Philip Köster. I remember John Skye 4-5 years ago saying that soon we will all be talking about this kid. Let me add that we will probably be talking about Philip for the next couple of decades. And if you think that I tend to be exaggerative then let me remind you a guy named Björn Dunkerbeck who was first crowned overall world champion at 1988, last year, some 24 (!!!) years later, he added another world title in his trophies collection. Dunkerbeck was the prototype. Köster is the modified version.

Robby Swift was the first to announce him that he is the world champion, seconds after the end of his heat against Thomas at the Coldhawaii PWA in Klittmoller. He defended his title winning also over Campello and Fernandez (that heat in particular was more than close). Some say that it’s the nature of the events (port tack on-shorish venues) that favorite his sailing. Most likely they underestimate the talent of the 2012 world champion. (This year during the annual photo-shooting in the starboard tack Ho’okipa, Köster’s “head turning” factor took up a few notches. Only to mention that he was pulling doubles off the lip and landing them on the wave!)

Klittmoller’s hectic conditions didn’t really allow strategies:

“I have not really planned any strategy, I do not think so. Not here. Normally I try to do a good jump at the start of the heat here but I do what I can depending on conditions. Today  I started with a 5.0m and my 87lt. Against Traversa I broke my board landing a double forward. So I changed to 82 liters”

But the thing that drove gamblers mad was Thomas Traversa win over Campello, Fernandez and Köster at the single elimination.

“This is the best result of my career, last year I had already finished fourth here. Now I beat Philip Köster and Victor Fernandez, what more, I do not even know how I did it! Conditions suit me well, it was windy, it did. Looked a bit like last year when I had had my previous best result. I have been careful to choose my sets, letting waves in the series only to get the better ones where I could visualize where I needed to be placed. In the final against Victor, I used my 4.0m and 65 lt board. I stayed relaxed. I knew that riding would be the most important and so I concentrated on it. It was good that there is only one jump to count because it is my weak point. At the end I had this good back loop that saved me. In the final against Philip in the afternoon, I thought I had landed my double correctly so I was not looking to do another. Judges had a different opinion… anyway, I’m still super happy with my day and I ‘I look forward to the super final! “

What can we say? There is a chance to have the super final running today …or at the end of the week on starboard tack conditions (where Thomas excels). So who will say the last word? The Wunderkind or the Modest Hero?

PWA Live!

photos: JC/PWA