Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam

Event Preview: Celebrating 30 years of world class competition with more explosive freestyle and warp speed slalom

From the 24th July until the 2nd August the freestyle and slalom fleets will be returning to action for the Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam hosted by René Egli - marking the 30th anniversary of world cups in Fuerte. The first five days of the event will belong to the contortionists of the freestyle world as the men prepare for their third battle of the season, whilst the women prepare for their sole appearance of the year. The remainder of the event will see the world’s fastest sailors return for their third instalment of warp speed slalom as the men’s title race starts to gather pace. The next ten days ahead promise to be action packed and adrenaline fuelled as Fuerteventura’s famous nuclear strength winds prepare to test the mettle of the world’s elite once more.

Sotavento is located on the Southeast coast of Fuerteventura and has developed a world-class reputation due to its year round sunshine, stunning golden beaches and most importantly, as its name suggests, strong winds, which create some of the most exhilarating conditions on the PWA World Tour. Fuerteventura is one of the most challenging stops on the tour for the freestylers, but it can also be one of the most rewarding when there is a swell running as it produces the perfect stunt ramps for the freestylers to launch into the latest aerial power moves, whilst the slalom fleet will be reaching for their smallest gear and trying to reach the end of the course unscathed. 

Ones to Watch

Men’s Freestyle

The biggest news prior to the start of the event is that the current PWA Freestyle World Tour leader - Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde) - will be absent from proceedings due to a broken foot, which he sustained whilst training for the next event in Egypt. The Belgian maestro had been looking in scintillating form and will be desperately disappointed to miss out. We wish Steven a speedy and successful recovery.

With Van Broeckhoven out of the event - Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North / MFC) - will enter Fuerteventura as the clear favourite - the six-time world champion is an even more formidable force in Fuerte having won here for the past three seasons and it’s going to be hard for anyone to stop him again. Gollito loves the stunt ramps that Sotavento produces to explode into trademark paskos and pushloops and who knows the King of freestyle may even have a new trick up his sleeve.

Kiri Thode (Starboard / GA Sails) will be just one of the men looking to stop Gollito and the 2013 world champion will be looking to produce more of his amazing combos to do just that. As well as Thode the remainder of the Bonaire crew Tonky Frans (Tabou / GA Sails / AL360), Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic), Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard / Hot Sails Maui), Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne) and Youp Schmit (99NoveNove / Avanti) - all stand excellent chances in Fuerte with their unique island style always scoring well with the judges and entertaining the crowds. Could we see one of the latter two landing a double air culo in competition?

Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne) will be the top ranked Belgian sailor with Van Broeckhoven absent and he’ll be hoping to continue his excellent start to the season - achieving his best result to date on the PWA Freestyle World Tour - 4th in France. The twenty-three year old usually sails well here with two, fifth place finishes a joint seventh in the past three years and you can be sure he’ll be pushing for another top five finish. The Belgian maestro is one of the most diverse sailors on the tour with the majority of his extensive repertoire being landed on both tacks. 

Antony Ruenes (Tabou / GA Sails) is another sailor who has all the weapons to be a major threat and the Frenchman arrives off the back of victory on the European stage, so confidence will be sky high. Ruenes is one of the most stylish sailors around and you can expect to see trademark no-handed burners and possibly air spocks too.

Fuerteventura hasn’t proved to be the easiest of hunting grounds for Davy Scheffers (Tabou / GA Sails) over the past few years, but he returned to the event top ten in 2014 and he’ll be hoping to feature in the top ten again. Also look out for Romain Pinocheau (99NoveNove / Avanti / Maui Ultra Fins), who achieved his first top ten finish in the opening event of the year, as well as Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde), who has bags of ability and frequently trains with Steven Van Broeckhoven and Nicolas Akgazciyan (99NoveNove / Point-7 / Maui Ultra Fins). Meanwhile, Phil Soltysiak (Starboard / Sailworks) will also be hoping to return to the top ten and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Canadian do just that as he has featured frequently in the top ten and beyond in Fuerte in recent years.

Women’s Freestyle

It’s hard to look past the Queen of freestyle - Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) - in the women’s division. Offringa is the undisputed champion of the world having now won an incredible seven freestyle world titles in a row. The Aruban gem has the skills to test many of the guys on tour and has apparently been landing spock-culos now she has finished her studies and you can be sure to see her landing shakas, regular konos and more in her attempt for title number eight.

Oda Johanne (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) finished last year as the PWA Vice-World Champion in only her second year on tour. The Norwegian has been training hard again over the winter so as well as landing shakas, she has also added skopus and burners to her armoury and will be a major player again.

