The Bonaire PWA freestyle championships concluded today in dramatic fashion. Tonki Frans (Gaastra, AHD) sealed the deal and won the King of the Caribbean after defeating Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde) in the third and final elimination. Local sailor Tonki Frans landed one of freestyles most difficult moves…the chacho in the closing seconds of the second of two finals, which clinched him victory here in Bonaire. Matt Pritchard (Gaastra, AHD) meanwhile won vital heats today to take the overall PWA freestyle title and second place overall in the King of the Caribbean.

The vital heats of the day for Matt Pritchard were tough draws against Konan Lang (Naish) of Brazil and British number one Nik Baker (Mistral, North). Pritchard sailed with gritted determination and advanced through both heats ensuring himself a fifth place in the final elimination which was enough to guarantee himself the overall title. Pritchard was eventually defeated by teammate Tati Frans (Gaastra, AHD) who went on to take third place today in the losers final against Kauli Seadi (Naish boards, Naish Sails).

Today’s double elimination final boiled down to a match up between Ricardo Campello and Tonki Frans. Campello won the first of the two double elimination finals but Tonki came back in style and convincingly won their second head to head. The final blow came in the closing seconds of the heat when Tonki landed the chacho, which sent his home crowds on the beach into hysterics. The results ensured event victory for Tonki Frans…a real Cinderella story for his first season on the PWA world tour.

TONKI FRANS
I am very happy. I want to thank everybody for coming here and want to thank all the sponsors that made this event happen. It was great to win in my back yard and hope we can have another event here next year!

MATT PRITCHARD
I did exactly what I had to do today. My brother Kevin sent me an e-mail which said ‘heat by heat’ and that was how I played it. I knew my heat against Baker was critical and I tried not to feel the pressure…but I did! I was pretty pumped up and fell of once but let it all go and flowed all the way through. I am super, super stoked. I think celebrations are in order tonight!

TODAYS RESULTS: MEN

1. Tonki Frans (Gaastra, AHD)
2. Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde)
3. Tati Frans (Gaastra, AHD)
4. Kauili Seadi (Naish Boards, Naish Sails)

ba02 Matt Pritchard celebrates
Courtesy of PWA/Carter
 

FINAL MEN’S RESULTS: KING OF THE CARIBBEAN

1. Tonki Frans (Gaastra, AHD)
2. Matt Pritchard (Gaastra, AHD)
3. Douglas Diaz (Fanatic, North)
4. Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde)
5. Robby Swift (JP, Neil Pryde)

MENS FINAL OVERALL FREESTYLE RANKINGS 2002

1. Matt Pritchard (Gaastra, AHD)
2. Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde)
3. Nik Baker (Mistral, North)
4. Robby Swift (JP, Neil Pryde)
5. Tonki Frans (Gaastra, AHD)

In the women’s competition Karin Jaggi completed her comeback and won the fifth round to make it 3-2 against Colette Guadagnino (JP, Neil Pryde) and take both the Queen of the Caribbean and overall PWA freestyle titles. After the two of the three finals today the girls were one apiece so it was down to the wire to decide the event and overall title in the last final. It was Jaggi who held her nerve and strung together the better performance and won the judges decision.

KARIN JAGGI
I am very happy to be freestyle world champion. I think this place is officially the number one freestyle destination in the world. I love it here! We are really missing the twins here. That is a very sad story and we really want them to come back next year we miss them a lot!

TODAYS RESULTS: WOMEN

1. Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows)
2. Colette Guadagnino (JP, Neil Pryde)
3. Tanja Emig (RRD)
4. Julia Deutsch (Naish)

FINAL WOMEN’S RESULTS: QUEEN OF THE CARIBBEAN

1. Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows)
2. Colette Guadagnino (JP, Neil Pryde)
3. Tanja Emig (RRD)
4. Julia Duetsch (Naish)

WOMEN’S FINAL OVERALL RANKINGS 2002

1. Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows)
2. Colette Guadagnino (JP, Neil Pryde)
3. Daida Moreno (Mistral, North)
4. Tanja Emig (RRD)
5. Angela Martinez (Neil Pryde, Naish)

The official closing ceremony and end of year awards will be held tomorrow evening firstly at the beach and then onto the Casino Caribe, in the Plaza resort. One thing is for certain …sailors will be out celebrating after a grueling year on the PWA tour!

Source: PWA Worldtour