2009 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - 2009/07/21 21:28 Pic - PWA/John Carter
After an epic week in Pozo, the world’s best windsurfers will arrive on the white sands of Sotavento Beach from Wednesday 22nd July. This is the final stop on the grueling Canary Islands tour, where both Slalom and Freestyle fleets will be competing fiercely.
Once again, the event is hosted at the world famous Rene Egli Windsurf Centre on the south eastern shores of the island. This amazing location is moments away from the waterfront, where cross-offshore winds blast across the beautiful blue ocean. The Fuerteventura event has played a great part in the history of the PWA, and it was the birthplace of the modern freestyle discipline.
Competition this year will start with the men’s slalom, and go into men’s and women’s freestyle. Running between the 22nd July and the 1st August, this event promises to be a great eleven-day spectacle.
Slalom As the race for the overall title heats up, the top sailors will be giving everything they can to get their hands on crucial tour points.
After a classic performance from Antoine Albeau (JP/NeilPryde) in Pozo, the defending champion, and current Tour leader, will be headlining the event. He will be joined by the biggest names in the sport: Kevin Pritchard (Starboard/Gaastra/Dakine), Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard/Severne) and Finian Maynard (RRD/NeilPryde).
Also pushing the challenge for the title will be the excellent Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard/North Sails), Ross Williams (Tabou/Gaastra) and Peter Volwater (F2/MauiSails).
Freestyle After the slalom is complete, the freestyle pack will roll in to town. All eyes will be on Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic/North Sails/MFC) who took a solid victory in Lanzarote. His main challengers will no doubt come from the firing Kiri Thode (Starboard/Gaastra), Marcillo Browne (Fanatic/North Sails/MFC) and Antxon Otaegui (JP/NeilPryde/MFC). Steven Van Broeckhoven (F2/MauiSails) has grabbed Europe’s attention with his amazing talent, and he will have his hopes set on securing a top position in the World rankings.
In the women’s fleet, we can expect to see the great Sarah Quita Offringa (Starboard/NeilPryde) defending her lead against challenges from the experienced Daida Ruano Moreno (North Sails), the on form Junko Nagoshi (Tabou/Simmer Style/Dakine), Nayra Alonso (Fanatic/Severne) and Laure Treboux (Fanatic/North Sails).
One thing is for sure; it is going to be a close and action-packed event, with the level of competition reaching new heights.
Re:2009 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - 2009/07/23 08:53Fuerteventura 2009: Registration
All signed up and ready for action: The 2009 Fuerteventura Slalom Fleet is raring to go.
The calm before the storm. Forty-seven of the world’s best slalom competitors have registered for the ultimate show down here at Sotavento Beach. The scene was familiar: white sands, azure waters and a constant cross-offshore wind. The feelings in the camp were lively, and there was a sense of electricity that pulsed between the competitors. It is clear that many of the sailors will relish the opportunity to improve their standings in the World Rankings after a very tight contest in Pozo.
As it stands, Antoine Albeau (JP/NeilPryde) is the man to beat. His consistency and experience give him such an advantage in slalom. The intense contest in Gran Canaria last week has thrown the overall word rankings into disarray. The title chase has never been closer. Leading the chase is Britain’s Ross Williams (Tabou/Gaastra), whilst Micah Buzianis (JP/NeilPryde), Finian Maynard (RRD/NeilPryde) and Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard/Severne) are all on equal points. The brilliant Kevin Pritchard (Starboard/Gaastra/Dakine) is poised in sixth place, and he will be charging after an amazing performance in Gran Canaria.
There is also a big push by the new blood in the sport: Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard/North Sails), Benoit Moussilmani (Starboard/Simmer Style) and Sylvain Moussilmani (Starboard/Simmer Style) have been pushing hard for their position in the leading ranks. Along side them Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Exocet/MauiSails) Robby Swift (JP/NeilPryde) and Matt Pearch (Fanatic/North Sails) have shown great speed and strength this year.
In a quick five-minute blast between his tuning program, we took the chance to have a quick fire chat with World Number two, Ross Williams.
Q: If you were a betting man, who would you put your money on for the top 5 at this event?