Having missed last year’s contest due to an ankle injury - Arrianne Aukes (RRD / Simmer / Maui Ultra Fins) - will be back fitter, stronger and more determined than ever. Aukes possesses all the moves and vitally the consistency in the tricky, chopper waters and will no doubt be pushing for top honours again.

Maaike Huvermann (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) may only be seventeen, but she’s already entering her third year on the tour. The young Dutch girl made everyone stand back and take notice last year - especially with her performance in Bonaire - and was rewarded with the final place on the prestigious podium in 2014. Huvermann has since added shakas on both tacks, switch konos and switch chachoos to her repertoire, to name a few, and if she can cope with the choppy water then she should be involved in the battle for the top three again.

Also look out for Yoli Freites de Brendt (Fanatic / North), who is always in the mix and Bonaire’s very own Maxime van Gent (Fanatic / North / Maui Ultra Fins).

Slalom

Reigning world champion - Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) - leads the way at this stage of the season with one event victory - Korea - and a third place to his name thus far. The big Frenchman is yet to win an elimination this year, but he has proved again that consistency is critical for success and he’s showed plenty of that by qualifying for all but one winners’ final thus far. Albeau won the event here last year and he’ll be eager to cement his place at the top of the rankings, whilst retaining his crown. You can expect to see AA gunning for the top of the podium again.

Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North) is a real title contender now and he has further backed up his claims so far this year with a second and a fourth place respectively. The Frenchman continues to sail with expertise and guise beyond his years and he should be in contention once more. Mortefon has already proven this year that he is one of the quickest, if not the quickest, in howling winds after claiming victory in the Defi Wind and he should be there or there abouts come the end of the event. 

Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic) is currently tied in joint second place with Mortefon after an excellent start to the season. The Brit is well respected as one of the world’s best all round sailors and his choice to focus solely on slalom is now paying dividends. Williams boasts the skill set and the expertise to achieve another top result here and he too should be heavily involved at the end of proceedings.

Italian Matteo Iachino (Fanatic / North) is just behind the top three at the moment, but will arrive full of confidence after capturing his maiden event victory on the PWA Slalom World Tour in Costa Brava in May. Iachino has shown the consistency needed to compete at the top, together with perfectly timed starts and blistering speed, so he should be challenging for a place on the podium again.

Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Point-7) currently occupies fifth place in the world rankings and the Argentinian will be looking to use his pace again to secure another top ten finish, whilst Alexandre Cousin (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic) is right on his tail in a career high sixth place. The young Frenchman has shown excellent gybing under pressure when needed and he’ll be hoping to continue his fine start to the campaign.

Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun Sails) made a brilliant start to the year in Korea as he earned his first podium finish since 2011, before a slightly disappointing result in Costa Brava. The man from Cape Verde will be keen to put the last result behind him and move forwards again. Expect to see more perfectly timed starts as he looks to do just that.

Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde) put a slow start to the season in Korea behind him, by claiming sixth place in the next event. The twenty-nine year old looked to be finding his form in Costa Brava and if he hits top gear in Fuerteventura then the man from Saint Maarten is more than capable of challenging for the top three and beyond. 

Last year’s vice-world champion - Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne) currently finds himself in ninth place overall, but showed his intent for the remainder of the season with a solid fifth place in Costa Brava. The Frenchman holds an outstanding record in Fuerteventura and another top five finish at a minimum beckons for him here.

Steven Allen (Starboard / Severne) completes the top ten at this stage and the Australian will be hoping he can achieve his first top ten finish in Fuerteventura since 2010. However, Allen and the rest of the fleet will be facing stern competition from the likes of Marco Lang (Fanatic / North), who is enjoying his best season to date, the hugely experienced Micah Buzianis (JP), flying Dutchman Ben Van der Steen (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic), who will be looking to properly kick start his season, Arnon Dagan (RRD / NeilPryde, who came so close to his second event victory in Costa Brava and the hugely talented Frenchman Pascal Toselli (99NoveNove / Point-7) to name just a few.

The next ten days promise to be action packed with the world’s best freestylers contorting themselves into more mind blowing manoeuvres, before the slalom fleet provide more adrenaline fuelled slalom as the respective title races begin to gather pace. Who’s your money on for each of the disciplines? To find out who comes out on top make sure you tune into www.pwaworldtour.com from the 24th July until the 2nd August - here you’ll be able to follow all of the amazing action as it happens.

If you are in Fuerteventura or contemplating a holiday then be sure to check out http://www.rene-egli.com, who can provide you with the latest top of the line windsurfing equipment, whilst helping to solve your accommodation needs.

go to related event