Re:2009 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - 2009/07/31 18:08 Pic - PWA/John Carter
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Re:2009 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - 2009/08/01 19:53Day 9: The heat wave continues. The wind fails to blow.
The heat is on. The temperatures in Fuerteventura reached 45 degrees, and the pressure cooker atmosphere really took hold. Some sailors had to return to their air-conditioned hotel rooms, unable to withstand the climate, as the intense heat-wave suffocated the sailors all day. Good news for the event leaders Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic/North Sails/MFC) and Sarah Quita Offringa (Starboard/NeilPryde), who are beginning to look untouchable at the top.
The locals call it a calima. It is a form of high pressure that starts in the Northern Sahara desert, and inflicts a period of intense and oppressing heat over the Canary Islands.
Unfortunately, it also brings an unfamiliar wind direction to the volcanic shores, affecting the usual trades.
With one double elimination complete, the sailors who are in the podium positions are looking happy. After great early performances, Estredo, Tonky Frans (F2/Gaastra) and Marcillo Browne (Fanatic/North Sails/MFC) lead the men, while Offringa, Daida Ruano Moreno (North Sails) and Yoli Freites De Brendt (Fanatic/North Sails) currently lead the women.
As it stands, a complete double elimination puts pressure on the competition tomorrow. The way the rules work, only a second complete double elimination will score – and this will require at least eight and a half hours on the water, with no room for error. Unless the wind blows from 0900 tomorrow, the chances of finishing with a different result are slim to none.
Could this be the end of the road for the challengers here at Fuerteventura? Only time will tell.
One of the few competitors to brave the scorching conditions at the beach was the Canarian sensation Nayra Alonso (Fanatic/Severne), who was kind enough to talk to us this afternoon.
PWA: How are you feeling after the Canaries Tour?
NA: “I’m super, super happy that is coming to an end (smiling). This is the most difficult contest of the year. I kind of feel a bit sweet and sour about the last few weeks – the freestyle here has gone so much better than I expected, but I was really upset to lose out of a podium place in the waves in Pozo. This year I really focused on wave sailing, so to do so well in the freestyle is a real bonus”
PWA: Do you feel more pressure competing in front of a home crowd?
NA: “No, not really. There is always a lot of pressure in all events, but I don’t think its any worse when I compete in the Canaries. It helps that I have been coming to these places for over six years now!”
PWA: We have seen a dramatic improvement in the women’s fleet this year – is this because you are being pushed so hard by Offringa in freestyle and the Moreno’s in waves?
NA: “Having someone so good to look at definitely helps, but I would say that it is more a natural drive to improve that has helped the most. I have always wanted to make sure that I do the best, and it doesn’t really matter who is standing out. I think you always have to want to be the best that you can be, and this is the real reason we have all improved”
PWA: Do you think any one will be able to match Offringa in the near future? What do you think makes her so special?
NA: “No. No way. She is amazingly talented, and is so far ahead of anyone else in freestyle I don’t think anyone will beat her for a long time. Every now and then, someone special comes along. Ricardo (Campello) did it about five years ago, and now it is Sarah’s turn. I think she is really special and am super happy for her.”
PWA: Do you have any exciting plans for the coming winter? Waves/Freestyle/Travel?
NA: “I can’t wait to get back to Maui in October for six weeks. It will give me a chance to relax and go wave sailing in starboard tack. I would really like to go back to Western Australia also. I had such a good time there last winter with Laure Treboux, Ben Severne, Scotty McKercher, and I hope my boyfriend Skyeboy will be able to come this time too!”
We thank Nayra for her time, and wish her all the best for the remaining event of the season. For now, we wait nervously to see what tomorrow will bring. It is make or break for the freestyle elite, so make sure you tune in for an early start.
Please join us again tomorrow for live event coverage, amazing photos and inspiring video footage, exclusively from www.pwaworldtour.com <http://www.pwaworldtour.com> .
Results: MEN: Jose Estredo Tonky Frans Marcillo Browne Steven Van Broeckhoven
WOMEN: Sarah Quita Offringa Daida Ruano Moreno Yoli Freites De Brendt Nayra Alonso
Re:2009 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - 2009/08/02 18:07Day 10: Offringa and Estredo are the undisputed champions of Fuerteventura.
