5th AND LAST DAY OF THE MASTER OF THE OCEAN 2024 CROWNS MAXIME LHUILLIER FROM CANCUN!
CABARETE, Wind and Surf City, Dominican Republic- 26th of February, 2024
The fifth day of the Master of the Ocean 2024 started with overcast skies and small conditions. As the morning went on conditions were not sufficient to start any heat. Nature rules as always! The wind remained light and onshore into the rest of the afternoon making it impossible to run additional windsurf, wing, or kite heats. However, the competition ended on a high note with tropical beats by local DJs in a heavenly setting.
Winners were announced at 3.15 pm and were presented on stage in the competition area on the beach. They were congratulated by the crowd, contest organizers, and Ms. Maike Friedrichsen, German Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, on stage. First, the extraordinary female athlete winners from the expression sessions were congratulated and then Future Masters of the Ocean were highlighted. In particular, Victoria Bramtot, 13 years old, youngest competitor, and most promising future Master of the Ocean (France/Dominican Republic) was congratulated. She performed very well at the event last year and won Best Female in the Kite Expression Session. She and other youngsters are definitely the future and role models of watersports for the next generation!
The winners for each category were called to the stage in order:
EXPRESSION SESSIONS
BEST FEMALE SURF
Kiki Torreabla (Venezuela)
BEST FEMALE KITE
Victoria Bramtot (France/Dominican Republic)
BEST FEMALE SUP
Aline Adisaka (Brazil)
BEST FEMALE WINGFOIL
Paula Novotna (Czech Republic)
BEST DR TEAM
We Love Kiteboarding
BEST FUTURE MASTERS
Victoria Bramtot (France/Dominican Republic)
EXPRESSION SESSION SURF
Nicolas de la Cruz (Dominican Republic)
EXPRESSION SESSION SUP
Aline Adisaka (Brazil)
EXPRESSION SESSION KITE
Brian Talma (Barbados)
EXPRESSION SESSION WING FOIL
Paula Novotna
TEAMS OVERALL
- Dream Team (International)
- We Love Kiteboarding (Dominican Republic)
- Edelweiss (Switzerland)
INDIVIDUAL OVERALL
- Maxime Lhuillier (France/Mexico) Master of the Ocean 2024
- Brian Talma (Barbados)- Master of the Ocean 2023
- Francis Gonzalez Martinez (Dominican Republic)
The atmosphere during the handing out of the trophies was electric and the winners and organizers gave many emotional speeches. It was great to see that the individual winners of the overall category in 2024 are all from neighboring areas in the Caribbean as in 2023. Again, it was wonderful to see that this event brought such a degree of international and regional watersports camaraderie among the over 40 athletes present from 12 countries. This spirit was symbolized by a true island man's charismatic personality and smile and 2nd place in the Master of the Ocean 2024, Brian Talma a.k.a Action Man from Barbados.
The evening of the 26th of February concluded with a buffet dinner at Ojo´s charming upstairs area on Cabarete Beach with $12,000 US in prizes handed out to the winners mentioned above. The progressive beats by DJs Jesse Funk from Germany, Ollie Mundy from London and INDEPENDANCE (special sets for Dominican Republic Independence Day on the 27th) continued into the night.
Congratulations to the multi-talented Frenchman/Mexican Maxime Lhuillier for being crowned Master of the Ocean 2024, legendary Brian Talma from Barbados in 2nd place, and consistent Francis Gonzalez (Dominican Republic) for maintaining his strong third place like last year. It should be noted that there was a presence of very high-level Dominican athletes in the five disciplines of the Master of the Ocean 2024 and this is the case in each edition of the competition. Congratulations to the Dream Team for winning 1st place in the Overall Team category! The 2024 edition of Master of the Ocean was a complete success with five full action-packed days and nature delivered once again! The best waves are yet to come and we will see you for the 20th anniversary edition of the Master of the Ocean in 2025!
We wish to thank our sponsors: Edelweiss, Copa Airlines, Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, Ministry of Sports of the Dominican Republic, Ministry of Defense of the Dominican Republic, Banreservas, Corona, Millennium Resort and Spa, Viva Wyndham Tangerine, Natura Cabana, Eucerin, the German Embassy in Santo Domingo, Cable del Norte, Listin Diario and many others for supporting Master of the Ocean 2024.