Round #4 of the Maui Race Series was held on the 13th July with steady trades greeting the competitors and organizers following a mega windy week. Following a week of wave sailing Chris was back on the slalom gear and seems to be finding some form despite injury.

“Following the encouraging Round #3 I had planned on training a little more but the combination of office work and waves distracted me fully from that! The days prior to the racing were far from ideal, with a bout of food poisoning and then crashing hard on Friday night during a jumping session meant that I arrived at the beach far from excited or prepared! 

With the winds a little on the light side I really wanted pure power and opted to change up just before the first start, this proved to be a disaster and I was too out of control to go fast and slumped to a very poor result. While sailing to the start line I realized that my injury from the night before was possibly a little worse that I had previously given it credit. In complete agony with every gust and lump of chop I decided to change down, after sailing back to the start I was in so much pain I thought that I was vomit and decided that this would be my last race of the day. 

Concentrating hard on the start I caught a flyer, gybed first and was gone and clear of the chasing pack, as I cruised the second half of the course I realized that despite the pain I would need to carry on. Third heat, the pain is getting worse and actually putting me off my start, a fraction late and I had to deal with traffic, I was almost relieved thinking that I could not call it quits for the day! As the marks and legs came I overtook the other racers to find myself leading down the last leg. With two wins out of three I knew that I had to continue despite the increasing pain from my ribs and side.

The final race was much like the previous, poor start but enough board speed and power through the turns to make it three in a row and secure my best ever result in the Maui Race Series claiming the Semi-Pro division with a perfect 0.7, 0.7, 0.7 = 2.1 score. 

I must admit that my equipment played a big part, everything felt perfectly balanced, the 6.6, iSonic 97 combo is magic and paired with the Type RS 36cm I had enough grip and drive to come from below the mark while being loose enough off the wind to overhaul the others. 

I had to sit out the afternoon races and have been resting since then with a suspected broken rib which at least means that I can catch up on my desk work and plan ahead! 

It looks like this will be my last appearance in this year’s series as I plan to head off to Mexico for the AWT which clashes with the State Championships. I may try to do some racing in the UK but we’ll have to see how the calendar pans out.” Chris Freeman | Black Project Fins

Read more about the Maui Race Series and check our the Type RS.

Photo: Jimmie Hepp

More to follow…