> 02/23/2010
PIERRE MAIXENT GOES BACK-TO-BACK AT YAMAHA/MONSTER
ENERGY FREERIDE AUSTRALIAN OPEN
GOLD COAST, QLD; The annual Yamaha/Monster Energy
Freeride Australian Open went down on Saturday the 20th February at
Phillip Park, Main Beach on the Gold Coast and once again it was the
Frenchmen Pierre Maixent who showed why he is regarded as the worlds
top freerider. In the tricky 2 metre conditions Pierre put on a devastating
performance in the final to take home bragging rights and a brand
new Yamaha Superjet.
The day started out quite dreary with overcast conditions
and patches of drizzle but by the time the riders assembled on the
beach the conditions had improved and the 16 international competitors
took to the solid 2 metre waves. Some of the standouts in the first
round were US riders Taylor Curtis and Eric Malone as well as Australians
Nick Barton and Aaron Frankland and South African Justin Windsor who
put it to some of the more experienced riders with some big stylish
maneuvers and great surf riding skills, Current Australian champion
Troy Rafferty was the biggest scalp to fall in round 1 due to engine
issues and would have to contest the last chance qualifier to move
through to the quarters
In the last chance qualifiers it was Troy Rafferty
who managed to get his ski going and show the crowd and the other
competitors why he is the number 1 Aussie rider. Takaai Murao who
made the trip all the way from Japan took the final spot in the Quarters
with some smooth riding and kept his dreams of becoming Yamaha/Monster
Freeride Australian Open Champion alive.
By the time the quarters rolled over 1000 people had packed the beach
at Phillip Park to check out the action that was out on the water.
Quarter 1 saw Justin Windsor come up against a red hot Eric Malone,
Quarter 2 and it was the aussie champ Troy Rafferty defeating Taylor
Curtis who had mechanical problems but still managed to push Troy
all the way to the final bell. Quarter 3 saw last years surprise package
Nick Barton take down Aaron Frankland, but it was arguably the best
freerider on the planet Pierre Maixent in quarter 4 that really started
to turn it on with massive Madonna flips and awesome surf riding to
bring Takaai Muaro’s campaign to an end
The Semis opened with Troy Rafferty taking on Eric
Malone and it was a battle royale with both riders going for broke,
Eric held nothing back and came out all guns blazing with big barrel
rolls and some smooth surf riding while Troy waited for the bigger
waves and blasted some of the biggest flips and barrel rolls of the
event, it wasn’t enough to beat Eric’s combined score
however.
Semi Number 2 and it was last years finalists Pierre
Maixent taking on Nick Barton, Pierre once again was busting some
big moves as well as linking in his surf riding skills to keep his
scores ticking over. Not to be outdone nick answered back with some
innovative riding of his own and some big slashes that had the crowd
on there feet, with a minute to go it was too close to call until
Pierre busted out his super flip the crowd erupted and the judges
awarded him accordingly, with a finals berth. So it was Pierre to
take on Eric Malone in the final while Nick Barton would take on Troy
Rafferty in an all-Australian affair in the consolation final.
In the consolation final Nick Barton took to the water
like a man possessed hitting almost anything and busting out some
big flip combos, flat spin 360’s and slashing his way through
the junky waves, Troy could not find his rhythm in the consolation
final but still managed to get the crowd pumped up by going huge.
Pierre left his best for the final putting together
a flawless performance filled with huge back flip combos amazing surf
riding and his signature super flip as well, Eric who had sustained
a wrist injury in round 1 had battled all the way to the final, but
could not compete on the same level as Pierre with his injury, in
saying that he still put together a great heat filled with no handed
barrel rolls and flips, but it was not enough to trump the Frenchman,
who became back to back champion of the Yamaha/Monster Freeride Australian
Open.
The presentation went down at the Yamaha watercraft
stand at the Australian Motorcycle expo, which included The Australian
Personal Watercraft Expo where Pierre was once again crowned the winner,
Eric Malone came in Second and Nick Barton making the podium for the
2nd year running, after the presentation Hard Rock Café in
Surfers Paradise hosted the official after party where over 300 people
let there hair down with the riders and celebrated another great event
Thanks again to all the sponsors Yamaha, Monster
Energy, Jetpilot, Australian Jet Ski Parts, Worx, Hard Rock Café
and the Australian PWC and Motorcycle expo and also a big thank you
to all the riders and staff that made it happen with out you there
would be no event. So get ready for a bigger and better event next
year.
