Fuerteventura PWA World Cup
Day two of the 2024 Fuerteventura PWA World Cup saw the men’s Freestyle single elimination completed in anywhere from 20-30 knots of wind as the breeze fluctuated depending on the clouds. Overall the conditions were probably easier than yesterday with slightly flatter conditions in the morning before a little swell started to provide a few stunt ramps on the inside during the afternoon. After another full day of freestyle, Adrien Bosson (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins) heads up the event rankings after claiming a slender victory against Lennart Neubauer (Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) in the winners’ final.
Freestyle
Men’s
Adrien Bosson (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins) saved his best until last as he posted his highest scoring heat of the single elimination in the winners’ final against Lennart Neubauer (Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins). The Frenchman looked to be heading for defeat heading into the final minute as he was missing a move on port tack, but in the dying seconds the 2022 Freestyle world champion pulled off a culo, which was just enough to turn the tie in his favour as he pipped his Greek opponent to the top spot on the podium in the single elimination by 0.7 of a point. Bosson staged a great comeback which was triggered by a bongka, which received cheers on the beach, before going on to stomp a burner into burner and a no-handed burner. Bosson also won the single elimination here last year, so he’ll be even more determined to hang on to the first place this time around in the double.
Up until the final, Neubauer had been the clear standout sailor with the current vice-world champion breaking the 40 point barrier in his round of 16 heat and in the semifinals as well. In fact, the 20-year-old remains the only sailor to have broken that barrier, but fell agonisingly short in the final. Throughout the opening two days, Neubauer has been extremely impressive - barely putting a foot wrong while advancing his way into the final with an array of spock into double culos, gozzada burners, shifties and flaka into ponches. Neubauer seemed a little dejected after the final, but can now focus all of his attention on a comeback in the double elimination.
Reigning world champion, Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde) is another sailor who will be plotting his comeback through the double, and if history is anything to go by, then the Belgian could do just that as he also finished third here last year in the single elimination before going on to claim his first victory on the World Tour. Caers was going blow-for-blow with Neubauer in the semifinals, but ultimately just lost out, but he was able to put that disappointment behind him to defeat his teammate - Sam Esteve (JP / NeilPryde) - in the battle for third and fourth place in the single elimination.
Sam Esteve claimed impressive victories against Steven Van Broeckhoven (Starboard / GUNSAILS) and Jacopo Testa (WeOne / Point-7 / AL360) to deservedly book his spot in the semifinals, but couldn’t quite replicate that form against Bosson in Heat 15a. However, the Frenchman is still guaranteed his best result to date in Fuerteventura as the worst he can now finish is in fifth place, while he can still mount a comeback through the double elimination.
Jacopo Testa had his chances against Esteve, but missed out by 0.9 of a point as one too many crashes cost the Italian. Testa shares fifth place in the single elimination alongside Balz Müller (Severne / Severne Sails), Antony Ruenes (Tabou / GA Sails) and Youp Schmit (Tabou / GA Sails).
The top 10 is currently completed by: Belgian Steven Van Broeckhoven, German Niclas Nebelung (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins), the Japanese duo of Takumi Moriya (Severne / Severne Sails) and Takuma Sugi (Tabou / GA Sails / Black Project Fins), Frenchmen Nicolas Akgazciyan (JP / NeilPryde) and Nil Bacon (PATRIK / PATRIK SAILS) and New Caledonia’s Antoine Albert (Goya Windsurfing).
After the completion of the single elimination, the opening five heats of the double elimination were completed before the wind became too light and patchy to continue and they will resume battle on Saturday.
The forecast for Saturday looks as though the Sotavento wind machine will continue to deliver, but it may be a little bit lighter again than the opening couple of days. The Freestyle fleets will meet again at 10am (GMT+1) tomorrow morning for the skippers’ meeting, while the action will commence from 10:30am onwards - depending on the conditions.
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You can stay up to date with all the latest developments from Fuerteventura — including live stream, elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker simply by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom of the page.
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Current Ranking Fuerteventura PWA World Cup - Women’s Freestyle
1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Oda Brødholt (NOR | Starboard / Severne Sails)
3rd Lisa Kloster (GER | MB Boards / Sailloft Hamburg)
4th Maaike Huvermann (NED | Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
Current Ranking Fuerteventura PWA World Cup - Men’s Freestyle
1st Adrien Bosson (FRA | Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Lennart Neubauer (GRE | Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Yentel Caers (BEL | JP / NeilPryde)
4th Sam Esteve (FRA | JP / NeilPryde)
5th Balz Müller (SUI | Severne / Severne Sails)
5th Jacopo Testa (ITA | WeOne / Point-7 / AL360)
5th Youp Schmit (NB | Tabou / GA Sails)
5th Antony Ruenes (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)