Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam

Day 2: Close calls, mega moves and only 6 men and 5 women left standing at the end of second day

The men’s and women’s double eliminations began on the second day of the Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam. The level in the men’s division was extremely high right from the opening heat of the first round with the world’s best freestylers rotating through the latest power moves. This resulted in several close calls as some of the sailors proved almost inseparable. Unfortunately the wind dropped before the conclusion of the doubles, but there was still plenty of standout moments over the duration of the day.

Men’s

Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North / MFC) looked backed to his old supreme self today, after being slightly under the weather and slightly under par yesterday. The reigning world champion defeated Italian Francesco Cappuzzo (RRD / RRD / Flymount / AL360), Adrien Bosson (Fanatic / North / Maui Ultra Fins), Balz Muller (Patrik / Severne) and Julien Mas (JP / Avanti) as he posted the highest scores of the day to begin his comeback through the double elimination. The Venezuelan started the day in joint 9th and will now face Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne) in the battle for 5th and 6th place respectively after flying through trademark paskos, pushloops and monster shakas.

Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic) also won four consecutive heats today as he dispatched of Paul Simmerl (JP / NeilPryde), Aron Etmon (Starboard / Severne / Dunkerbeck Eyewear), Adrian Beholz (Fanatic / Sailloft Hamburg / Hot Sails Maui) and Rafael de Windt (JP / Avanti) to move up to joint 13th in the double elimination. However, Julian Mas then proved too much in Heat 45a to end the Bonairean’s come back.

Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne) will be disappointed to have not advanced from Heat 44a against Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde). The Bonairean looked to be sailing in better form today but unfortunately for him two of his moves on port tack were judged to be outside the area, and therefore had an incomplete scoresheet. One of those moves was a brilliant pasko, which in the end cost Vrieswijk dearly in what was an extremely close heat otherwise. 

Adam Sims (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg / Flymount) enjoyed a great day and even a broken extension couldn’t stop him. The Brit first defeated Marco Vinante (JP / Hot Sails Maui / AL360) in the opening round before also going on to dispatch of Adam Gavriel (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg / Maui Ultra Fins) after stomping a sick pasko, big pushloop and a shaka just before the buzzer to complete his scoresheet. 

Move of the Day

Marco Lufen (JP / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) landed one of the moves of the day as he landed an ankle-dry shifty, just a Nicolas Akgazciyan (99NoveNove / Point-7 / Maui Ultra Fins) did yesterday, whilst also landing the biggest shaka of the day. The German advanced one round today, before narrowly missing out to Antoine Albert (Tabou / GA Sails) in a close fought affair.

Women’s 

The women’s fleet has been whittled down to the top five women at the end of day two and it was Yoli de Brendt (Fanatic / North) who came storming back through the double after navigating her way past Jazzy Zwerus and Maxime van Gent (Fanatic / North / Maui Ultra Fins) to set up a duel with Arrianne Aukes (RRD / Simmer / Maui Ultra Fins) in the battle for 4th and 5th.

Looking ahead to tomorrow the forecast promises further wind, although the swell looks smaller. The skippers’ meeting has been called for 10:30am with the action commencing from 11am onwards. Make sure you tune into www.pwaworldtour.com to see the conclusion of the double eliminations - who do you think is going to win?

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