Windsurfing Tour Returns to Maui’s Ho’okipa Beach

By Wendy Osher

File image by Wendy Osher.

The premiere event of the American Windsurfing Tour returns to Ho’okipa Beach Park on Maui’s North Shore this fall.  The Maui Makani Classic is sponsored in part by the Maui Visitor’s Bureau and the County of Maui’s Office of Economic Development.

“We are very pleased to help bring these sorts of sports events back to Maui because they have tremendous economic impact on the surrounding areas,” said Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa. “And we want to remind the world why Hookipa is considered the ‘Mecca’ of windsurfing,” said Mayor Arakawa.

“These are the types of events that we feel will benefit Maui County,” said Brianne Savage, OED Sports and Entertainment Specialist. “They attract hundreds of competitors and fans from all over the world,” said Savage.

The waiting period for the Maui Makani Classic begins on October 27th and ends November 1st.  Contest organizers select the best three days of combined surf and wind conditions for the event.

Competing in the event this year are former world champions Robby Naish, Josh Stone, Kai Lenny and Kevin Pritchard.  Tour officials say they expect up to 100 competitors this year.

“We look forward to once again hosting a windsurfing event on Maui,” said Terryl Vencl, MVB Executive Director. “We know the windsurfers will be thrilled to be back,” she said.

For more information contact Brianne Savage at 270-7415 or [email protected], or Sam Bittner at 280-4419.  Further contest information is also available online at http://americanwindsurfingtour.com.

***Supporting information courtesy County of Maui.