Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam

Day 4: A day to savour for Amado Vrieswijk - Dieter Van der Eyken moves to the top of the event rankings and Sarah-Quita Offringa shines again

It was another intense battle on the penultimate day of the freestyle in Fuerteventura as the second double elimination of the women’s contest was completed first thing - with Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) maintaining her 100% record  with another supreme display. However, on the men’s side of the draw it was all change as Amado Vrieswijk (JP/ Severne) turned the double elimination form on its head to claim his first ever single elimination victory on the PWA Freestyle World Tour, ahead of Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne), who continued his excellent form to make his second winners’ final in a row, whilst also moving to the top of the event rankings for the first time in his career.

Men’s Double Elimination 

Amado Vrieswijk didn’t allow a couple of mistiming errors, which caused two of his heats to be resailed, affect his focus today as he transformed his double elimination form. Vrieswijk had mentioned earlier in the day that his knee had felt better than at the start of the contest and it clearly showed as he replicated the kind of form both witnessed and expected by him in the recent past. The Bonairean began his storming comeback by defeating Max Rowe (Fanatic / North), before dispatching of one of the standout sailors of the double - Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde). Vrieswijk then caused a major upset as he defeated the - at the time - current event leader - Kiri Thode (Starboard / GA Sails). This setup a duel against Nicolas Akgazciyan (99Nove Nove / Point-7 / Maui Ultra Fins) , but the Frenchman could do nothing to stop Vrieswijk setting up a final against Dieter Van der Eyken. Whilst Vrieswijk will obviously be delighted with his days work, Van der Eyken may be even happier as he heads to the top of the event rankings, after another scintillating display. The Belgian is now on the cusp of not only his first overall podium finish, but also hist first event victory!

Winners’ Final 

Over the past couple of year’s both Amado Vrieswijk and Dieter Van der Eyken had been threatening to break into the top two and today both of them deservedly featured in the winners’ final. Van der Eyken continued his supreme form, whilst Vrieswijk  found his groove to create a scintillating final. The Belgian made the better start to the final as he glided through a shaka 360 and a powerful culo, which he quickly followed up with a perfect spock into culo. However, Vrieswijk soon found his stride to respond with an exquisite double culo and from here the momentum shifted. Van der eyken was still able to land a kabikuchi, but Vrieswijk  soon landed a trademark, almost air kabikuchi, to edge the duel.

Davy Scheffers (Tabou / GA Sails) also turned the past on its head as he forgot about the form book of past year’s to claim third place in the single today. The Dutchman used to be known for his light wind, sliding moves expertise but has proven over the course of the last four days that he can go big, if not bigger than anyone else. Scheffers threw himself into air chachoos together with combos such as spock culos and culo spocks to defeat Nicolas Akgazciyan in the losers’ final

Women’s

Double Elimination II

Winners’ Final

Oda Johanne (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) and Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) faced each other for the third time in four finals after the Norwegian narrowly defeated Maaike Huvermann (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) in the previous heat. Offringa opened with a smooth e-slider before adding a shaka 360 and an amazing culo, which was landed ankle-dry. Even a wardrobe malfunction, after landing a forward loop, couldn't stop Offringa from marching to her fourth successive victory of the week - and an eighth world title now looks inevitable for the Queen of freestyle. Johanne performed well with a big shaka and a regular kono, but it wasn’t enough to upset Offinga’s domination.

The opening round of the men’s second double elimination was also concluded before the close of the day and tomorrow promises to be another intriguing day. The skippers’ meeting has been called for 10am with the action commencing from 10:30am. Don’t miss any of the action by tuning into www.pwaworldtour.com

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