Hvide Sande PWA World Cup
The next stop of the PWA Slalom World Tour sees the fastest men and women in the world travelling to a new location on the calendar for 2016 as they head for Hvide Sande for the WATERZ Festival, which runs between the 4th-9th September.
Hvide Sande is a small town in the middle of the Holmsland Dunes and placed around the artificial canal which connects Ringkøbing Fjord to the North Sea, in the western part of Central Denmark, formerly Ringkjøbing County. This small town is only home to around 3,500 inhabitants for much of the year, but during the months of July and August this can rise by as much to 20 times more with the area proving extremely popular with tourists looking for a quieter break away from city life and of course with watersport enthusiasts with the fjord creating a perfect playground for a vast array of sports. With the glassy flat water it will be interesting to see whether the conditions favour anyone different after the most extreme stop of the tour in Fuerteventura.
Women’s
As the girls prepare to enter their final event of the year, after South Korea, it is Lena Erdil (Starboard / Point-7 / AL360), who currently leads the way. This will be the first time that the 27 year old has led coming into an event, but from the sounds of it she is handling the pressure well, adding: “It’s the first time ever for me that I’m going into an event leading the tour. I know I probably should be extra stressed since from here I can only go down the ranking, but actually I’m quite calm”. Erdil showed tremendous pace in South Korea and if she can replicate that performance again she stands an excellent chance of collecting a maiden world crown.
Two-time slalom world champion — Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) — is currently Erdil’s closest contender after finishing second in South Korea. Offringa will be fired up to secure the victory as she goes in search of slalom world title No.3.
The podium is currently completed by Delphine Cousin (Starboard / Gun Sails), who also has two world crowns to her name and you would expect to see another strong showing from the 25 year old as she looks to regain her world title having relinquished it last year.
Behind the frontrunners are the likes of Turkish duo Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Point-7) and Fulya Ünlü — last year’s youth world champion — the Japanese contingent of Ayako Suzuki (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic), Fujiko Onishi (Starboard / Point-7), Mio Anayama (Starboard / MauiSails) as well as Marion Mortefon (Patrik / Gun Sails), Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou / GA Sails) and María Andrés (Fanatic / NorthSails) who will all be aiming to be in the top 10 of this currently 31 strong field.
While fellow Scandinavian’s — Oda Johanne (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins), Marianne Rautelin Kaplas (Patrik / Loft Sails) and Miriam Rasmussen (Loft Sails) will all be hoping to make their presence felt.
Men’s
The men have had three events so far, which means a discard will come into play after the completion of the event here in Denmark.
As things currently stand Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / NorthSails) has opened up a small lead at the top of the rankings — having claimed one victory, a 3rd and a 4th thus far. The Frenchman has looked blisteringly quick throughout the season and you can expect to see another bold bid as the 27 year old looks to continue his challenge for a maiden world crown.
However, Mortefon, still doesn’t have much room for error with Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Point-7) and Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic / Shamal Sunglasses) hot on his heels and both of them will be looking to discard their 7th and 8th place finishes ideally, which could potentially further reduce the gap at the top of the rankings.
Unfortunately the event has come too soon for Pascal Toselli (99NoveNove / Challenger Sails) after the Frenchman suffered a dislocated shoulder in Fuerteventura, but he will hopefully be back fighting fit for the next event at the end of October — where he can look to defend his 4th place.
After a slower than usual start to the season reigning world champion — Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) — returned with a bang in Fuerteventura to claim his first victory of the season, which sees AA rise back into contention in 5th overall and he will now look to build a bit of momentum, while discarding the 17th place he currently holds from Costa Brava, Spain.
Arnon Dagan (RRD / NeilPryde) and Julien Quentel (Patrik / Avanti) are currently neck and neck in 6th and 7th place and will once again be battling it out once more, while the top 10 is completed by Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne), Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic) and Steve Allen (Patrik / Severne).
However, there will be plenty of other challengers hoping to throw themselves in the mix — including Tristan Algret (Starboard / Severne / Mystic), Cedric Bordes (Tabou / GA Sails), who earned his best result of the season so far in Fuerte — 6th — Jordy Vonk (Fanatic / NorthSails), Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Point-7) plus Ben Van der Steen as well as many others.
Make sure you tune into www.pwaworldtour.com over the next 6 days to see how the battles for the titles develops — here you’ll be able to follow all of the blistering action as it happens via the PWA live stream.
To see all the latest from the event — including the live stream, elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker simply click HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page.