Tenerife PWA World Cup
Much of day two of the 2015 Tenerife PWA World Cup was spent waiting as the wind and waves once again teased the competitors for much of the day. However, in the early evening the waves started to improve and the decision was made to start the women’s single elimination just before 6pm.
With the wind being slightly flukey the women were given 16 minutes to show what they can do with their best two waves scores to count in 4 man heats - top two from each heat progressing.
The first heat of the day saw Ingrid Larouche (Fanatic / North) battling it out against Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg), Lina Erpenstein (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg / Maui Ultra Fins) and Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) and in the end it was the top two seeds Offringa and Wahl who safely progressed as they made the most of the waves on offer with fluid wave riding.
Heat 10 saw the reigning world champion - Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) - in action for the first time and any fears about her knee injury were dismissed as she produced an excellent display. Iballa comfortably advanced after making several perfectly timed, frontside, vertical smacks, whilst Greta Benvenuti (Patrik / Point-7 / AL360) secured second place ahead of Waka Nishida (Goya Windsurfing) and Caroline Weber (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg).
Amanda Beenen (99NoveNove / Point-7) made use of her extra local knowledge to triumph in Heat 11 and book her place in the semifinals, whilst Alice Arutkin (Fanatic / North) saw off some stern competition from aspiring wave sailor Nicole Bandini (Fanatic / North) to also advance.
Current PWA Wave World Tour leader Daida Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) made no mistake in her opening heat of the contest as she clinically dispatched of her rivals by delivering vert snappy turns right in the pocket of the wave. However, the fight for the final qualifying place saw an intriguing battle with less than a point separating - Arrianne Aukes (RRD / Simmer / Maui Ultra Fins), Caterina Stenta (RRD / RRD / Maui Ultra Fins) and Justyna Sniady (Simmer / Mystic) - with five minutes to go. In the end it was Sniady who managed to grab the last place in the semifinals as she scored five points with her final wave to advance.
In the first semifinal Iballa Moreno continued her fine form to once again prevail in dominating fashion as she linked together more fluid waves with her usual effortless style. Meanwhile, Offringa and Wahl enjoyed a great duel for the last spot in the final. At one stage just quarter of a point separated the two women as both delivered slashy turns of their own, but this time around it was Wahl who managed to exact revenge for her defeat in Pozo against Offringa.
The second semifinal was started on two occasions, but both times unfortunately had to be cancelled with the wind dropping in the late evening and the waves becoming more messy as well.
The forecast looks lighter for tomorrow than today, so it may prove difficult to resume the contest, however as always anything can happen. The skippers’ meeting has once again been called for 9:30am with the action commencing from 10am. Make sure you tune into www.pwaworldtour.com to follow all of the action as it happens via the PWA live stream and live ticker.