Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam
From the 18th to the 27th July, Sotavento will once again take centre stage as the the Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam takes place over the next 10 days. This year will start with the radical Slalom X format between 18th-22nd July, before the second half of the event sees the contortionists of the windsurfing world enter the fray between 23rd-27th July.
Sotavento, which is located on the southeast coast of Fuerteventura, has developed a world-class reputation due to its year-round sunshine, stunning golden beaches, and most importantly, as its name suggests, strong winds. Fuerte’s famously strong winds create some of the most exhilarating conditions on the PWA World Tour. For freestylers, Fuerte can be one of the most challenging, yet one of the most rewarding locations when there is a swell running, as it produces the perfect stunt ramps for the contortionists of the windsurfing world to launch into the latest aerial power moves and combinations. Meanwhile, Slalom X fleets, who will debut in the first half of the event, will once again face Fuerte’s ferocious winds and challenging chop, which will be to provide them with the ultimate test and steel and nerve.
Slalom X
Women’s
Over the next five days of furious racing the Women’s Slalom X world title will be decided in a winner takes all shootout. Last year, Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) completed a clean sweep by winning in both Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura and the Aruban will fancy her chances of successfully defending her crown. Last summer a total of 21 eliminations were completed, of which Offringa won 16 of them (76.2%). Meanwhile, if you consider just Fuerteventura, the 25-time world champion was even more dominant - winning nine out of the 10 eliminations completed, so it’s a tall order for anyone to stop her.
Last year, Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) was Offringa’s closest rival and the vice-world champion may well be again, however, Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing) will likely have something to say on the matter too. The Brit is now officially the fastest woman in the world after setting a new world record - 48.03 knots over 500m - late last year in Namibia, so she definitely possesses more than enough speed to pose a serious threat. It’ll just depend on whether she can cope with Fuerte’s treacherously choppy waters. Lemeteyer, meanwhile, will be hoping she can land a telling blow before the last elimination like last year, as if Offringa is given some breathing room early on, it’s incredibly difficult to see anyone reeling her back in given how good she is as a frontrunner.
The other main threats in the women’s fleet will be Femke van der Veen (Starboard / Severne Sails), Blanca Alabau (Starboard / Severne Sails), Mae Davico (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) and Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde).
Men’s
Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails) will look to defend his event title over the next five days, but you can expect to see the Italian be pushed all the way by his longterm arch rival - Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing), who is the reigning Slalom X world champion. Last year the contest for the event title went down to the wire with Iachino producing a great last gybe in the final elimination to secure the event victory, such were the fine margins between then Italian and the Frenchman, and you can expect another epic fight between the two heavyweights.
However, it’s not guaranteed that Iachino and Mortefon will have things all their own way with the likes of; Maciek Rutkowski (JP / NeilPryde), third overall last year, flying Dutchman Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) and Taty Frans (Future Fly / Point-7), who completed the podium here in 2024, all more than capable of throwing their names into the winners circle.
Meanwhile, Bruno Martini (I-99 / S2Maui / AL360) will undoubtedly be one of the quickest guys on the water and will revel being back on the fin. If he’s on top form then the Italian can easily be one of the sailors challenging for the podium and beyond.
Others who could potentially get involved include; Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / Point-7), who certainly possesses all the skills, but tends to spend more time concentrating on foiling, Ingmar Daldorf (Tabou / GA Sails), who was very consistent last year with two sixth place finishes and Nico Prien (JP / NeilPryde).
Freestyle
Women’s
Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) will look to win a record extending 16th Freestyle world title over the next five days - an incredible run that stretches back to 2008. The Aruban has a massive target on her back, but whether anyone is able to land a telling blow is unknown - history would obviously tell you no.
Unfortunately, one of Offringa’s main threats, current vice-world champion, Oda Brødholt (Starboard / Severne Sails) has been ruled out of this year’s event due to a niggling back injury, so the impetus will now fall on Maaike Huvermann (Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) to try and challenge the Queen of Freestyle. Huvermann is the only sailor to have taken a heat off of Offringa (Bonaire 2019), so she knows it is possible and it looks like she’s been sailing plenty before the event.
Behind the top two, Lisa Kloster (MB-Boards / Sailloft Hamburg) is the sailor most likely to be vying for the other final spot on the podium.
Men’s
Lennart Neubauer (Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) is the man that everyone else will need to beat in Fuerteventura. The 21-year-old won his maiden world title in 2024, while he has also dominated the European scene after winning events in both Naxos and Paros. Neubauer sails incredibly consistently, possesses all the stylish tricks and has an impenetrable mindset, which essentially makes him a competition beast. There really are no weaknesses in his skillset. The only slight question mark will be whether he is fully fit after tweaking his foot when landing a forward loop flat in Pozo last week.
Vice-world champion, Adrien Bosson (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins) will likely be one of Neubauer’s biggest threats as the Frenchman consistently performs well in Fuerteventura. Bosson won the Single Elimination here last year, but couldn’t quite hold off Neubauer in the double, which was run in lighter, flatter conditions. The 34-year-old is capable of landing a lot of the power moves and combinations on both tacks, which always makes him a major threat, and the stronger and wavier the conditions get, the better it will be for Bosson, as those are the conditions he normally thrives in.
Another obvious threat for Neubauer will come in the form of former two-time world champion, Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde), who finished third here last year, while he also won here in 2023. The Belgian has one of the most powerful styles on tour and is always challenging for the podium and beyond.
Balz Müller (Severne / Severne Sails) is the very essence of Freestyle and remains by far the most innovative sailor. Müller’s style and innovation saw him finish fourth last year and you’d have to say a podium finish is very much within his grasp. Let’s see if he’s got anything new up his sleeve this time out?
Former 9-time Freestyle world champion - Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Tabou / GA Sails) - also returns after re-emerging to lineup last year. The Venezuelan has transferred to Tabou and GA Sails since this time last year. If he’s been sailing a lot then it’s difficult to rule him out from being a threat given his history, but it would seem a tall order to come back and challenge for the very top spot, but let’s see.
Other sailors to keep an eye on include; Italy’s super stylish Jacopo Testa (WeOne / Point-7 / AL360), the Belgian duo of Steven Van Broeckhoven (WeOne / GUNSAILS) and Dieter van der Eyken (Severne / Severne Sails), Bonaire’s Youp Schmit and Amado Vrieswijk, as well as Frenchmen Antony Ruenes (Tabou / GA SAils), Sam Esteve (JP / NeilPryde), Antoine Albert (Goya Windsurfing), Germany’s Niclas Nebelung (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins) and the Netherlands’ Davy Scheffers (Tabou / GA Sails), who if he’s on form can still be a real threat.
18-year-old Takumi Moriya (Severne / Severne Sails) will also be pushing for a place in the top 10 and beyond as the hugely talented young Japanese sailor continues to progress at a rapid pace under the watchful eye of Dieter van der Eyken, who has been mentoring his protege.
The forecast for the first few days of the event looks windy, so we should see an exciting start to the racing on the opening day once registration is complete and you’ll be able to see all of the high octane racing as it happens with Ben Proffitt to guide you through the best of the action.
You can stay up to date with all the latest developments from Fuerteventura— including the 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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