The 2004 HT Mobile Soul & Style, Croatia PWA Freestyle Qualifier – Day 4

First ever Croatia PWA Freestyle event finishes without result, but spirits remain high as sailors and spectators party hard!

First ever Croatia PWA Freestyle event finishes without result, but spirits remain high as sailors and spectators party hard!

 

The first ever PWA event held in Croatia has finished without any official competition. The final day of the HT Mobile Soul & Style brought much promise of wind and expectations of sunshine and blue skies, but as time ticked away, it became clear that on this occasion the weather gods had deserted the sailors.

 

If only to try and tease the fleet, the wind did increase into the afternoon, to within knots of a realistic minimum for championship freestyle. With the extra breeze not quite fulfilling it’s early promise, it was decided to run a tag-team race to get the fleet on the water and provide action for the crowds of people who had flocked from nearby Split to see the event.

 

The fleet was divided in two and a single mark was set off the beach. The first 2 riders were released from the start, to sail out and around the mark and then back to the beach where they each tagged the next member of their team as they finished. After a variety of different tactics and all kinds of subterfuge it was Elvis Martinus (Bonaire World Cup Organiser) and Tonky Frans (F2, Gaastra) also from Bonaire, who would battle it out on the final lap – each with the added distraction of having to take one of the HT Mobile girls from the beach as a passenger. Despite the best attempts of Tonky’s team, it was Elvis who hit the shore first to take the honours and the glory of the unofficial event win.

 

Despite the lack of an official result, the PWA tour’s first visit to Croatia has provided a sneak peak at what is undoubtedly a fantastic windsurfing venue. Zoo Station itself provides a perfect competition arena, with the normal conditions providing side-shore action just metres from the beach, right in front of the crowd.

 

As the sun begins to set over the mountains to the west, the party is already in full swing as the music plays and the beer flows and the feeling of everyone here is that they cannot wait to come back and see Bol at it’s best in 2005.

 

The PWA circus now moves on to Costa Brava, Spain for the second Super - X World Cup of 2004, where Antoine Albeau (AHD, Neil Pryde) will be hoping to retain his lead in the newest and most exciting discipline on the PWA Tour.

 

As always, www.pwaworldtour.com will keep you up to date with all the latest news.

 

© Copyright Page/PWA

 

go to related event