RW: “Antoine is the favorite for sure, but everyone is going to fight for it. I think Me, Micah, Finian, and KP will be in there. There have been a lot of guys getting better in every race, but it’s the consistency that’s important here”
Q: What about Dunkerbeck?
RW: “Oh yeah (smiling). I forgot him! He is always amazingly quick. And Cyril too. It’s going to be tight.”
Q: Does your performance depend on the conditions, and do you think they will affect the other competitors?
RW: “I just hope it is at least this windy – this stuff is perfect (looking at his 7.0 Gaastra and his smallest Starboard). The forecast looks good, and I know I’m at my best when it’s like Pozo. When it’s kind of’ light like this, Micah and Kev get a lot more competitive, but when it’s windy Antoine, Finian and Bjorn just love it. I love it too, and for the kit that I have registered here I need it to be really windy!”
Williams may well get his wish. Tomorrow the conditions look like they are picking up for an incredible week of action. There will also be some swell arriving for the men’s and women’s freestyle, so make sure you tune in and don’t miss a thing.
The slalom event will kick off tomorrow, with a skippers meeting at 1000, and a first possible start at 1030.
Re:2009 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - 2009/07/23 09:00 Pic - PWA/John Carter
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tony
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Re:2009 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - 2009/07/24 08:38Day 1. Simply unstoppable: Albeau opens with yet another incredible performance.
Antoine Albeau (JP/NeilPryde) has opened the Fuerteventura Grand Slam in style, smashing his way to two consecutive victories, and leaving his competitors for dead. Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard/Severne) snatched the final victory of the day, whilst Finian Maynard (RRD/NeilPryde) and Micah Buzianis (JP/NeilPryde) continually dominated at the head of the fleet.
It was a glorious day at Sotavento Beach, where a full tide lapped at the shores of the turquoise lagoon. A cross-offshore trade wind build throughout the day, peaking at 35 knots, allowing the slalom elite to use their fastest equipment and put on an incredible display.
There were three full rounds of slalom today, each one containing a breathtaking mix of action, excitement and drama.
Antoine Albeau (JP/NeilPryde) was outstanding once again, showing that he will stop at nothing to take home the World Title this year. It was a great day in the office for the defending champion, who took two great victories early on. Albeau was made to fight for fourth place in the last final, where an epic display of speed took him from eighth to fourth in just two reaches. He finished the day on top of the leader board by a comfortable margin.
Finian Maynard (RRD/NeilPryde) and Micah Buzianis (JP/NeilPryde) looked very strong this afternoon, finishing up just one point apart, and with everything to play for. Both sailors were focused, consistent and incredibly fast, and they will be pleased by their performances today.
Mistakes crept in early as competitors pushed themselves beyond their limits to try and gain any advantage that they could. PMS disqualifications were numerous, and big names fell early: Ross Williams (Tabou/Gaastra), Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Exocet/MauiSails), Marco Begalli (Starboard), Cedric Bordes (Tabou/Gaastra) and Antoine Questel (Mistral/Loft Sails) were all out of the first round without even sailing a heat.
The errors didn’t stop there; Peter Volwater (F2/MauiSails), Ben Van der Steen (Exocet/Simmer Style) and Alberto Menegatti (Starboard/Simmer Style) were all forced into the losers’ final of the third round after the same critical blunder. However these three did what they could, sharing the top spots of their next heat; Volwater showing his great talent once again, using super-fast technique as his main weapon.
There was also an edge of drama to spice things up. Josh Angulo (Angulo/MauiSails/Dakine) had sailed excellently all day, making it through to consecutive finals and showing that he is a force to be reckoned with in these conditions. In the second final, Angulo was leading by a clear margin, until he catapulted over the finish line in a painful twist of misfortune. This left the path clear for Albeau to take the lead, leaving Angulo enraged, in the loser’s final, and lower in the rankings that he may have otherwise deserved.
Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard/Severne) suffered grave disaster when a similar wipe-out on the last reach during the second final sent the legend through his sail. Dunkerbeck sailed brilliantly to come back from that, and took the victory in the last final of the day. Windsurfing’s greatest champion has looked on top form today, and he will be a major contender for this event’s title.
Jimmy Diaz (Starboard/North Sails), Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard/North), Arnon Dagan (Tabou/Gaastra) and Partick Diethelm (F2/North Sails) were excellent today, showing that they have what it takes to be a major threat to the top spots. No doubt these great competitors will continue to push for positions in the elite winner’s finals.
