PWA Sylt World Cup event summary

by Chris Yates on 8 Oct 2012 The PWA Sylt World Cup provided an outstanding array of conditions for 2012, as anything from cross to cross offshore wave riding to perfect freestyle conditions hit Sylt over the 10 days of the event. In front of the biggest crowds of the year, some of the most epic action occurred to provide a truly fitting end to another incredible year on tour.

The PWA would like to offer a huge congratulations to all of the newly crowned PWA World Champions; Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde), Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North), Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins), Iballa Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne), Valerie Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic), and last but not least Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins / Chris Benz).

Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / Dunkerbeck Eyewear / Chris Benz) came into the event with the world title lead, but unfortunately for the terminator things didn’t go exactly his way over the duration of the event, and Antoine Albeau reclaimed his PWA Slalom World title having relinquished it for the first time in five years in 2011.

With Bjorn Dunkerbeck missing from the first winners’ final of the event, Antoine Albeau was presented with a huge opportunity to take control of the title race, and it was one the big Frenchman was able to take. Finian Maynard (RRD / Avanti) made the best start of the fleet, however it didn’t take Albeau long to move into the lead as he demonstrated his blistering speed once more. Maynard, on the other hand, stalled after his first gybe to allow Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra), Ludovic Jossin (Patrik / Loft) and Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde) to all over take him. Albeau sailed flawlessly over the remainder of the course as he claimed the first bullet of the week and more importantly he took a huge stride towards the 2012 world title. Meanwhile, Ross Williams secured second place with Ludovic Jossin taking third, but Julien Quentel couldn’t hold onto fourth as Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne / Mystic) won the battle of the French.

The first race could’ve been very different for Antoine Albeau, had Chris Pressler (Starboard / Severne) not made a mistake in crossing the finish line on the wrong side of the buoy. At the current time, Albeau, was in fifth place and looking at a first round exit, however Pressler’s mistake gifted the Frenchman fourth place and from here he went out to win the entire race.

After strong starts from Alberto Menegatti (Starboard / Gaastra), Josh Angulo (Angulo / Point-7) and Bjorn Dunkerbeck it was Angulo who led into the opening mark. However, after good starts both, Menegatti and Dunkerbeck, made poor exits to their gybes which enabled Albeau to leap from fourth place into second. From here it was a man on man fight for first between Angulo and Albeau.

The man from Cabo Verde was able to maintain his lead until the final mark, at this point Albeau struck to move into the lead and after a silky smooth fully planing gybe he gradually eased away from Angulo to claim back-to-back bullets. Whilst, Albeau was striding towards the title at an alarming pace, his nemesis Bjorn Dunkerbeck could almost feel the title slipping out of his grasp. The terminator suffered a disastrous piece of luck as his mast capitulated, which left his chances of salvaging the day in tatters. Alberto Menegatti and Gunnar Asmussen (Patrik / North) finished the winners’ final in third and fourth place respectively.

The third elimination was started, however only the first round was completed before the wind deteriorated and unfortunately no more slalom was completed by the end of the event. This wasn’t good news for either Bjorn Dunkerbeck or Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic / Different)). The flying Dutchman missed out on both winners’ finals, which unfortunately meant that having come into the event in third place he finished the year in fifth. Whilst Micah Buzianis (JP / MauiSails) won the battle for the remaining spot on the podium having finished ninth and tenth in the two races. The biggest story of the week with regards to slalom is of course the fact that Antoine Albeau managed to overcome Bjorn Dunkerbeck to regain his PWA Slalom World title.

The thoughts from the man who clinched the 2012 PWA Slalom World title, Antoine Albeau: 'I am really happy to be number one in the world again. I think that the 2012 PWA Sylt World Cup has been a really big success because we got results for all three disciplines. It was another big battle for Bjorn for me, and I think this is one of my best world titles because I didn’t have the best start at the beginning of the season, but I finished strong. Last I’m delighted to bring the title back home to France.'

Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo began the week in quest of an amazing fifth PWA Freestyle World title. With no discard available this year, nothing was guaranteed and Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra) or Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different) still had the potential to snatch the title from under Gollito’s nose. However, the Venezuelan was 100% focused throughout the week and he produced another exceptional performance to claim the event victory, and more importantly he secured his fifth world crown to cap an outstanding season, which has seen Gollito win every single elimination this year, and also re-stamps his authority over the freestyle world as the undisputed King of freestyle.

