TITLE CONTENDERS

A look at the likely names competing for top honours in Tenerife

With the PWA Tenerife World Cup just a few days away we take a look at the sailors who are most likely to be challenging for the men’s and women’s titles respectively. After the opening event in Pozo amazingly saw no result, there’s still all to play for in Tenerife and the pressure will be on for the big guns to make a flying start to the season.

With a fantastic looking forecast it looks as though we should see some epic action on the water, but who’s going to be coming out on top?

Title Contenders


Men’s

As the reigning PWA Wave World Champion and the winner of last year’s event in Tenerife - Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) - stands as the favourite. The wonderkid is gunning for a third successive world title and he’ll be looking to pull out his trademark double loops, pushloop forwards and perhaps his secret move too? 

Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra) pushed Koster all the way in Tenerife last year and he’ll be looking to try and go one better when the event begins. The Spaniard is world renowned for his super smooth and stylish wave riding, Mussolini also spends much of his time in El Cabezo throughout the year and he’ll be looking to use his additional local knowledge to out maneuver his opponents with better wave selection.

The 2010 PWA Wave World Champion - Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North) - completed the podium in 2012 and the Spaniard will be looking to raise his game by pulling out his perfect double forwards and one-handed goiters. Expect to see Fernandez challenging for top honours over the week ahead.

As one of the most radical jumpers in the world Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) is one of the few sailors who can potentially match Koster for insane aerial antics, so he will be a massive threat over the duration of the event.

Of course there are other contenders such as the likes of Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC), local boy Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360) and France’s Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra) to name a few, but we’ll look at them in more detail on Friday with the release of the full event preview.

Women’s 

The legendary Moreno twins - Iballa Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne) and Daida Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne) - will no doubt enter the event as the favourites. It’s hard to call on which one will come out on top though. Last year Iballa won every event on the tour to emphatically claim the PWA Wave World Championship, however Daida has shown she’s more than ready to take top spot again having won the super session in Pozo. One things for sure though, there will definitely be another epic battle taking battle between the two sisters.

Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) represents the biggest threat to the almost untouchable twins. The multiple time world champion possesses perfect backloops and fluid wave riding, which could see her force her way into the top two. 

Elsewhere Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg) is building a reputation as one of the best wave riders on the tour. If she can combine her fantastic style on the wave with a couple of big jumps then the German could easily be challenging for the podium at least. Also Nayra Alonso (Fanatic / Severne) will be hoping to return with a vengeance after missing the tour last year. Alonso finished third overall in 2011, so the Spaniard definitely possesses the tools necessary to at least break into the top three.

You’ll be able to follow all the incredible action live by tuning into the PWA TV at www.pwaworldtour.com from the 3rd to the 9th of August.