PWA Fuerteventura Grand Slam 2009 – Freestyle Double Elimination

The Double Elimination got continued in the morning on flat water and 30 knots of wind. The Belgian Steven van Broeckhoven and the Canadian Phil Soltysiak sailed their way up until Phil was stopped by Steven, although Steven had a really hard heat against Taty.

 

Van Broeckhoven and Taty Frans had to re-sail their heat, because the two sailors were equal in points. The heat was really close again but Steven advanced. He knew that is was really close: “In the heat against Taty, I had really luck to advance!” Later he won against Soltysiak, Paskowski and Thode until he found himself in the top 4.

Another heat had to be re-sailed. Günzlein vs. Offringa. They had as well the same points. In the second run the German Günzlein won.

In the ladies Alonso made her way up until the top 4. The freestyle lady from Switzerland Laure Treboux could not compete due to an injury on her wrist. Alonso against de Brendt, was the next heat. During this heat the wind dropped totally and the girls were absolutely underpowered on their 3,3 and 3,4 m sails.  Yoli showed more moves in this heat and could defend her third place.

 

The heat van Broeckhoven against Tonky Frans was right after and the windconditions were really light. Tonky seemed to be more solid in this lighter condtions, as Broeckhoven fell more often in his moves. Of course, Broeckhoven sailed already 6 heats (including the resail against Taty) before whereas Tonky was still fresh.

After this heat the race comitee decided to make a break for lunch. The wind dropped totally and the waiting started.

 

Around 16.00 the wind came back after some hours of wating. The sea was flat, with relatively low tide and the wind light compared to the previous days.

In the ladies double Daida Moreno sailed her best heat so far in the competition and sent Yolanda de Brendt back to the beach. In the final Sarah-Quita awaited the wave queen from Gran Canaria and sailed extraordinary stylish and safe in the final, while Daida crashed many tricks. It was a clear decison for the girl from Aruba, who proofed her dominancy in the discipline Freestyle windsurfing. She is in an incredible form right now.

In the men´s category Tonky Frans gave Marcilio a hard time and could win the heat. The sunny boy from Bonaire went up to the final and faced Gollito Estredo, the current Freestyle worldchampion. Tonky fought extremely hard and gave Gollito a hard time as well, who landed a perfect Toad. In the end Gollito had the better points on the judgesheets.

 

Result Men:
1. Gollito Estredo
2. Tonky Frans
3. Marcilio Browne
4. Steven van Broeckhoven
5. Kiri Thode
… full result

 

Result Women:
1. Sarah Quita Offringa
2. Daida Moreno
3. Yoli de Brendt
… full result