Pierre Maixent takes out Yamaha Freeride Australian
> 03/05/2009
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Written by Chris Apps
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
GOLD COAST, QLD;
The 1st annual Yamaha Freeride Australian Open was held over the weekend
and it was the Frenchmen Pierre Maixent that took home top spot and
a brand new Yamaha Superjet with a brilliant performance of freeriding
throughout the day
The event kicked off in clean 2ft conditions on Saturday
morning at Phillip Park on the Gold Coast, with 14 riders invited for
the chance to be crowned Yamaha Freeride Australian Open Champion. Round
1 standouts were Pete Mclouglin, Nick Barton, Pierre Maixent and Jon
Cooke, who wowed the judges with an array of big stylish maneuvers and
surf riding skills, a surprise casualty in round 1 was US international
rider Ross Champion who could not find his rhythm and would have to
contest the last chance qualifier to move through to the quarters
In the last chance qualifiers it was Ross Champion who
redeemed himself from his round 1 effort along with Gunther Pfrengle
to move through to the quarters and keep their respective dreams of
becoming Yamaha Freeride Australian Open Champion alive.
By the time the quarters rolled around approximately
600 people had flocked to Phillip Park to check out the action that
was being produced and things really started heating up with Nick Barton
going big in quarter 1 with his flat spin 360’s to move through
to the semis, Ross Champion started to find some form and put and end
to Aussie hopeful Pete Mclouglin’s campaign, also moving through
to the semis was South African now Australian resident Justin Windsor
with some fluent riding to move past Jon Cooke and rounding out the
quarters was the ever consistent Pierre Maixent who continued to impress
all on the beach.
The Semis opened with Nick Barton taking on Ross Champion
and it was a tight affair with both riders going for broke, Ross came
out swinging with some big slashes on the small wind affected waves,
while Nick was further up the beach busting some big back flip combos
and the judges gave the win and a finals berth to Nick Barton with Ross
Champion moving into the consolation final
Semi Number 2 and Pierre showed why is considered the
best freerider in the world with some big flips and barrel roll combos
on the small waves as well as showing he has a surf riding repertoire
also, not to be out done Justin put in a strong performance but could
not link his moves together as well as Pierre and would have to settle
for a place in the consolation final.
In the consolation final Ross Champion who is regarded
as one of the best surf riders on the planet slashed apart whatever
wave that came at him as well as producing some of the biggest barrel
rolls of the contest, Justin produced some equally impressive barrel
rolls but it was Ross surf riding skills that got him third place overall
Pierre left his best for the final busting huge backflip
combos and tearing holes in the small waves with his slashes, Nick Barton
came back strong however with his own Combo backflips as well as his
signature flatspin 360, it was neck and neck until Pierre lined up a
nice little wave and busted a superman backflip that had the crowd on
their feet and handed Pierre the Yamaha Freeride Australian Open Crown
for 2009
The presentation went down at the Yamaha stand at the
Australian Motorcycle expo, which included The Australian Personal Watercraft
Expo & The Australian Scooter Festival where the winner was crowned
and the finalists received their winnings with the help of the girls
from Hooters restaurant who also put on the after party for the riders
and officials at their Mermaid Beach restaurant.
Thanks again to all the sponsors and Ben From Vitamin
Water for keeping us hydrated during the day and also to all the riders
that made it happen with out you there would be no event and a big thanks
to all the staff and helpers that put in a big effort on the day, see
you all next year.
