2001 Vargas Gran Canaria PWA Wave Grand Prix Day 6

Nice day at the beach but a bad day for windsurfing! The waiting game continues here in Vargas, Gran Canaria with wind and waves refusing to co-operate. Eight men and four women are patiently on standby to finish their respective single elimination competitions. Today we had breezy side shore winds and blue skies but nowhere near enough to tempt anybody onto the water.
<photo1> <br>In the men’s elimination any of the eight remaining sailors have a shot at taking victory although many onlookers have been tipping ex World Champion, Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Proof, Neil Pryde) as hot favourite to win. Vidar Jensen (Drops, North) another local who lives in Gran Canaria also is looking very strong and many regard him as the best jumper in the world, especially when he is sailing at his home spot! <br> <br>Two French sailors, Xavier Huart (Mistral North) and Pierrick Wattez (Bic, Neil Pryde) both caused major upsets on their way to the semi’s. Huart was responsible the biggest surprise and took the scalp of World Wave Champion Francisco Goya in the second round whilst Wattez defeated Scott Fenton (Gaastra) and Greg Allaway (JP, Neil Pryde) in his bid to reach the last eight. The other contenders are Kevin Pritchard ( Bic, Gaastra) Josh Angulo (RRD) Marcos Perez (Mistral, North) and Peter Volwater (F2, Arrows). <br> <br>The women’s event could also provide an interesting finale. Swiss sailor Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows) and Tony Frey (RRD) from Greece will both have to overcome one of the Moreno sisters to reach the final. Karin is pitched against Iballa Moreno (Mistral, North) and Tony will face Daida, the current World Champion. Once again it is anybody’s guess on who will win, although there is little doubt all the girls will be giving it their best shot in pursuit of victory! <br> <br>With one day remaining here in Vargas we are all keeping our fingers crossed that the wind and waves will return. Skippers meeting has been put forward to 9am tomorrow and if we have conditions there is even a possibility that <br>the single and double elimination’s could both be completed! <br> <br>VIDAR JENSEN (Drops, North) <br> <br>“It is really hard to say what is going to happen. The weather can change very quickly here. Right now the weather is really strange, it is cloudy and rainy and not really normal for this time of year. Anything can happen, I am <br>definitely hoping for it! The wind is supposed to swing round to the normal direction the north east, Right now it is northerly and that is definitely a better sign. I don’t know how strong it is going to be so it is hard to say” <br> <br><photo2> <br>KARIN JAGGI (F2, Arrows) <br> <br>“It is definitely going to be tough against the Moreno’s in Gran Canaria. I have not been sailing that much in Vargas so they will have a little advantage but I had a few days to get used to it and I feel pretty good. I hope we get the conditions, it will be a real pity if we can’t sail. I will give it my best shot, that is for sure” <br> <br>TONY FREY (RRD) <br> <br>“I always believe that I can win, otherwise I would not be on the World Tour. You always have to have a high goal. I always believe I can beat the person who is against me. So many things can happen in a heat, maybe I will pull off a move that I have never done before! You never know what is going to happen!” <br> <br></photo2></photo1>