Photoshots by Tinho Dornellas - www.calema.com - tinho@calema.com

The first day of the Starboard Pro Kids World championship atarted already as a new world record by itself. Over a hunderd participants will compite for there place in the finals on Sunday.

The best results for today:

Article by Ann Phelan - 10:00 am (GMT-04:00) - 5 aug. 2006

Bonaire- With over 100 kids competing Race Directors Tinho and Susie Dornellas decided the only way to get the heats accomplished in 2.5 days was to start the competition today at 9 AM. Winds are nuking in the judges stand high above the event site and out on the water white caps are peaking, a healthy wind for today's event. Susie and Tinho are running double ladder eliminations for the 14-17 year old group. After a solid afternoon of competition Friday with lighter winds the kids are prepared for a new day with a much improved forecast. Swiss visitor Jonas Staeheli's gear is still in Puerto Rico but he still has hopes of borrowing some gear and advancing on the ladder. French Pro Kid Charlie Chauvet anxiously awaits his turn to how off his stuff. Local pro kids are impressed with his swift moves. Max Droege was seen at the windsurf party held last night at Hulandes Patio hanging with the Curacao posse. Today he is walking about with a taped foot due to a small injury. This should not prevent him from competing. And speaking of posse, that's what you have to call this group of over 20 hot shot sailors from Curacao who are trained by Hilde Tuinbeek and Ingmar Schnitzler. Kiri Thode, Taty Frans and Sara Quita Offringa just flew in from Fuertaventura where Sara showed off some serious stuff giving her the women's title in PWA Tour. She is a powerful contender to watch. Her adversary is local newbie, Andrea Simal Narva. Andrea took to the windsurf world last month learning to sail at Diva Women's Week and has been training hard with new Bonaire resident Beth Powell Winkler. Her effort were rewarded allowing her to advance yesterday. Canadian Vincent Tremblay is waiting his turn to compete. He is loving the social and windsurf scene here in Bonaire and is sure to return for future events. The young gun from Bonaire to watch is Dylan Robles. A few years back he didn't know much about sailing but yesterday he advanced to win his heats. Hours on the water in the perfect training ground can't hurt. As of press time Choko Frans has advanced to first place for morning heats. Heats are still running as the morning commences here in windy Bonaire. The public is encouraged to come on down to the action. Sorobon is alive with music and windsurf fun.

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Update by Ann Phelan - 14:00 (GMT-04:00) - 5 aug. 2006

Bonaire - The wind continues to cooperate paving the way for some nice light wind freestyle. The 18+ winners today were Choko Frans first beating out his Pro brother Taty Frans. The winners of today's 16-17 year old boys heats were Kiri Thode (Gaastra/Starboard/Fiberspar) and placing second, Jaeger Sint Jago (Angulo Boards). In the 14-15 year old class Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard/Hot Sails) came in first and placing second was Hendrick Balentien (JP). It's a battle with the Starboard and Angulo team riders today. The winner of the 8-9 year olds was Jurgen Saragoza showing talent really does run in the family. Amado Vrieswijk in the 10-11 year olds. Heats are still running with the younger kids and the girls.

The nations represented today aside from the ABC islands include Holland, France, Switzerland, Canada, Germany and Belgium. It's a league of nations today in the Dutch Caribbean.

The beach is packed with sailors, swimmers and locals and tourists alike. Flags are blowing in the breeze and DJ Paco from Mambo Beach (Curacao) is pumping some hot Reggaeton music. Magnolia's famous BBQ is a delish lunch break and the Aquaspeed bar is the place to stay coo. It's a lovely afternoon in Lac Bay.

Live Streaming video is online at www.prokidsfreestyle.com so check out the real time action.

Bonaire - A recap of the 56 heats run from 9 AM to 8 PM Sat. includes some exciting results below. Today heats commenced at 9 AM with some nice breezes creating a great freestyle format for the final day of this great event. Sunday is a popular day at Sorobon and today record numbers of spectators are predicted to be high. The highlight of the day is the baby kids to compete at 3 PM. Kids ages 2-7 are set to compete and show their skills. After, Unlimited Dancers will perform along with New Generation Dance Troupe. The Brass and Drum Band, Bonaire's own version of Drumline is also set to perform. DJ Paco from Mambo Beach (Curacao) is also in the house.

Several riders sustained some injuries including Starboard/Hot Sails team rider, Bjorn Saragoza who cut his foot training with his dance troupe last night. Payo Soliano, Angulo rider has re broken his toe but hopes to compete. Silvienne St. Jago also injured her foot preventing her from continuing with the event.

Live Streaming Video is available at www.prokidsfreestyle.com. Thanks to Bits Bonaire and TELBO.

Our official weather site www.windguru.cz shows a nice breezes of 19-20 knots today.

Update by Ann Phelan - 16:00 (GMT-04:00) - 6 aug. 2006

A kid is crowned in Bonaire at the second annual Pro Kids. 16 year old Kiri Thode of Bonaire has been pronounced Pro Kid for 2006. Sara Quita Offringa sponsored by Starboard and Maui Sails placed second in a very competitive heat. Mos Vingerhoets placed 3rd proving to be a worthy opponent. Mos's flat water loops were flawless. His one handed Flakas were impressive as well as his spock 540's. Kiri, another Starboard rider and also sailing for Gaastra threw a smooth Gozada as well as a Shove It and a One Handed Spock 540. Sara Quita in turn showed off her pro expertise executing a nice Funnel and Puneta. It was an adrenalin filled heat with good winds allowing for planing competition. Sara Quita just back from winning first place in the PWA's Fuertaventura event. Kiri also a pro on the PWA tour is 4th in the world currently in the men's freestyle category. Mos is a team rider for JP and is a worthy ambassador for his board sponsor.

