Mercedes-Benz Sylt PWA Super Grand Slam

Day 9: A Frustrating Day Which Leaves the Women’s Wave World Title Undecided

The wind didn’t funnel through at the strength it was predicted to on the penultimate day of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sylt PWA Super Grand Slam, which mean the women’s wave world title still hangs in the balance, but unfortunately the forecast doesn’t look too promising for tomorrow.

Women’s

Wave

The women’s wave double elimination was resumed but it was only possible to complete 3 heats before the conditions deteriorated.

The Battle For 4th in the World

Germany’s Lina Erpenstein (Patrik / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) won the battle between herself and Justyna Sniady (Simmer / Simmer Sails / Mystic) for both 4th at the event and 4th in the world with a powerful display, which saw the talented 20-year-old land a stylish stalled forward, while showing excellent wave selection and execution with powerful turns in the pocket. Sniady landed a perfect backloop, but struggled to find her flow with the waves.

Erpenstein then faced Daida Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) in the fight for 3rd and 4th - but for Daida there was much more on-the-line as she knew a defeat with bring her world title aspirations to an end in 2017. Daida rose to the challenge, as she so often has over her long and illustrious career landing a trademark one-handed backloop, while sliding out the tail on her aggressive turns. Erpenstein again landed a solid forward loop, but was slightly frustrated that she couldn’t find the turns which she her so well rewarded against Sniady. Erpenstein improves two places in the overall rankings compared to last year, which sees her finish 4th and she looks a genuine threat for the overall podium in the seasons to come.

Heat 34 - Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) vs Daida Moreno - was started but it was soon cancelled with the wind becoming ever lighter. The top 3 - Daida, Offringa and Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) - then spent a frustrating afternoon on hold before being released at 5:30pm.

Unfortunately, it currently looks unlikely that we will be able to complete the women’s double elimination, but as always there’s the chance that the forecast will be wrong and with just 2 or 3 heats to run we wouldn’t need much of a window to finish it off - assuming there are still waves. As things stand Iballa still leads the rankings and the only way she will be denied now is if Daida manages to defeat her twice to take the event victory.

Elsewhere, Justyna Sniady records her best result on tour yet after an extremely consistent season, which has seen her finish 4th, 4th and 5th, which sees her finish 5th overall. The Pole did well to fight back in the double elimination here as she won 3 consecutive heats - defeating Nicole Bandini (Fanatic /  NorthSails), Caterina Stenta (RRD / RRD Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) and Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg) - who just couldn’t find the wind or the ramp to perform her second jump.

The forecast does look light for tomorrow so the skippers’ meeting for the slalom has been called for 9am with a first possible start at 10am, while the women’s wave fleet will meet again at 10am - with a first possible start of 10:30am

To stay up to date with all the latest developments from Germany — including the live stream, elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker simply click HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Result Women’s Wave Mercedes-Benz PWA Super Grand Slam - Double Elimination
*Top 3 places may still change

1st Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)

2nd Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)

3rd Daida Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)

4th Lina Erpenstein (Patrik / Severne)

5th Justyna Sniady (Simmer / Simmer Sails / Mystic) 

6th Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg)

7th Caterina Stenta (RRD / RRD Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)

7th Lena Erdil (Starboard / Point-7 / AL360)

go to related event