The Aloha Classic is a special event every year and traditionally marks the end of the season. The conditions in Ho'okipa are unique and always make for an exciting season finale. It was a dream come true for me to take part in this event for the first time. This year the event was brought forward by a week, as the wind probability is significantly higher in October than in November. This meant that there was just one week between the Sylt World Cup and the Aloha Classic. So after a long week on Sylt, we boarded the plane to Maui without a break.
First Hookipa session: fun, but challenging
After travelling for almost 30 hours with a twelve-hour time difference, I arrived on the island pretty exhausted. In Haiku, I shared a small flat with Maria Behrens from Lübeck and Valters Videnieks from Latvia. The wind was still a long time coming in the first few days. But the conditions in Ho'okipa were ideal for surfing, so I was able to get used to the climate and get rid of the jet lag. Surfing in swimming trunks was definitely the first highlight. On the third day, the wind finally arrived and I was able to hit the water in Ho'okipa for the first time. The spot is incredibly fun, but also very challenging. You have to get used to the wind from the right and the powerful waves. In addition, on the days leading up to the event, all the participants were on the water at every windy minute, so you really had to fight for every wave. Three days had to be enough preparation. Then the Aloha Classic got underway.
It was a dream come true for me to ride in this event for the first time." (Anton Richter)
World Cup opportunity for Anton Richter in the U21s
The forecast for the first week promised a big north-west swell and an easterly wind - ideal conditions for the competition. So the Challenger rounds started on the second day after the traditional opening ceremony on Ho'okipa beach. Thanks to my ninth place on Sylt, I was fortunately seeded in the main field and didn't have to go through the qualifying rounds first. So I was able to watch the heats and watch the locals, such as Kai Lenny and Levi Siver, who put on an impressive show right from the start. In my heat, I then met Hayata Ishii, Miguel Chapuis and Julian Salmonn. It was extremely fun to ride my first heat at the Aloha Classic and the conditions couldn't have been better - mast-high waves and medium winds. In the end, I was just one point short of making it through to the next round. I ended up in 29th place in the men's event and was then able to concentrate on the U21 elimination, which is important for me.
The U21 final was also held at the Aloha Classic for the first time this year and was decisive for the world championship. Before the final, I shared first place in the rankings with Jake Ghiretti from Australia. Whoever beats the other will be the U21 World Champion. Not an easy task, as Jake had been able to train in Ho'okipa for the three weeks before the event. On the third day, the waves were a little smaller and the go-ahead was given for the U21 elimination. I struggled to find the right waves in the first heat and only just missed out on a direct place in the semi-finals. The last chance was the Redemption Round - but I didn't get any good waves there either and didn't make it into the semi-finals. Unfortunately, that was the end of my dream of winning the U21 title. Jake Ghiretti came fourth and secured the world championship title.
Battle for the world championship titles
In the men's event, an exciting neck-and-neck race developed between the reigning world champion Marcilio Browne and Marc Paré, who had taken a slight lead in the world championship with his victory on Sylt the week before. For Browne, one thing was clear: he had to win the event to have any chance of winning the title. Should he succeed in doing so, Paré would have to finish at least fourth to secure his first world title. Both Marcilio Browne and Marc Paré put in strong performances on their way to the semi-finals. However, Browne looked slightly more confident than his opponent at his home spot. The first decisive moment then followed in the semi-final: Marc Paré was eliminated in an incredibly exciting heat against the two locals Robby Swift and Morgan Noireaux.
Eight years and five Aloha Classics later, I've managed to get to the top of the podium again." (Morgan Noireaux)
Now it was up to Marcilio Browne to win the world championship after all. However, three strong opponents awaited him in the final: Bernd Roediger, Morgan Noireaux and Robby Swift - all big names and difficult to beat in Ho'okipa. The final lived up to its promise. Big waves, little wind and excitement right up to the last minute. Browne, Roediger and Noireaux made a strong start to the final, all with waves of around 6 points. Swift was close behind with 5.5 points. With two waves to score, everything was still open. But all four struggled to find a second scoring wave, so the final set decided the winner. Both Browne and Roediger led the way with two more solid 6-point waves, but Morgan Noireaux took full risk and landed a clean wave 360, followed by a stylish aerial, to take his fourth Aloha Classic win with an 8.23-point wave. Roediger finished second and Browne had to settle for third place. The World Championship was thus decided. Marc Paré was crowned world champion for the first time after an outstanding season and replaced Marcilio Browne at the top after three years.
Legend versus newcomer - the women's World Championship duel
The starting position in the women's event was similarly exciting. The young Belgian Sol Degrieck came to Maui after her victory on Sylt with the chance to win her first world title at the age of just 16. On the other hand, Sarah-Quita Offringa came to the start with the chance to win her 28th world title. She had a small lead in the world championship thanks to a consistent season. For Sol, this meant that she had to win the event to have a chance of winning the title. If she failed to do so, Sarah-Quita would become world champion again. Sarah-Quita got off to a confident start in the competition and immediately made an exclamation mark with the highest score in the first round. This secured her a direct place in the semi-finals. For Sol Degrieck, however, the opening round did not go according to plan: she lost to Lisa Wermeister and Shawna Cropas in her first heat and had to take a diversion via the redemption round to secure a place in the semi-finals after all. Sol then returned to her usual form in the Redemption Round and secured her place in the semi-finals with two strong waves.
The two favourites for the title then met there. They were joined by the in-form Lisa Wermeister and Pauline Katz. Sol and Lisa got off to a good start in the heat and led the way with two solid waves. Sarah-Quita initially struggled to put a score on the board. Lisa capitalised on her second good wave to take the lead as the final minutes of the semi-final began. But Sarah-Quita waited patiently for the right waves and then showed her class once again. With two outstanding waves at the end of the heat, she moved into first place and secured a place in the final together with Lisa Wermeister. Sarah-Quita was thus crowned world champion once again and celebrated her 28th title. But that wasn't all: in the final, Sarah-Quita once again showed outstanding leadership and secured the event victory ahead of Angela Cochran and Lisa Wermeister.
Even if it didn't go as well as I had hoped, I'm taking a lot of great moments and experiences with me." (Anton Richter)
The Aloha Classic is a very special contest
The Aloha Classic 2025 was a real highlight for me. Being part of this legendary event for the first time and getting such good conditions straight away was an incredible experience. The conditions, the atmosphere and the community on Maui make the event something very special. The title fights in all categories were extremely exciting and spectacular to watch. Even though things didn't go as I had hoped for personally, I'm taking a lot of great moments and valuable experiences with me. I will do everything in my power to be there again next year.
Text: Anton Richter
