Beau scored an 8+ ride with a series of powerful turns that caught the judges and spectators eyes.

Sapinus delivers both action and drama as 4x World Champion Kai Lenny knocked out in Round 2

Another beautiful morning in Tahiti saw the 2015 #SapinusPro Main Event called on with the swell on the rise. Athletes were able to let loose in some unpredictable, but rippable surf.

Kai Lenny (Naish) was looking for his second Tour win of the season after taking out #Stop1 of the #SUWT at Sunset Beach back in February. Tahiti in French Polynesia is a location that has eluded Kai in the past and proved to be his nemesis once again in 2015.

Going out in Round 2 Kai Lenny said “I just didn’t read the waves very well, this is a tough location to come too. I guess I will have to take this as my throw away”.

Going down in Round 1 the Hawaiian had to pick himself up and battle it out in the Round 2 Repechage to try and progress. The 4x World Champion just wasn’t able to navigate the tricky Sapinus line up to land the excellent scores that he needed to advance through to Round 3.

Zane Schweitzer scores the highest single wave score of the day

Zane Schweitzer (Starboard) scored the highest single wave score of the day: a lengthy barrel ride followed by a series of critical turns to secure him a 9.5. There is no doubt that Zane’s pre event training this week was paying off and his barrel riding skills are unquestionable.

Noa Ginella looked right at home here in Tahiti, and showcased his supreme and stylish barrel riding in the final repechage of the day

Noa Ginella (Naish) found one of the cleanest barrel of the contest so far in Round 2, to impress the judges who rewarded him with an 8.6 as he knocked out fellow team rider and 4x World Champion, Kai Lenny (Naish) in the process. The North Shore youngster demonstrated smart wave selestion, but fell short in Round 1 at the hands of the ‘in form’ Justin Holland.

The Naish Team rider showed real style in the Repechage and effortlessly dropped into one of the better barrels of the day. As the waves increase overnight, we anticipate some big things in the mornings, so check out the highlights and make sure to stay tuned as the #SapinusPro Round 3 resumes at 7am HST this morning.

The Italian Airton Cozzolino steps up to be counted in Round 1

Italian Airton Cozzolino (Fanatic) showed that he is a force to be reckoned with as he sent Kai Lenny through to the Repechage and finding one of the few solid barrel rides of the day. .

Airton, like Keahi de Aboitiz (JP Australia) is a kitesurf Champion, but over the past few years, AIrton has proved himself as a real threat on Tour. Watch out for the Italian when competition resumes today at Sapinus at 7am with Round 3, and make sure to check out the highlights at watermanleague.com.

Local and international talent step up here in Tahiti for one of the most exciting Round 3 line ups yet, as surf promises to pump

Round 3 is stacked with a wealth of talent ready to do battle this morning. South African, Tom King (Coreban) made his presence felt by advancing directly through to Heat 3 and will take huge confidence ahead of the Man on Man Rounds.

Local Tahitian favourite Poenaiki Raioha (F-One) needed the Repechage round to progress but still will be looking to make the most of his local knowledge in his match up with Airton.

Meanwhile, Sean Poynter (Starboard), Caio Vaz (Art in Surf) & Bullet Obra amongst others will all be major threats as we kick off round 3 this morning as the surf promises to be on rendez vous for the exciting culmination of this 2nd stop of the 2015 Stand Up World Tour.

Keali’i Mamala put on a show case here on Trials day at the #SapinusPro, Stop 2 on the #SUWT. With 3-5ft sets rolling into Sapinus the Hawaiian took the win in the trials event and claiming his spot in the Main Event. Also putting on stand out performances were New Zealander Daniel Kereopa and locals Tehotu Wong & Atamu Conti joined Mamala in the #SapinusPro Main Event Round 1. Check out all the highlights from the Trials day right here Words : Waterman League

