Aruba Hi Winds Youth Slalom World Cup
The first slalom champions of the year have been crowned at the PWA Youth & Junior World Cup in Aruba, the opening event of the Youth Slalom World Tour, which will also see contests in Bonaire and Turkey with other possible events still to be announced.
With all fleets racing together this week, athletes of all ages battled it out in both fin and foil divisions.
Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) was the standout in the girls division taking the victory in both the fin and foil rankings overall and will lead the U17 rankings heading into her home spot next week in Bonaire. Whilst Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / Point-7) & Benedikt Emser (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) took home the win in the fin & foil boy's fleets respectively.
U17
Storm Nicolai (Duotone) and Tycho Smits had some fierce battles all week on both the fin and the foil. Nicolai took the edge in the fin division, also scoring his first bullet, whilst Smits took the honours in the foil division. This battle will continue with both boys vying for honours on home turf in Bonaire.
U15
Arxon Gomperts showed unbelievable potential against competitors much his senior this week. After a shaky start, he grew with confidence as the week progressed and his results just kept improving. Day 3 was his real breakthrough when the 12-year-old took a 4th & 5th overall in the winners’ finals to catapult himself up the rankings.
The De Jong (Kit & Lone) (Starboard / NeilPryde) twins had one of the tightest battles of the week and ultimately just one point separated the two of them with Kit edging out Lone in the last race to take the victory in the U15 girls.
U13
Joey Ross may have been the youngest competitor this week, but that didn’t slow him down and he had some amazing battles with riders nearly double his age and size! Talking to him, you can tell immediately how stoked he is about windsurfing and how much he just loves being out on the water! We are sure this won’t be the last time you hear the name Joey Ross on the podium!
Where's Next on the PWA Youth World Tour?
After a short hop, skip and a jump, the next generation of racers will be in action again next week for the Bonaire Youth Slalom World Cup, which takes place from the 21st-25th May.