The award for Sailor of the Day falls to Tine Slabe (RRD), who sailed brilliantly through the early rounds. In his best performance so far, the charming Slabe has laid the foundations for his best World Tour result to date.
Tomorrow’s action kicks off at 10.30, with the first possible start at 11.00. The forecast is for increasing winds throughout the week, which will set us up for yet another epic contest.
Re:2009 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - 2009/07/24 08:40 Pic - PWA/John Carter
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tony
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Re:2009 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - 2009/07/25 09:59Day 2: Pritchard and Williams seize the opportunity to catch the great Albeau.
Ross Williams (Tabou/Gaastra) and Kevin Pritchard (Starboard/Gaastra/Dakine ) have shared glory alongside Antoine Albeau (JP/NeilPryde) as the winners of today’s three rounds. In an outstanding day of competition, the first discard of the event has put pressure on Finian Maynard (RRD/NeilPryde) who clings on to second place.
A battering 40-knot wind churned the water white this morning, as the sailors prepared to push their limits over a dramatic new course. Speed was the focus of the day, with the fastest racers enjoying the opportunity to prove their talents. The ‘speed-leg’ that was introduced in the second round bought the action meters away from the amazed spectators, as the world’s elite went head to heat in a remarkable day of action.
A familiar scene welcomed the crowd, as Antoine Albeau (JP/NeilPryde) opened the day’s contest with a convincing victory. However, Albeau’s skill was tested, after two gybe mark collisions cost him a spot in the second round final, and a bad start pushed him to a low position in the third round.
With Albeau out of the second round’s final, Ross Williams (Tabou/Gaastra) took his chance for victory, and sailed excellently to claim his first win here in Fuerteventura. When Williams is on form, there are few competitors who can match his blistering pace and great technique, and so we hope he continues to challenge throughout the week.
Gaastra teammate Kevin Pritchard (Starboard/Gaastra/Dakine) once again proved that he is one of the most serious contenders for this event, as well as the World Title. The ex-World Champion was outstanding in the ultimate heat of the day, holding off challenges from the best sailors in the world with apparent ease. Pritchard now sits at third overall in this event, and after such a great performance takes our coveted ‘Sailor of the Day’ award.
Finian Maynard (RRD/NeilPryde) clearly demonstrated his ability to dominate in high-wind racing, making the most of the new course layout. Qualifying to all three finals today, he ends up this afternoon in second overall, but he will be aware that the top five are closing in quickly.
There were some classic battles for the finish today, and more often that not, they included the determined Micah Buzianis (JP/NeilPryde), Patrick Diethelm (F2/North Sails), Sylvain Moussilmani (Starboard/Simmer Style) and Benoit Moussilmani (Starboard/Simmer Style). All four of these athletes were excellent today, continually fighting through the ranks. Benoit Moussilmani, in particular, impressed with his outstanding final results. Arnon Dagan (Tabou/Gaastra) has also maintained his good form, although he was unlucky to destroy his equipment in a catapult during the final heat of the day.
An afternoon highlight for the crowd came in the form of a spectacular crash by Robby Swift (JP/NeilPryde), who gave everything in a battle with Jesper Orth (Starboard/Severne) in the second semi final of round 5. Swift and Orth were neck and neck, when a chop pushed Swift’s board out of the water, causing him to crash at full speed, his body flung high into the air and hard into his equipment. Such was the force in the crash that Albeau and Buzianis sailed to him immediately to check on their teammate.
Yesterday’s sailor of the day, Tine Slabe (RRD), made history this afternoon, when he became the first Slovenian in Windsurfing’s history to make it through to a slalom winners’ final. Cedric Bordes (Tabou/Gaastra)
Gabriel Browne (Starboard/MauiSails) and Daniel Aeberli (F2/Severne) had an impressive day on the water that will see them set their sights high for the remainder of the event.
The wind is due to drop off by a couple of knots tomorrow, and after today’s results we now have a super tight competition on our hands. Whilst Albeau still holds a considerable lead, tomorrow’s racing will bring a second discard in to play, which could have a dramatic effect on the overall results.