Press release : Waterman League 31/05/15

#SapinusPro Tahiti kicks off with exciting action at the Air Tahiti Nui Trials, as Hawaiian Keali’i Mamala takes the win After a 2 year hiatus from the beautiful Island Chain of Tahiti, the Stand Up World Tour marked its return to the islands today with the completion of the Air Tahiti Nui Trials of the 2015 #SapinusPro in great conditions. After two days of pumping swell during the days prior, today dawned beautiful and with the swell still pumping, allowing the up and coming athletes and local standouts the chance to showcase their skill on the global stage. As expected, there was a strong Polynesian theme running through the rounds, with a mix of Tahitian, Hawaiian and Kiwi competitors leading the charge from heat 1 on. In the end, it was the Hawaiian, Keali’i Mamala who took the honors in a tightly contested final, picking off the best set waves and driving smooth, but powerful turns on his way to victory. Keali’i deservedly earns his place in the Main event, as well as winning a round trip ticket on Air Tahiti Nui. Watch out for Keali’i as we get underway with the Main event tomorrow, as he will now come up against the local phenom and World #4, Poenaiki Raioha (F-One) and a fellow Big Island native, Bullet Obra in Heat one of Round one set to kick off at 7:30am HST. Stay tuned for the live updates at www.watermanleague.com, scores, heat and round recaps across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Atamu Conti from Tahiti once again makes his presence felt in 2nd Atamu Conti (F-One) has long been a dangerous threat, having competed each year that the #SapinusPro has taken place, but also having ventured out to Sunset Beach for the World Tour Opener, posting some solid finishes, particularly at home here in Tahiti. Once again this year at the Air Tahiti Nui Trials, Atamu put on a strong performance, as one of the standouts of the day, making it all the way to the Finals to secure 2nd place and his well deserved berth in the Main Event. There is no doubt that Atamu will be a serious threat tomorrow as he will now come up against the on form American Sean Poynter (Starboard) and another Tahitian standout, Dorrence David. Make sure to check out the highlights and follow the live blog, social media blasts and videos throughout the day at www.watermanleague.com Daniel Kereopa makes his presence felt, finishing 3rd in the Trials Daniel Kereopa from New Zealand proved his worth today with a consistent and high performance display of surfing that earned him 3rd place overall in the Trials and his place in the Main Event. Daniel was also on the road to victory in the finals, with the highest score of the heat, but was unable to find a back up score to take victory. Daniel will definitely be one to watch out for in Round 1 of the Main event tomorrow as he will come up against World #2 Caio Vaz (Art in Surf) and the powerhouse and previous Tahiti event winner from 2010, Dave Muir (IOPS) from Australia. Check out the highlights and watch out for the live updates, videos and much more at www.watermanleague.com Tehotu Wong secures 4th in the Trials and the final coveted spot in the Main Event Tehotu Wong has been spending his winters on the North Shore these past few years, with family in Hawaii and Tahiti, but originating from Tahiti and looked to be coming of age this year in the Air Tahiti Nui Trials, as he put together a string of impressive performances to earn a spot in the final and as a result the main event. As a member of the young wave of Tahitian talent coming up the ranks, Tehotu will be a name to watch out for in the main event and looking forward here on the Stand Up World Tour. He will now come up against 4x World Champion Kai Lenny (Naish) and another up and coming talent from Italy, Airton Cozzolino (Fanatic). Stay tuned for all the action and highlights at www.watermanleague.com Rising swell will be on tap through Sunday and Monday as we kick off the Main event of the 2015 #SapinusPro Tahiti After a great day of action today here in Tahiti, tension is now mounting as we prepare for a couple of days of epic action here at stop number 2 of the 2015 Stand Up World Tour, as the World’s best take to the water to battle it out for the event crown and vital ranking points in their journey towards a World Championship Title. The forecast predicts a rising swell through Sunday and Monday with a peak in the morning on Monday that should provide the ideal conditions for the world’s best to excel. Next call is at 7am HST on Sunday morning, so make sure to stay tuned for live updates, videos and much more at www.watermanleague.com In the meantime, a big thank you to all our partners of the 2015 #SapinusPro Tahiti: The Government of Tahiti, the City of Punaauia, the Moorings, Air Tahiti Nui, Coca Cola, Hyundai, OPT, Mana and of course all our local event partners who help to make the event happen.

2015 #SapinusPro PreShow