Morocco PWA World Cup

With the opening event of the year just 9 days away we take a quick look at the likely top contenders before the full preview next week. For the first event of 2018 the best female wave sailors in the world will be heading to the playground of local Moroccan hero - Boujmaa Guilloul (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / Shamal Sunglasses) - who has played in instrumental role in bringing the PWA to Moulay Bouzerktoun between 1st-7th April.

It looks as though the first women’s wave event of the year will see a strong lineup with 17 women currently on the entry list. 

Moulay is typically a starboard wave sailing venue, which will add some variety to the tour, while also offering the potential to change up the rankings a little. However, reigning world champion - Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) will undoubtedly start as the favourite with Iballa being crowned world champion for the last 4 years in a row and is equally as comfortable on starboard tack as she is on port.

Of course the other half of the legendary Moreno twins - Daida Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) - can never be ruled out and she’ll be aiming to make a solid start to the season as she looks to regain the world title for the first time since 2013.

Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) may well prove to be one of Iballa’s biggest threats with the multiple time world champion previously winning the Aloha Classic (Starboard tack) in 2016. The Aruban has completed the podium of the last 4 seasons, but each year had gradually been closing the gap between herself and the Moreno twins as she continues to improve. 

The Morocco PWA World Cup is being held in association with the International Windsurfing Tour (IWT), but at the moment neither Tatiana Howard (Starboard / NeilPryde) or Sarah Hauser (Tabou / Simmer Sails), who finished 1st and 2nd last year in Morocco, feature on the entry list, but there is still time for that to change. Obviously, if either of them enter then both would have excellent chances of challenging for the top 3.

As well as being the stage for the opening women’s wave event, Moulay will also play host to some of the best male wave sailors in the world with the men’s qualifier running from 31st March - 7th April. The top two riders from the top 20 of the qualifier, not already qualified, will gain automatic entry into the Gran Canaria Wind & Waves Festival.

Make sure you tune into www.pwaworldtour.com next week for the full down low before the opening event of the year.