2001 PWA Jever World Cup Sylt Wave Performance Day 2
The light winds of yesterday have remained here in Sylt for another day. This has kept most of the sailors busy tuning their equipment for the light conditions, especially with the prospect of the Lipton freestyle/wave super session. The forecast looks good for the next few days, with 15-20 knot NE winds expected it looks like the spectators will at last see some of the worlds top windsurfers in action.
The conditions expected in a NE wind at Sylt are normally flat water, if this happens the organisers are very likely to run the Lipton Super Session. The flat water conditions will suit the competitors who also specialise and compete on the World Freestyle Tour. Competing in Sylt are many of the worlds top freestyle sailors including newly crowned World Freestyle Champion Antoine Albeau (AHD, Pryde), Antoine has been a long time campaigner on the PWA World Tour and has always been tipped to become a future World Champion. His victory in freestyle has really shown that freestyle is not just a discipline for light winds and featherweight sailors as Antoine is one of the ‘giants’ of the Tour standing 6’3’’ tall and weighing in at 95 kilos. Also present at Sylt is Kauli Seadi (Naish), Kauli from Brazil won the last freestyle event in Fuerteventura and is one of the competitors who has packed his freestyle gear just in case of the above scenario occurring. Other favourites for the Lipton Super Session are Robby Swift (JP, Pryde), Greg Allaway (JP, Pryde), Nik Baker (Mistral, North) and Vidar Jensen (North). The sailors really look forward to the added bonus pay cheque that having such a super session can provide, Josh Angulo (RRD) was rewarded last year by walking away with $2,000 after his victory in the wave super session.
The most action on the beach today was at the beach volleyball site where many of the sailors showed of their ball skills and showed why their profession is windsurfing and not volleyball!!. The light winds have also allowed the sailors to sample the free supply of Jever beer, this year’s event sponsor. Being true sportsmen they have kept this sampling to a bare minimum, depending on who you speak to…!!
The event organisers at Sylt certainly know how to put on a good show even if the wind gods do not cooperate. The beach front is lined with fresh food stalls, beer tents, In Line skating and a radical display of skating and BMX on the Half Pipe. The next few days should hopefully see the action turning to the water, with the freestyle super session most likely followed by full on, hardcore wave action towards the end of the week.