2015 PWA World Cup Tenerife – Great action on day 5

by Chris Yates on 9 Aug 2015 2015 PWA World Cup Tenerife – As expected the fifth day of the event saw more action on the water as the men’s single elimination resumed in 20-30 knots and waist to head high waves. After another three hours of competition only the top eight men now remain ahead of what promises to be an action packed day tomorrow.

Men's

Single Elimination

Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne) gave Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails) a bit of scare in Heat 4b, but the reigning world champion emerged unscathed in the end despite the Belgian’s maestros best efforts. Van der Eyken produced the best wave of the heat but Traversa responded by landing a sick bolt upright tabletop forward to advance by 1.13 of a point.

Adam Lewis (Fanatic / North) couldn’t have made a worse start to his opening round, but through no fault of his own. The Brit suffered a broken mast upon landing a backloop right at the start of the heat and faced an uphill battle to progress with Ben Proffitt (Simmer) making a quick fire start to the heat. Proffitt landed a clean one-handed backloop before scoring his best two waves on his first two attempts to really put Lewis on the back-foot. Lewis responded with a big and stylish one-handed backloop, but couldn’t quite find enough to overhaul his countryman’s lead.

Philip Köster (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) survived a first round upset by the skin of his teeth against Julian Salmonn (Severne / Severne), who almost claimed a huge scalp on his PWA Wave World Tour debut. Salmonn dominated the wave scores as he used his local knowledge to full affect, but unfortunately missed out by 0.88 of a point after Köster still managed to land a perfect double forward, despite the marginal conditions.

Moritz Mauch (Starboard / Severne / MFC) defeated Graham Ezzy by less than a point in Heat 6a. Mauch was his usually fluid and dynamic self on the wave as he accumulated an 8.5 point wave followed by a seven point wave, but only had a 5.88 point table forward count, which left him vulnerable to his American counterpart. Ezzy landed an amazing no-handed backloop to earn eight points, but in the end it wasn’t quite enough.

Victor Fernandez continued to look extremely threatening today as he continued his excellent form from day four to defeat Omar Sanchez (Angulo / KA Sail / Dunkerbeck Eyewear) in Heat 9b. Fernandez looks to be keeping more speed on the wave than almost anyone else in the fleet and used it to devastating affect with brilliant turn after brilliant turn, whilst Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins / SWOX) saw off Alessio Stillrich (Fanatic / North) in the A-panel with an efficient display.

Alex Mussolini (RRD / RRD) was on his game in Heat 10a to keep the threatening force of Leon Jamaer (JP / NeilPryde) at bay and book his place in the quarterfinals. The Spaniard landed a big one-footed backloop before rotating through a radical taka to advance. Meanwhile, Thomas Traversa, found his form, which included a sick frontside aerial to dispatch of fellow Frenchman Jules Denel (JP / NeilPryde).

The final two, second round heats saw the heat duration extended to 18 minutes to allow for the slightly patchy wind and the greater length of time between sets - after Heat 11 had to be cancelled once. In the end Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) and Ricardo Campello (Patrik / Point-7 / MFC) emerged victorious and will now face each other in a blockbuster quarterfinal after defeating Florian Jung (RRD / Gun Sails) and Moritz Mauch, respectively.

Two of the most dynamic and fluid wave riders in the world faced each other in Heat 12a as Jaeger Stone (Starboard / Severne) took on local boy Dany Bruch (Starboard / Challenger Sails / AL360). The two sailors were almost inseparable as both landed textbook one-handed, one-footed backloops and recorded wave scores in the excellent range. However, Stone, swung the tie in his favour with his third to last wave as unleashed through a radical taka, before backing it up with a couple of aggressive vert snaps to progress.

On the B-side of the panel - Philip Köster - was once again pushed all the way, this time by Ben Proffitt (Simmer). The Brit made the better of the waves, showing excellent selection and execution, but couldn’t quite hold onto his lead as Köster advanced by less than two points. The two-time world champion again landed an amazing double forward, which made all the difference, but he may need more tomorrow if he wishes to go further in the contest.

The forecast looks as though el Cabezo should be pumping tomorrow, so with this in mind the skippers’ meeting has been called for 8:30am with the action commencing from 9am. Don’t miss any of what promises to be an amazing day by tuning into www.pwaworldtour.com - here you’ll be able to follow everything as it happens via the PWA live stream and live ticker.