PWA SYLT WORLD CUP
Day six of the GP Joule PWA Sylt World Cup saw the freestyle sailors take center stage for the first time this week in some of the harshest sailing conditions of year on the PWA World Tour. The beautiful sunny weather continued, but the bitter biting wind saw temperatures of 4-6 degrees with wind chill factored in. However, that didn’t stop the contortionists of the windsurfing world from putting on a spectacular display of sailing as they laid down the gauntlet with massive moves. After a grueling day the men’s freestyle single elimination - dedicated to André Paskowski - was completed as Steven van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different) clinched victory ahead of Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra) to put himself firmly in contention for the 2013 PWA Freestyle World Championship.
Men’s Freestyle - Dedicated to André Paskowski
Winners’ Final
Steven van Broeckhoven lined up against Tonky Frans in the winners’ final, which was held in slightly less wind than the earlier rounds. Van Broeckhoven made an explosive start to the final as he flew through a future, before quickly adding a powerful burner 360. Whilst Frans opened with a future of his own followed by a big forward loop when looking for his trademark bongka. The 2011 PWA Freestyle World Champion - who is looking for his second world crown - then went on the attack as he rotated through a massive one-handed air funnel and a technical shuvit spock to edge his nose into the lead. Frans tried to respond with a clean culo and a skopu, but it wasn’t enough as van Broeckhoven was announced as the winner in front of a packed out crowd on the beach.
Heat of the Day
Before winning the single elimination - Steven van Broeckhoven - produced the heat of the day in the semifinals against Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra). The King of pop opened his heat with a stunning double culo in the choppy conditions, before stomping an amazing pasko and an outrageous pushloop off almost no ramp. The diversity, technical skill and style of his heat saw him awarded an incredible 56.5 points out of a possible 60 as he accumulated the highest score of the day, with a magnificent performance.
Dieter van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne) pushed Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North) all the way heat twenty-two. The twenty-one year old landed explosive culos and burners, as well as a kabikuchi, but it wasn’t quite enough as Gollito prevailed by way of a 2:1 judges' decision in his favor. The reigning world champion survived unscathed though after performing a one-handed air funnel and a radical one-footed forward loop among others.
Amado Vrieswijk (Starboard / Severne), achieved his highest finish to date on the PWA World Tour as he sailed himself into joint fifth by defeating Christofer Kalk (Fanatic / Gaastra / Maui Ultra Fins) and Tony Mottus (JP / NeilPryde) before Tonky Frans proved too much.
Elsewhere, Yarden Meir (Loft Sails / Maui Ultra Fins), achieved a big victory over Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard / Hot Sails Maui) in heat nine. The Israeli is known for his go big or go home attitude and he certainly produced the goods today. Meir landed a monster shaka and a text-book culo to progress.
Youp Schmit (JP / NeilPryde) arrived very late for his first heat of the contest - heat thirteen - against Tony Mottus. With just three minutes to go the eighteen year old finally arrived into the competition area and very nearly pulled off a miraculous victory against his Estonian counterpart. Schmit landed six moves in two and a half minutes, but it wasn’t quite enough as Mottus progressed by way of a 2:1 decision.
In the opening round Victor Wederfoort (Patrik / Gaastra) produced an excellent performance against Mattia Fabrizi (Fanatic / North / MFC) to progress into the second round, however, Davy Scheffers (Tabou / Gaastra) proved too strong. The Dutchman eventually finished in fifth place after also defeating Anthony Ruenes (Tabou / Gaastra).
After the completion of the single elimination the first round of the double elimination was completed. Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra) and Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) showed that they are still a threat in freestyle world as they began their fight back through the double elimination after defeating Rafael de Windt (Hot Sails Maui) and Yegor Popretinskiy (JP / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins), respectively. However, after the first round the wind deteriorated and the action for the day was concluded at 5pm.
Cold Snap
Max Rowe (Fanatic / North)
“Today I suffered the worst hot hands of my life, when I found out I’d made it through to my next round I didn’t even smile it was that cold.”
Mattia Fabrizi
“In the first heat today it was that cold that I couldn’t even feel or bend my hands to grip the boom!”
Deivis Paternina Teran (Hot Sails Maui)
“It was that cold that a minute before my heat I was really tempted to just sail back to the beach (Laughing)”
The forecast for tomorrow is predicting strong winds again, which should see the completion of the freestyle double elimination - dedicated to André Paskowski - with the potential for further slalom in the afternoon. The skippers’ meeting for the freestyle fleet will be held at 8:30am tomorrow morning with a first possible start of 9am, whilst the skippers’ meeting for the slalom and wave sailors will be at 10am with a first possible start at 10:30am. Don't miss any of the brilliant action by tuning into the PWA live stream at www.pwaworldtour.com.
Results after Men’s Freestyle Single Elimination - in dedication of André Paskowski
1st Steven van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different)
2nd Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra)
3rd Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North)
4th Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra)
5th Amado Vrieswijk (Starboard / Severne)
5th Dieter van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne)
5th Davy Scheffers (Tabou / Gaastra)
5th Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins)
Scope the action
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