After a day full of expectations, the two best freestylers in the world have held firm in Fuerteventura. Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic/North Sails/MFC) and Sara-Quita Offringa (Starboard/NeilPryde) punched the sky as they were officially announced as the event’s winners at the packed beach. The wind, once again, refused to blow enough to run a contest.
As well as the event title, the most highly acclaimed award in women’s windsurfing went to Sara-Quita Offringa (Starboard/NeilPryde), who was crowned the 2009 PWA Women’s Freestyle World Champion for the second year in succession. This incredible achievement is made even more unbelievable when we consider the extent to which she has taken the world by storm since her debut last year: the style-mistress from Aruba has not lost a heat in two years.
Yesterday, the kind words by Nayra Alonso (Fanatic/Severne/MFC) neatly summarized her astonishing abilities. Offringa was described as an untouchable, and the sort of talent that only comes around in sport on a very few occasions. To add to this already glowing report, she is also a wonderful person, always humble, always full of praise for her opponents, and always incredibly modest.
We offer her our warmest congratulations on such an outstanding achievement, and hope that she stays fit and determined to return next year.
After two days of waiting in unbearable heat, the competitors came down to the beach this morning unsure of what to expect. There were signs of wind early on, and they all knew that if the competition started before 10.00, a full double elimination was on the cards. As the morning progressed, it became apparent that the trades would not kick in, and at 10.30, the official event was called to a close. An expression session was scheduled for the afternoon if the wind returned.
At 11.30, the wind began to fill in. The first to hit the water were the European super star Steven Van Broeckhoven (F2/MauiSails), Kiri Thode (Starboard/Gaastra), Yegor Popretinskiy (JP/NeilPryde/MFC) and Davy Scheffers (Tabou/Gaastra). These four made the most of the light wind conditions, as they launched into high ponchs, air funnells, and burners. Their attitude was infectious, and their talent obvious, and soon the rest of the competitors followed.
For an hour before lunch, the thermal heat wave gave way to a short period of 25-knot trades, which saw the entire fleet take to the water to try and train for the super session. The scene was incredible – 40 of the world’s best windsurfers gave it their all to impress the enormous crowd that filled the white sand of Sotavento.
Always eager to impress his fans, Tonky Frans (F2/Gaastra) stole the show as he wowed the masses with his radical culos, followed by a charming wave and a beaming smile. Always the showman, Frans was a pleasure to watch, and he thoroughly deserved his second place here this year, and his second equal overall.
Marcillo Browne (Fanatic/North Sails/MFC) also stood out, flying in to every move at full speed, and getting some serious height on his rotations. Ian Mouro Lemos (JP/NeilPryde) looked like he was training hard for the expression session, whilst Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard/Hot Sails Maui) really turned heads with his unique and fearless style.
Unfortunately, the wind failed to hold. At 15.30, the final day at Fuerteventura was officially called to a close, and the competitors crowded round to congratulate the two champions. Surrounded by spectators, Gollito and Offringa posed for photographs and signed autographs, as the ovation from the crowd confirmed their hero’s status.
It has been an incredible fortnight here, and the wonderful Sotavento beach has not disappointed. Thanks must go to the efforts put in by the Rene Egli Team, especially Rene himself, as well as all the crew who worked tirelessly to make the event such a success. A special mention must also go to the Fuerteventura Red Cross Team, who were amazing all week. We have been blessed with incredible displays of both slalom and freestyle, and the aura that surrounds this incredible event will boost as a result.
Congratulations to both Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic/North Sails/MFC) and Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard/NeilPryde) after their incredible achievements once again.
As the dust settles at the end of the Canaries Tour, we turn our sights now to the next event in the PWA calendar: The 2009 Pegasus Airlines PWA Slalom in Alaçati, Turkey.
Results: MEN: Jose Estredo Tonky Frans Marcillo Browne Steven Van Broeckhoven
WOMEN: Sarah Quita Offringa Daida Ruano Moreno Yoli Freites De Brendt Nayra Alonso
