Three's company for Marc Jacobs, with the Mt Maunganui kiteboarder wrapping up his third open men's national title in Tauranga at the weekend after mastering the 25-30 knot winds that lashed Fergusson Park.
Jacobs, 21, dominated the nationals, adding his third open title to the three junior titles he wonfrom 2005-07.
Ranked fourth on the international PKRA circuit, Jacobs said the breeze, which peaked at 30 knots late on the first day, was challenging.
"It was a typically good spring wind but 25-to-30 knots is getting up there for most competitors. When it's getting that strong most competitors are struggling because they're not used to performing some of the unhooked wake-style tricks we're doing.
"The windier it gets the harder it is to perform those tricks, but I'm just stoked to have won on home turf, and that the oil (from grounded ship Rena) didn't stuff it up."
Jacobs has competed in Thailand, Morocco, France, Spain, Germany and Brazil on the PKRA world tour this year and is chasing a big finish in a month in New Caledonia to boost his ranking.
"I'll go over confident and I'm hoping that maybe I'll come away with a good result and get to third (in the rankings). A (breakthrough) win would be nice but it's a big mission ahead."
