PWA Tenerife World Cup day 3 - Fifty knots, big waves and big crashes

by PWA on 15 Jul 2012 On day 3 of the PWA Tenerife World Cup, the wind gods more than made up for the somewhat disappointing conditions of yesterday.

With the wind hitting fifty knots and logo to mast high waves rolling into El Cabezo an absolutely epic day of action was guaranteed.

The competition started bright and early which meant that by midday the winners of the single elimination had been crowned. In the end Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) won the men’s fleet ahead of Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North), whilst Daida Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne) returned to winning ways against her sister, Iballa Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne). The rest of the day featured more incredible action with huge jumps, big waves and some even bigger crashes.

Men’s Single Elimination - Winners’ Final
The men’s winners’ final saw Philip Köster recommence his battle with Victor Fernandez and the two sailors put on a phenomenal show for the crowds as they pushed each other to the limit, both physically and mentally. By the end of the duel though it was the eighteen year old who came out on top after an awe-inspiring display. Köster wasted no time at all and as the green flag was raised the wonderkid launched into one of his ankle dry double forwards to instantly put the pressure on Fernandez. The Spaniard responded with a monster stalled forward, quickly followed by a double forward of his own to even things up. However Köster’s wave riding was on a different planet. For a single wave ride he scored a maximum twelve points as he delivered an absolutely colossal wave 360, which led straight into a perfect bottom turn before unwinding into a ridiculous double taka. After this Köster set about raising the bar even higher as came ever so close to a no-handed goiter and went in search of a ramp for a triple loop.

Unfortunately for him, and us, the perfect ramp didn’t arrive on this occasion. Fernandez did everything in his power to stop Köster as he landed spectacular one-handed goiters and a monumental one-handed frontside aerial of his own, but it wasn’t enough against a seemingly invincible Köster.

Losers’ Final
Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) didn’t let a little trip to the hospital this morning distract him, as he recovers from a bout of food poisoning. The Venezuelan responded in the perfect manner after the disappointment of Pozo as he claimed a thoroughly deserved third place in the single elimination. Campello sailed a superb heat as he landed some monster moves as well as suffering some monstrous crashes. Considered by many as one of the most radical jumpers in the world, Campello soon lived up to his reputation and he delivered one of the jumps of the day as he nailed a quite brilliant pushloop forward and a perfect double forward too. Campello probably deserves to be credited with the crash of the day as well, after he bailed an air chachoo attempt right at the apex of the jump. Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360) landed double forwards and one footed backloops, but even when combined with his fluid wave riding it still wasn’t enough to beat Campello, as the local man had to settle for fourth.

Women’s Single Elimination - Winners’ Final
Another winners’ final, another Moreno matchup, as the twins, Daida Ruano Moreno and Iballa Ruano Moreno continued to dominate the women’s fleet. Daida was hungrier than ever to come out on top, having relinquished her Pozo crown for the first time in thirteen years last week, and that’s exactly what she managed to do. She will now be hoping she can defend her victory in the double elimination. Daida looked a dominant force in the air as she landed an amazing one-handed backloop and a big stalled forward.

Iballa on the other hand made the better of the waves and she delivered some delicious wave riding to leave the heat extremely close by the end, however it was soon revealed that Daida had claimed the victory and she looked visibly delighted with the outcome.

Loser’s Final
The all-important battle for third place saw Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) taking on Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North) in the battle of the Swiss ladies. Jaggi soon landed a forward loop and a perfectly executed backloop to take command of the tie and the deficit proved too great for Treboux to recover from despite some radical wave riding and a forward loop.

Men’s Double Elimination
The fantastic conditions continued in Tenerife for the majority of the day and the men’s double elimination was completed up to the final two heats of the third round.Adam Lewis (Patrik / Point-7) put all of his local knowledge to the perfect use today, the Englishman charged his way back from the first round to book his place in the top sixteen, after winning three consecutive heats. Lewis first took down Pablo Ramirez (Goya Windsurfing/ MFC) followed by Albert Pijoan (Starboard / Severne) and Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer).

Lewis’ radical wave riding and massive backloops proved to be a big hit with the judges, and he’ll now hope to pick up where he left from tomorrow when he faces Alessio Stillrich (Fanatic / North / AL360).Lewis wasn’t the only sailor to gain momentum from the first round; Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC), John Skye (RRD / Mystic / MFC) and the aforementioned Stillrich all clawed their way back through the double elimination to also book their places in the top sixteen. Brawzinho impressed today with a number of ankle-dry double forwards and he’ll be hoping to continue his charge into the top five come the end of tomorrow. John Skye produced a brilliant performance to dispatch of his fellow countryman Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins). Skye landed a beautiful one-handed backloop and looked super consistent and fluid on the wave to advance.

Meanwhile, Stillrich, nailed more of his now, almost trademark super tweaked pushloops to demolish the opponents put before him.The closest heat of the day was between Klaas Voget (Fanatic / Simmer / MFC) and Jamie Hancock (Tabou / Gaastra) in heat thirty-nine. Both men landed superb pushloops and they were almost inseparable in the wave riding department. Voget launched in to a brilliant backside air only to be matched by Hancock, who threw a super vertical turn and a taka.

As the score sheets were tallied up there was just half a point in it, overall Voget just managed to edge it and he now goes on to face Marcilio Browne in his next heat.Ben Proffitt (Simmer) managed to defeat Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra) in the other all-English affair. On his way to victory the Brit landed a super tweaked pushloop before launching into a radical wave 360 and a slick taka. Although Williams was able to land a couple of wave 360s, it wasn’t adequate on this occasion.

Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Gaastra / MFC) sneaked past Jules Denel (Exocet) by the narrowest of margins, his double forward proved to be vital in clinching the tie and Ojeda will now face Martin Ten Hoeve (Goya Windsurfing / Point-7), after the Dutchman navigated his way past Michael Kleingarn (Fanatic / Gaastra).

Today’s action officially concluded shortly after 7pm after the waves never fully re-established themselves. The forecast for tomorrow is staggeringly good again, with the promise of strong wind and big waves on the horizon. Action resumes from 9am.

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