Hot Sails Maui Pro Freestyler Steven Max just back from winning the Youth Freestyle Worlds returned to the Gorge for the second year running to compete the the return of The Gorge Freestyle Frenzy and sent us this update.

“Due to poor wind predictions for the whole week, it was decided during the registration on the evening of the 16th of July that all competitors should gather bright and early, namely at 6:30 AM on the morning of the of 17th of July and the 1st day of the Freestyle Frenzy event, to take advantage of the small window of wind opportunity predicted for that morning only and commence the Freestyle frenzy for he first time again, after being absent for five years. Instead of the minimum conditions that were forecasted, we were met with extreme conditions, howling winds and good swells. Perfect for a freestyle frenzy. We started with the Gorge Style freestyle competition at seven AM and were astonished by the big air moves in style by the competitors hailing from all over. Next were the women who were ripping it up in the tough conditions. after that the “Super Freestyle” competitors went out also doing really big air moves as well as sliding moves. It was fun to compete with all the big guys there and really hard for me, being accustomed to flat water and lighter winds. But somehow I managed to make it all the way to the semi finals! Then I lost against Wyatt Miller (Miller time) and Rob Warwick. After the finals, which Brian Metcalf Perez won, we had a little break and then started with “the big air jump off’s”. First were the pro’s who went soaring high and amazed everyone. Then were the amateurs (including me). I have never participated in anything of the sort, because I have never really practised jumping, where could I in the flat waters of Aruba? Even though I have never done anything of the sort I managed to make it to the finals. The wind started to die and the waves with it as it was now already early afternoon. Just before the finals the women went out and with them AWT/ Freestyle Frenzy organiser Sam Bittner! After that it was time for the finals and we went out, together with the women, for the second run. I thought I would be 4th or maybe even with a little luck 3th but apparently somewhere in the heat I got a good launch, the GPS device strapped to my arm registered 10.65 and I won first place!!! Never seem to stop surprising myself ”Steven Max ARU-888

More to follow…