The Baby Class was adorable with parents and little newbies sailing to the audience's delighted. After the heats Bonaire's brass and drum corp took to the stage preparing for the New Generation Dancers and the Unlimited Dancers. The finale was the Shakira dance contest. It was a lively and fun ending to the entertainment format.

The awards ceremony follows later today. For highlights see www.prokidsfreestyle.com

Update by Ann Phelan - 18:00 (GMT-04:00) - 6 aug. 2006

The sun was setting in Bonaire and DJ Paco is still pumping out the music. The bars were serving drinks and food. The crowd was dispersing some while others came for the late day party. 13 categories/age groups of competitors completed the registration of approximately 95 sailors. Elvis Martinus had a dream to have over 100 kids compete in the second annual kids event. His dream was pretty close. Over the weekend multigenerational families drew together to support a sport and a child. Some had family competing, some had neighbors on the water. Most knew each other and while some traveled alone. Young Charlie Chauvet from France flew to Bonaire for his first time. A local family offered to open up their home to Charlie to create a safe and warm atmosphere. By the first day true Bonairean hospitality kicked in and he was hanging with the locals and enjoying the festivities.  So many came together for one short weekend. What they all had in common was the desire to celebrate what has fast become the national sport of this Dutch Caribbean island. Some kids who competed sail daily. Others sail once in awhile. Some are pros and fully sponsored and most save their money to buy gear to train. Why the hype? Bonaire is blessed with on shore breezes, shallow water and an ideal playground for training and learning. Two windsurf shops support the youth creating an environment that allows everyone to partake in the sport. A community comes together to create an event that is an annual experience. It took many volunteers and almost one year to plan this event. And in the end they are all winners. The accomplishment knowing a small island nation can put together such an event is staggering. The talent pool amongst the local kids is awesome. Having guests from nearby Curacao and Aruba to far away Europe and Canada is astounding. Congratulations to all the sailors and winners. Thanks to all the many volunteers who made Pro Kids happen. A big thanks to the many sponsors who donated cash and product to make Pro Kids a great success. See you in 2007!

0-7 years Boys
Jenkins, Harley BON-Trinidad, Tjarik Yamin BON-Coffie, Ian BON-Gustowski, Marvin BON-Stomp, Tiago CUR-Anthony, Juendrick BON-Finies, Yannick BON-Sint Jago, Mingael BON-Trinidad, Jursten BON-Victorina, Gerrald BON-Rog, Tiago CUR-Van Eldrik, Nils BON-Anthony, Johnrick BON-Arrindell, Jordrick BON-Botterop, Constantijn BON-De Palm, Mitchell CUR-Finies, Serginho BON-Saragoza, Davidson BON-Stomp, Noa CUR

0-7 years Girls
De Man, Mikki BON-Domacasse, Kendra BON-Werdarth, Diane BON-Boezem, Arantza BON-Pauletta, Anais BON-Thode, Loelle BON

8-9 years Boys
Bloem, Alexson BON-Da Costa Gomez, Raoul CUR-Stomp, Maui CUR-Saragoza, Jürgen BON-van der Woude, Nico Eduardo CUR

8-9 years Girls
Vrieswijk, Chanel BON-Velandia, Mavelly BON-Finies, Kaily BON

10-11 years Boys
Celestijn, Francis BON-Groenendal, Mike BON-Jonis, Jamil BON-Vrieswijk, Amado BON-
Da Costa Gomez, Alexander CUR-Cordilia, Nathaniel CUR-Robles, Dylan BON-Schmit, Youp BON-Van der Woude, Marco CUR

10-11 years Girls
Klijn, Marie Louise CUR-Rog, Kelhi-Nahray CUR

12-13 years Boys
Heymans, Ezri BON-Kam, Kevin CUR-Klijn, Albert Jan CUR-Sances, Mozart BON-
Boekhoudt, Rodderick BON-Koeks, Jeath BON-Piar, Clifton BON

12-13 years Girls
Peter, Atria CUR-Vingerhoets, Puck BON-Domacasse, Chelsey BON

14-15 years Boys
Christiaan, Jordan BON-Isebia, Linomar BON-O'Donoghue, Mark CUR-Rutenfrans, Maurice CUR-Saragoza, Björn BON-Van der Eyken, Dieter Belgium-Jonas, Staehelin Switzerl-
Balentien, Hendrick BON-Brouwer, Nick CUR-Droege, Max GER-Finies, Archuendro BON-
Hombergen, Luc CUR-Piar, Harvey BON-Sances, Cymbert BON-Vingerhoets, Mosje BON-
Wederfoort, Victor CUR-Zwanenburg, Pieter NED

14-15 years Girls
De Palm, Mallory CUR-Diaz, Samantha BON-Sint Jago, Silvienne BON-
Offringa, Sarahquita AUA-Simal, Andrea BON

16-17 years Boys
Chauvet, Charlie FRA-Maria, Sten CUR-Soliano, Arthuro BON-Thode, Demenson BON-
Tremblay, Vincent CAN-Hengelmalen, Hinne NED-Ellis, Raimyson BON-Mulders, Yannick CUR-Rudolf, Whitney BON-Rutenfrans, Vincent CUR-Sint Jago, Jeager BON-
Zwanenburg, Tromas CUR

18+ years
Frans, Evertson BON
Offringa, Quincy AUA-Wildschut, Jort NED-Bernabela, Terrence BON-Van der Zande, Rene BON-Van Broeckhoven, Steven Belgium-Boer, Sergey CUR-
Jonge, Jayson BON-Schnitzler, Ingmar CUR-Frans, Elton BON

18+ years Girls
Tuinbeek, Hilde CUR

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