It has been one of the most radical windy choppy event I have ever been in years. Vietnam sure delivered the most mixed conditions to make freestyle to another level.

The event started with some great wind I had on my 4.8 MauiSails Loco and Flare 88. These quiver are just what I am used to and the conditions just where perfect. None of the heats were easy as the level of freestyle really is high at the moment and one mistake and you are out. Keeping the focus was a bit hard for as I was getting nervous each time I pass one heat and knowing that I have  to go against my brother was a funny not good feeling but well what can you do. This is competition right?

In the first single of the semi final I had the heat against Kiri. The wind was strong but still good enough for the 4.8. I didn't had a plan as I just stick to the move I know I could do good and hope to win but I crash in  most of my moves. And the moves that Kiri did was enough to secure him a spot to the winners final.

This have left me to face Tonky in the losers final to fight for third place. This is the heat I was more relax, cause I knew how Tonky would feel and to us is more like making a show then doing a heat. So we went at it and gave what we do best but at the same time I saw Tonky start pulling some sick stuff, so I step my game up and add some new technical moves, had a sick double vogue, double loop, spock culo. This gave the third place in the first single.

As next day we had the double elimination, again I had to face my brother it always hard to compete against each other but we have to make it work, it' s competition so in the end one of us have to win. I kept my self relax, started my heat with culo, kono, backloop, burner, double spock, just the most simple moves don't get to extreme so this would make me feel more comfortable that I could have the third place secure. And it all work out.

2nd single elimination was getting more scary as the wind increase got more wavy and guys where going higher in the jumps but crashes was also part of it. But in the end the ones who more consistent was always winning. Semi final Gollito against me. Damn what an easy win it could have been for me but I  lost all my focus when I heard the horn. I started of really good then suddenly every moves I was prepare to launch I was crashing :(. I knew I lost and this left again to face my brother Tonky for third or fourth place.

The heat against Tonky - I would say Tonky was ripping, he was pulling of pushloop, backloop, perfect burner, kono culo, airbob. While I was doing the moves but was struggling in the landing so for the judges it was some points minus. I even went for a double loop but didn't quit pull it so clean. So tonky got away with this one no doubt!

Last day: 2nd double elimination - It was the day to that anything could happen either Tonky can be third place overall or I can keep my position. I woke up checked my emails and I receive this very nice mail from Sara Quita mother's this made me feel so good that I was really fight for my podium finish. First heat of the day I met Davy Scheffer. I pull my moves one by one very concentrated and to be very safe while landing them. When the heat ended I didn't go to the beach because I was so sure that I won the heat. 2nd heat I met my brother again for he 4th time in this event. I was feeling way relax and very confident that I can keep my place, so I started with a shaka/flaka, airchacho, Kono, culo, airflaka/flaka, the future, spock/culo and so on.

I saw Tonky doing some moves but I knew I had this one no way he could have beat me. As the heat ended I was in the water waiting for the results I heard they say Tonky won. I was like WHAT NO NO NO WAY, IMPOSSIBLE as I jibe back to go back to beach to get out of the water, they say: ooh ooh we made a mistake : TATY YOU WON sorry about that but it was close one hey.

At that moment when they said that I already secure my third place overall finish for this event. All I can say that I am very happy having place third here in Vietnam grand slam event. It wasn't an easy event but I work my way out to have a podium finish.

Having Kiri wining his fist ever PWA freestyle event is also a great thing, I want to thank you all for reading this. Catch ya'll in the next event "austria".

Ciao
Taty Frans NB-9

Photos : PWA/Carter