Mercedes-Benz Sylt PWA Super Grand Slam
The second world title of the week was decided on the eighth day of the Mercedes-Benz Sylt PWA Super Grand Slam as the men’s freestyle was completed in challenging conditions. Despite the tough conditions the contortionists of the windsurfing world put on a radical display to entertain the crowds, who had gathered in their thousands and in the end there was no denying Gollito Estredo (Fanatic / NorthSails) an incredible 8th world title as the Venezuelan reinforces his reputation as the King of Freestyle.
Men’s
Freestyle
Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne) successfully defeated Jacopo Testa (RRD / RRD Sails / AL360) in Heat 50a with a progressive display which saw him land an air skopu and a signature double air culo amongst other moves to setup a rematch against Gollito Estredo (Fanatic / NorthSails).
At this stage Vrieswijk was the only man who could deny Gollito the world title, but he would face an incredibly tall order to do so as he would be required to beat the Venezuelan 3 times in a row, which is virtually unheard of.
The Final
The final saw Gollito make the better start to the final as he opened with a stylish one-handed air funnel 360 and a flaka shaka 360, while Vrieswijk crashed his opening two moves - a burner and shifty - which would evidently play a huge role in deciding the outcome of the final. Gollito continued to rack up the points with his usual style and flair as he landed a huge air culo, backloop and an air chachoo. Vrieswijk did then start to find his rhythm and he soon hit back with a massive double air culo and an air kabikuchi to move within striking distance of Gollito. In fact he reduced Gollito’s lead so much that almost any landed move would have seen him move into the lead and force a super final.
However, after landing that air Kabikuchi in the final minute, Vrieswijk then struggled to get planing again and despite having an outstanding starboard tack scoresheet, he failed to land 3 moves on port tack which ultimately cost him dearly and he will now have to wait another year for a shot at winning his first world title.
Meanwhile, Gollito once again not only demonstrated his world class execution of moves, but also that ruthless competitive instinct which makes him such a formidable competitor and he deservedly walks away with his 8th PWA Freestyle World Title.
Jacopo Testa was the man to eventually stop Sam Esteve’s (JP / NeilPryde) storming comeback through the double, which saw the Frenchman win 4 consecutive heats. The Italian not only earns his first PWA podium at an event but his result here also sees him break into the overall top 3.
Sam Esteve also records his best event and overall result. The 19-year-old started off the day by claiming the narrowest of victories over Youp Schmit (99NoveNove / Avanti) with just 0.01 of a point between them - before he also ended the hopes of Balz Müller (Patrik / Severne), Yentel Caers (JP / Point-7) and Antoine Albert (Goya Windsurfing) - in what was another incredibly close heat. The 19-year-old finishes the season in 5th place overall and he posted the highest scoring heat of the day in Heat 47 - 125.4 points - which saw him land the move of the day with a monstrous double air culo.
Antoine Albert was a bit disappointed with being on the losing side of that incredibly close heat against Esteve, but the New Caledonian should still be delighted with his performance over the last week which sees him also record his best event and overall result - 5th here - 7th overall.
Elsewhere, Yentel Caers fought his way back into 6th in the double elimination with a series of impressive displays, but he then ran into the on fire Esteve.
Francesco Cappuzzo (RRD / RRD Sails / AL360) staged the most impressive comeback in the double elimination as the Italian fought his way back from the first round of the double into joint 7th place after navigating his way past Valentin Bockler (Starboard / Gun Sails / Maui Ultra Fins), Adrian Beholz (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg / Maui Ultra Fins), Philip Soltysiak (Starboard / Sailworks), Tonky Frans (RRD / RRD Sails) and Adrien Bosson (Fanatic / NorthSails / Maui Ultra Fins).
The top 10 is completed by Mattia (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg), Adrien Bosson, Youp Schmit and Davy Scheffers (Tabou / GA Sails), who couldn’t find the form that he showed yesterday.
Women’s
Wave
One further heat of the women’s wave double elimination was complete, which saw Justyna Sniady (Simmer / Simmer Sails / Mystic) and Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg) advance and they will now face each other in the battle for 5th and 6th with the winner going on to face Lina Erpenstein (Patrik / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)
The forecast looks as though we should be able to complete the women’s wave contest tomorrow, which will see Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) claim her 4th consecutive world title, unless Daida Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) can comeback and win the event, which could still easily happen. The wave skippers' meeting has been called for 9am tomorrow morning with a first possible start at 9:30am. Meanwhile, the slalom skippers' meeting will be held at 10am with a first possible start at 11am (GMT+2).
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Result Men’s Freestyle Mercedes-Benz PWA Super Grand Slam - Double Elimination
1st Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / NorthSails)
2nd Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne)
3rd Jacopo Testa (RRD / RRD Sails / AL360)
4th Sam Esteve (JP / NeilPryde)
5th Antoine Albert (Goya Windsurfing)
6th Yentel Caers (JP / Point-7)
7th Francesco Cappuzzo (RRD / RRD Sails / AL360)
7th Balz Müller (Patrik / Severne)
9th Mattia Fabrizi (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg)
9th Adrien Bosson (Fanatic / NorthSails / Maui Ultra Fins)
9th Youp Schmit (99NoveNove / Avanti)
9th Davy Scheffers (Tabou / GA Sails)