2002 Fuerteventura Grand Prix Freestyle Registration Day

Most of the PWA riders moved straight on after the PWA Grand Slam in Gran Canaria, to Fuerteventura, to get prepared for the PWA Freestyle Grand Prix at Sotavento.

Most of the PWA riders moved straight on after the PWA Grand Slam in Gran Canaria, to Fuerteventura, to get prepared for the PWA Freestyle Grand Prix at Sotavento. The Sotavento event, which starts officially on Friday night at 10 p.m. with the opening ceremony in the party tent at the beach, is one of the longest running on the tour.

The days before the contest are busy days for the riders, as they have to rig the necessary sails and tune their gear. The majority have rigged sails between 3,6 and 5,3 square meters. The boards most of the riders use in these strong and sometimes tricky side to offshore conditions are between 70 and 90 litres. The right choice of the gear can very often be decisive and to get used to the spot is another important issue.

At the registration day the riders get their stickers and competition lycras and the list of the 48 riders is officially posted. Since there was a large amount of riders waiting to get the few spare slots, three heats of trials had to be run.

The world’s best Freestyle sailors, such as reigning World Champion Antoine Albeau (AHD, Neil Pryde), last year’s winner in Fuerteventura Kauli Seadi (Naish, Naish), the winner of the Pozo event one week ago, Matt Pritchard (AHD, Gaastra), two times World Champion Josh Stone (JP/Neil Pryde), "flying" Vidar Jensen (North Sails), the young Frenchman Julian Taboulet (JP, Neil Pryde) and Nik Baker (Mistral, North Sails) are fighting for the win at this prestigious event.

But, watch out for the youngsters such as unbelievable Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde), Diony Guadagnino (JP/Neil Pryde), prince of the Lake 2002 Konan Lang (Naish, Naish) from Brazil, the wonder boys from Bonaire Tati and Tonky Frans (both AHD, Gaastra) and Jonas Ceballos (Fanatic, Gaastra)

Other top ranked riders such as Remko de Weerd (AHD, Gaastra), Web Pedrick (AHD, North Sails) who had very good results earlier this year at the PWA Qualifier events are said to be potential winners.

A very strong women's fleet will compete here with reigning Wave World Champion Daida Ruano Moreno (Mistral, North), reigning Freestyle World Champion Colette Guadagnino (JP, Neil Pryde), Swiss lady Karin Jaggi (F2/Arrows) and strong challenges from young competitors such as seventeen year old Angela Peral Martinez (Naish, Neil Pryde) from Tarifa.

One of World’s best riders Iballa Ruano Moreno (Mistral, North Sails) unfortunately couldn’t make it to Sotavento, because she still needs to recover from a bad injury at the event in Pozo Izquierdo. We all wish you a very quick recovery!!

Event host, Rene Egli, has once again surpassed himself with an exceptionally professional and well-organised set up. A tribune close to the beach allows the spectators to follow the event very closely and the huge tent with a bar and restaurant transforms in the evening into the ultimate party venue

Tonight the 48 riders from 18 countries are warmly welcome on the island of the strong winds (as the name in Spanish Fuerte…ventura (=strong wind) tells us) by the organizers and members of the local government and the show can begin….

The first heats are on schedule for Saturday morning 27th of July with the skippers meeting at 10 a.m. and the first possible start at 10.30.

Stay tuned for the unreal action down at Sotavento beach, Fuerteventura.

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