Kiri Thode took on Gollito in the winners’ final and the two sailors put on a stunning display to wow the crowds on the beach. Astonishingly Thode had his timing wrong, so he spent the opening couple of minutes off the plane. However, once he had realized Thode instantly leapt onto the plane and rotated through an effortless shaka 360 and a forward loop to respond to Gollito’s monstrous shaka. The Venezuelan then stepped up his game as he landed a perfect backloop and an incredible burner 900. Thode tried to match him, but on this occasion he couldn’t quite do enough to deny Gollito another victory.

Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra) was on fire on the morning of the fifth day when the double elimination was completed. Frans excelled in some of the best freestyle conditions of the year as he demonstrated unrivaled diversity, power and style in the delivery of his tricks. The Bonairean landed stunning one handed backloops, pushloops and his trademark bongka as he dispatched of Youp Schmit (JP / NeilPryde), Steven Van Broeckhoven and Kiri Thode to earn the right to face Gollito in the winners’ final.

Youp Schmit also sailed brilliantly as he claimed the scalps of Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) and Phil Soltysiak (Starboard / Sailworks) and the seventeen year old was rewarded with his best finish on the tour to date with a fantastic fifth place.

Having been on fire in the earlier rounds, Tonky Frans, couldn’t quite replicate the same form in the final against Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo. The King of freestyle on the other hand was a man on a mission as he looked to take a massive stride towards a fifth world crown. As he so often does, Gollito thrived under the pressure to deliver another spectacular display of sailing. The Venezuelan landed an incredible shaka, as his height actually increased whilst back winded, and after a strong start he only continued to increase his performance and he threw a super-fast and clean skopu as well as a radical burner 360 to claim an emphatic victory, and as it turns out it also earned him an unprecedented fifth world title.

The five times PWA World Champion, Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo speaking after a simply fantastic season: 'For sure I am really happy to win the world title again, I think for the fifth time. I would also like to thank all of the sponsors for this great event, it’s brilliant to be in Sylt every year. Competing in these conditions is hard for sure, but we manage it.'

Philip Köster and Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North) resumed their battle for the top two places. The 2010 World Champion opened with a great double forward, but the master of the doubles soon busted out a bolt upright double forward to take the lead. At this point Köster took control of the tie as he landed a radical frontside wave 360 right in the pitching section. Fernandez then hit back with a superb one handed, one footed, backloop, but unfortunately for the Spaniard, Köster, responded with an even better version of the same trick.

The wonder kid then settled into his sailing as he threw another frontside wave 360. In the single elimination Köster may not have been at his absolute best for the entirety of the elimination, but he did show once more his incredible competition sailing qualities, whereby he can pull any trick out of his never ending armor to overcome any obstacle (sailor) in his way.

Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) took control of the battle for third place overall, as he defeated Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra) in the losers’ final. Campello once again demonstrated why he is considered one of the most radical jumpers in the world. First off he landed an incredible double forward before landing a breathtaking one handed, one footed, forward loop.

The 2009 PWA wave world champion, Josh Angulo, advanced past his first opponent Mikey Clancy (Fanatic / North), but that was as far as he would go in the single elimination as he faced Brazilian, Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde), in the second round.

Alex Mussolini was absolutely ripping in the superb waves and the Spaniard achieved the perfect scores on two waves. His first frontside wave 360 was one of the moves of the whole event. Mussolini found a huge hollow section and he launched into monumental frontside wave 360, which saw him fly at least a couple of feet above the lip of the wave. As he landed, the crowd on the beach erupted into rapturous applause and he claimed a super human move. Not sitting on his laurels, Mussolini then replicated the same move to knock out his teammate, Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra).

After Victor Fernandez suffered an injury to his ankle in the TV14 night session there were question marks about whether the Spaniard would be able to sail or not. In the end he did sail in the double elimination, with the support of a foot brace, but he couldn’t do enough to stop a rampaging Alex Mussolini, who hit back against Ricardo Campello to claim third in the world overall. With the pressure now off him, Mussolini, produced a great display to advance against Fernandez, as Mussolini advanced into the top two of the PWA Sylt World Cup to face Köster in the winners’ final.

Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra) was the standout wave sailor of the day as the Brit stormed his way through the double elimination. Williams won five successive heats, before Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra) halted his progress as Williams finished in an excellent fifth place.

On his way to fifth Williams was able to defeat Phil Horrocks (Tabou / Gaastra) in the battle of the Brits, before also dispatching of Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) in heat forty-two as he put together a tremendous wave, which consisted of a couple of super fluid turns before landing an unbelievable frontside wave 360. Williams’ next victim was, Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Gaastra / MFC), followed by Jules Denel (Exocet), after Williams was able to land another amazing frontside wave 360, combined with more super fluid and stylish riding overall.

The Brazilian, Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde) stood in Williams’ way for the battle to move into the top five, and the Brit continued to his rich vein of form as he threw another frontside wave 360 for the third heat in a row. This wave proved pivotal as the two sailors both landed equally good backloops, however Williams’ explosive 360 gave him the edge as he moved into fifth place, after winning the heat by 0.8 points and claiming a memorable victory.

Jules Denel also enjoyed a fine day in the double elimination as he sailed his way into equal seventh place. The Frenchman defeated several of the top guys today such as Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins), Klaas Voget (Fanatic / Simmer / MFC) and perhaps most impressively Denel managed to defeat the winner of the last wave event in Denmark, Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra) on two occasions, after the heat was res-ailed due to a missed jump for Traversa.

Adam Lewis (Patrik / Point-7) produced the heat of the day as he claimed his best finish to date on the PWA tour by finishing in equal seventh place in the double elimination. Having beaten German, Leon Jamaer (Fanatic / Hot Sails Maui), by just 0.13 points, Lewis stepped up his sailing to defeat his training partner, Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360), in heat forty-five. On his way to a fantastic victory over the current world number four, Lewis threw two outstanding wave 360s and a big one handed backloop to advance. The first of which, was probably the wave move of the day.

The Brit launched into a perfect frontside wave 360 right in the pocket of the wave, and he exited the maneuver with at least the same amount of speed as he went in with, to leave the crowds and judges cheering him on. His reward for the wave was 8.5 points and this helped him build an unassailable lead over Bruch. Lewis didn’t have enough to take down Kauli Seadi though in the next heat, and even an equipment change couldn’t help him claim the jump he desperately needed.

On the final day of the event, Philip Köster took on Alex Mussolini as he looked to end his world championship winning year with a victory in the final event. This time around Köster managed to do just that, even with the incredibly challenging conditions due to the bolt onshore wind. With the jumping being predominately starboard tack the wonder kid was still able to bust out a double forward on the way in to put himself in command of the heat. Mussolini landed a good backloop and pushloop, but it couldn’t match Köster’s efforts, and in spite of a couple of good waves, with his backside smacks in particular standing out, Mussolini couldn’t find enough in the tank to force a super final.

Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North) defeated Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) for the first time in the losers’ final to also book her place on the podium in the waves for the first time. Treboux was able to pick the better of the waves, and crucially, once she was on the wave she delivered a number of silky smooth turns to put Jaggi on the back foot. As the fellow countrywomen battled it out, Jaggi tried to battle back but she didn’t have enough to stop Treboux from winning.

Another all Moreno final took place, after both of the legendary sisters escaped close calls in the semi-finals to book their places in the winners’ final. The final took place in very different conditions from the opening two events of the year as lighter cross-shore winds and waist to chest high waves rolled into Sylt. The head judge, Duncan Coombs, made the decision to run a fifteen minute heat with two waves and no jumps to count, which some thought shifted the favor in Iballa’s direction. As it turned out Iballa did come out on top of the contest as she performed her wave rides with more aggression and verticalness. Daida also scored a couple of good waves, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Iballa from winning.

After defeating Karin Jaggi for the first time in the single elimination losers’ final, Laure Treboux was able to do exactly the same again on the final day, to cement her place on the podium in the final event of the year. On her way to her second successive victory over her compatriot, Treboux was able to land a super clean forward loop and a perfectly landed shuvit. Whilst in the difficult wave riding conditions the Swiss styler was also able to win the battle as she linked several great backside smacks to leave Jaggi reeling.

