2002 Sylt, PWA Grand Slam Preview

The island of Sylt on the northern coast of Germany will be hosting one of the longest running and most respected events on the PWA tour calendar. Sylt can be truly radical venue where nobody can predict the weather conditions. Recent years have served up anything from light winds and sunny summer weather to 50-knot winds and temperatures touching freezing!

By contrast, the quality of the organization, huge crowds and its status as a party venue never vary. Over 100,000 people brave all weathers to line the beaches and see some of the most radical windsurfing performances in Northern Europe.

Sylt is infamous on the PWA World tour as an incredible party venue. From the thumping beat of its aircraft hanger to its abundant bars and restaurants, the parties keep the spectators…and some sailors…entertained every night.

This years Grand Slam event is boasting a 100,000 Euro prize fund and will see both men’s and women’s fleets compete in Wave performance and Formula racing. As it stands after the Canaries leg of the PWA tour, America’s Kevin Pritchard (Bic, Gaastra) leads the men’s wave rankings with last years champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Proof, Neil Pryde) hot on his heels in second place but will be missing the event due to injury, so the door is opened for the likes of Nik Baker (Mistral, North) last years runner up Scotty McKercher (Starboard, Naish), Matt Pritchard (AHD, Gaastra), Josh Angulo and Vidar Jensen (North). In the women’s waves Daida Moreno (North, Mistral) is leading the way ahead of Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows) and Anne Marie Reichman (Nasih boards, Naish sails).

The racing side of the event will be hosting the Formula Windsurfing Class World Championships as well as the PWA Formula Racing World Cup incorporated into one event. After the Formula World Cup event in Leba, Poland, Steve Allen (Fanatic) is holding pole position in the men’s rankings with Micah Buzianis (Mistral, North) and Wojtek Brzozowski (Neil Pryde, Starboard) in second and third respectively. Dorota Staszewska (Starboard, Neil Pryde) is heading the women’s rankings with Lucy Horwood (AHD, Gaastra) chasing in second overall and Verena Fauster (Gaastra, Starboard) of Italy in third.

Winds are already blowing here in Sylt and the forecast looks very good for the next week.