2022 Gran Canaria PWA Windsurfing World Cup
The 2022 Gran Canaria PWA Windsurfing World Cup saw the most decorated sailor in windsurfing history - Björn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne Sails) - take over the reins from the Moreno Twins, who had run the event for the previous 10 years, as the new event organiser of world cups in Gran Canaria. The event proved to be a huge success with results being gained in all categories by the end of the 9 day event.
Women’s
Daida Moreno’s (Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) love affair with Pozo Izquierdo continued as the 18-time world champion staged a final day comeback to deny her sister - Iballa Moreno (Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) after winning a Super Final showdown. Daida’s latest victory in Pozo means she has now won all, but one event here since 1998 as her remarkable dominance continues despite being a full-time physio and becoming a mother for the first time. Daida now leads the world title race too.
Iballa Moreno, may be disappointed to have not quite been able to defend her single elimination crown, but she should still be delighted with her sailing - particularly in the single where she busted out radical one-foot forward loops. Iballa also returns to the podium at her home event having just missed out in 2019, whilst for the first time since 2017 the Moreno Twins occupy to top two places.
Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) will have to wait a little longer to try and earn her place at the top of the podium in Pozo. The 19-time world champion, and reigning wave world champion, had to settle for third this time around. Offringa sailed well throughout but didn’t have enough to topple the Moreno Twins.
Lina Erpenstein (Severne / Severne Sails) produced the comeback of the double elimination to recover from a shock early exit in the Single. The 25-year-old showed exactly what she is capable of in the double as she won 5 consecutive heats to climb into 4th place.
Justyna Sniady (North Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) made the top 4 in the Single Elimination, but was unable to fend off the charging Erpenstein in the double, so ends the event here in 5th place.
Meanwhile, Isabel Trivino Delgado (Severne / Severne Sails) finishes the pro event as the top ranked youth after securing 6th place in the double elimination.
A special mention also goes to Sol Degrieck (Severne / Severne Sails) after the 12-year-old produced the upset of the event as she took down - Lina Erpenstein - in the single elimination to finish in joint 5th. The young Belgian couldn’t quite defend that position in the double - eventually finishing joint 9th, but at the edge of just 12 she already looks like a talent to watch out for in the future.
Men’s
Philip Köster (Severne / Severne Sails / Black Project Fins) extended his event titles haul in Gran Canaria to 7 as the 5-time world champion once again stamped his authority over Pozo Izquierdo. The 28-year-old didn’t put a foot wrong throughout as he consistently landed a variety of double forwards and pushloop forwards, whilst his variety on the wave kept his rivals at bay. Köster’s victory here sees him rise to 4th in the overall rankings.
Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing) produced a brilliant comeback on the last day of the event to climb from joint 5th in the Single Elimination to second in the double as the Brazilian reeled off 6 heats in a row with expert jumping and aggressive wave riding. Browne, who is currently a one-time PWA Wave World Champion (2013), is now in control of the title race as the 33-year-old rises to the top of the overall rankings with a commanding 3,745 point lead over his next closest rival - Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails), who finished 5th here.
The last time the world’s best sailors competed here in 2019 - Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / Duotone) - missed out on a place on the podium, but the Spaniard bounced back into the top 3 this time around. Fernandez, who has enjoyed so much success here over the years, winning 6 times, used all of his guile and experience to progress into the Winners’ Final of the single elimination, but couldn’t stop a rampaging Browne in the double and eventually finishes 3rd, which sees him rise to 3rd in the overalls.
Ricardo Campello (Naish / Naish Sails), who started the event as the defending event champion, just misses out on a place on the podium this time round. Even a perfect 10 point pushloop forward against Browne in the battle for third and fourth couldn’t stop his rival and good friend from advancing on this occasion. Campello currently sits 5th in the overalls.
Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails) once again showed what an amazing competitor he is as he finished 4th in the single, before dropping one place to fifth in the double. This may not be the event where you’d necessarily pick Traversa to be one of the major threats, but he has an uncanny knack of performing well here. TT is now Browne’s closest rival in the title race with the 2014 world champion occupying second in the overalls.