The Moreno twins lined up again for the last winners’ final of the year, and they both sailed terrific heats to give the 2012 PWA World Tour the sendoff it deserves. Daida landed a great backloop within minutes of the start, as she did everything in her power to force a super final at the very minimum. Her sister, Iballa, though had different plans though and the newly crowned 2012 champion landed a forward loop off the lip just behind the wave.

Daida showed more of her competition qualities, as she linked together a couple of turns on the wave before throwing a forward loop off the lip, as well as a backside air on one of her later waves. However, Iballa was ripping on her waves as she sent the spray flying with a couple of super powerful backside smacks. In the dying minutes Iballa then edged into the lead as she landed a perfect backloop. Unfortunately for Daida, her highest scoring wave of the heat had started after the final buzzer had sounded and so it would not count. With the world title in the bag already, Iballa, ended the competition year on the highest of highs as she signed off with three event victories out of three.

Words from the newly crowned 2012 PWA Wave World Champion, Iballa Moreno: 'First off all I would like to thank all of you for coming to watch this incredible day for me. It’s been really hard but I hope you all enjoyed it. It’s been great to be back in Sylt and I hope to see you again next year.'

Results of the 2012 PWA Sylt World Cup: Men’s Slalom

1st Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde)
2nd Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)
3rd Ludovic Jossin (Patrik / Loft)
4th Josh Angulo (Angulo / Point-7)
5th Micah Buzianis (JP / MauiSails)

Results of the 2012 PWA Sylt World Cup - Men’s Freestyle

1st Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North)
2nd Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra)
3rd Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra)
4th Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different)
5th Youp Schmit (JP / NeilPryde)

Results of the 2012 PWA Sylt World Cup - Men’s Wave

1st Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra)
3rd Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North)
4th Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
5th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)

Results of the 2012 PWA Sylt World Cup - Women’s Wave

1st Iballa Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne)
2nd Daida Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne)
3rd Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North)
4th Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)
5th Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg)

The Official 2012 PWA World Rankings - Men’s Slalom

1st Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde)
2nd Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / Dunkerbeck Eyewear / Chris Benz)
3rd Micah Buzianis (JP / MauiSails)
4th Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde)
5th Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic / Different)
6th Josh Angulo (Angulo / Point-7)
7th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)
8th Peter Volwater (Fanatic / Avanti)
9th Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne / Mystic)
10th Ludovic Jossin (Patrik / Loft)

The Official 2012 PWA World Rankings - Men’s Freestyle

1st Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North)
2nd Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra)
3rd Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different)
4th Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra)
6th Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard / Hot Sails Maui)
7th Anthony Ruenes (Tabou / Gaastra)
8th Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne)
9th Youp Schmit (JP / NeilPryde)
10th Philip Soltysiak (Starboard / Sailworks)

The Official 2012 PWA World Rankings - Men’s Wave

1st Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North)
3rd Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra)
4th Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) 7th
5th Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360)
5th Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)
7th Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde)
8th Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Gaastra / MFC)
9th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)
10th Klaas Voget (Fanatic / Simmer / MFC)

The Official 2012 PWA World Rankings - Women’s Wave

1st Iballa Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne)
2nd Daida Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne)
3rd Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)
4th Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North)
5th Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg)

The Official 2012 PWA World Rankings - Women’s Slalom

1st Valerie Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra)
2nd Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)
3rd Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft / AL360)
4th Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde)
5th Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Loft)

The Official 2012 PWA World Rankings - Women’s Freestyle

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins / Chris Benz)
2nd Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North)
3rd Arrianne Aukes (RRD / Simmer / AL360 / Maui Ultra Fins)
4th Yolanda Freites de Brendt (Fanatic / North)
5th Eva Chiochetti
5th Svetlana Martynova

PWA Youth Champions

1st Maciek Rutkowski (Patrik / Loft) - Slalom
1st Youp Schmit (JP / NeilPryde) - Freestyle
1st Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)

The PWA would like to extend their thanks to all of the sponsors and organizers who made all of the events this year possible. We hope you enjoyed all of the epic action on display this year, and the PWA will look forward to bringing you more enthralling action in PWA World Tour website Windsurf World Cup website