for the 23 year in a row, the Calema Midwinters were blessed with wind.

For a while it looked as though the longboard and Kona One Design fleets were the only classes to enjoy any racing. But after a single formula race run in winds close to the minimum on Friday, Sunday came in with definite Formula conditions for the 52 formula racers.

In the Pro division and overall winners, Gonzalo Costa Hoevel of Argentina won with a clear lead. Jesper Vestrestrom of Denmark was second and Antoine Albeau of France came in in Third. This is the first time in 4 years Antoine Albeau is defeated. Gonzalo was not to be denied this year, especially since last year his bid to win the Midwinters was thwarted due to an injury suffered in a collision in the first race of 07.

Since this event was the FW North American Championship, the North American Champion was Jimmy Diaz of the US Virgin Islands.

Jimmy (photo) placed 4th Overall

In the Kona division, the entire weekend was hard fought with the likes of Dave Stanger,Nevin Sayre and John Collins, the winners in that order.

The Sport fleet had a fun course set with the tight jibe marks adding challenge to the fleet.

On Saturday night, organizers Tinho and Susie Dornellas departed from the traditional banquet by holding it at kelly park, and having the Maui Sails No Bull contest. The prize was kept secret and was awarded to the longest cowboy rider that could stay on top of a raging mechanical bull.

many laughs later and bruised egos, and sore muscles, Calema Junior team ’s Daniel rusk was the winner by a comfortable margin. He hung in there with all his strenght the ride difficulty set on max, for 266 seconds!! so he earned a brand new 2008 Maui Sails TR4 11.0!!

needless to say he was very pleased, even if all the hair on his legs was rubbed off in the process.

This years Calema Midwinters had the largest amount of juniors ever. The level in formula, Sport, and Kona is rising quickly.

Calema hereby challenges all USA juniors to bring their best game to next year’s Midwinters. The classes in contention are Formula Juniors, Sport Juniors, and Kona Juniors.

Special thanks to all our sponsors who made this event possible, and to our team of 25 volunteers that toll endless hours to make this event memorable.

Pictures wil be uploaded soon. Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMP6RqsWCgo

for a movie recap of the midwinters.

For race results click on the midwinters race results button