Marino Gil (Goya Windsurfing) has been on everyone’s watchlist for a number of years as one of the brightest young wave sailing talents. The now 19-year-old won the U20s contest here back in 2019, and finally got to show what he is fully capable of in the Pro event 3 years later with the young Spaniard recording his first top 10 result on the world tour. Gil consistently launched into some of the biggest jumps of the contest to eventually earn 6th place - with only Marcilio Browne stopping him in his tracks. Gil now sits 7th in the overall rankings.
Like Gil, Liam Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne Sails / Black Projects), walks away from the 2022 Gran Canaria PWA Windsurfing World Cup with his first top 10 result in only his third event and the 18-year-old looks once to watch very carefully over the next few years given his rapid level of progress in the last 3 years.
Dunkerbeck finishes alongside - Marc Paré (Fanatic / Duotone) - in joint 7th, who was hugely disappointed not to be able to beat Köster in the single elimination after becoming the only man to outscore the German on the jump-side of the scoresheet. Paré showed all of his potential in his first wave event in almost 3 years and you wouldn’t think it would be too long before he breaks into the podium positions.
The top 10 was completed by Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / SWOX), who wasn’t sure he’d even be able to sail after tearing his tricep , Leon Jamaer (Flikka / NeilPryde), Julian Salmonn (Bruch Boards / GUNSAILS) and Alessio Stillrich - with the later 3 all gaining momentum in the double elimination to fight their way into the top 10.
Red Bull Rockets
This year’s contest also saw a unique competition take place alongside the main event as the top 8 women and top 16 men battled it out for the prize of the Red Bull Rockets with the sailors who could complete the highest jump of the event earning €2,500 each.
In the women’s division, Daida Moreno claimed the top prize as she landed a massive 6m stalled forward, whilst in the men’s division, Victor Fernandez secured victory with an 8.9m stalled forward.
Youth’s
Girl’s U20s
Alexia Kiefer Quintana (Fanatic / Duotone) produced a complete display of sailing to deservedly win the Girl’s U20s ahead of Isabel Trivino Delgado (Severne / Severne Sails) and Julia Pasquale (Fanatic / Duotone).
Girl’s U17s
Maria Morales (Goya Windsurfing) claimed a clear-cut victory in the Girl’s U17s as she won both finals ahead of Sol Degrieck & Annagiulia Paccaglia.
Boy’s U20s
Liam Dunkerbeck was the standout sailor in the Boy’s U20s as he claimed the top spot on the podium with a combination of powerful wave riding and radical jumping. Titouan Flechet takes home second place ahead of Hayata Ishii (RRD / RRD Sails), 3rd, and Nick Spangenberg (JP / GUNSAILS / Maui Ultra Fins), 4th.
Boy’s U17s
Young Dane, Tobias Björnaa (Fanatic / Duotone), came out on top in the battle of the Boy’s U17s with an accomplished display as he saw off Anton Richter (JP / NeilPryde) in the final. Meanwhile, Carlos Kiefer Quintana (Fanatic / Duotone), who was disappointed to be knocked out in the semifinals against Bjørnaa, recovered from that set back to claim the final place on the podium ahead of Grigoris Stathopoulos (Severne / Severne Sails).
Boy’s U15s
In the youngest Boy’s division, Peter Gobisch (Fanatic / Duotone) managed to claim the victory after seeing off competition from Arthur Van den Brande (RRD / RRD Sails) and Javier Escribano Toribio (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing), who finish second and third respectively.
That concludes what has been another action packed event in Gran Canaria, whilst the majority of the week may have not seen the classic Pozo conditions we all love, the last day gave us all a fix of nuclear winds and massive jumps to sign off the event in style. Congratulations to all the winners and a massive thanks to event organiser - Björn Dunkerbeck - and all of his team for making the event possible. So, until next time, stay tuned to www.pwaworldtour.com to stay up to date with all the latest from the world’s best sailors.