PWA Pozo World Cup - Ezzy and Juban claim main draw spots

by Chris Yates on 18 Jul 2014 The last race of the men’s trials was finally completed on day four of the PWA Gran Canaria Wind and Waves Festival. After waiting for the majority of the day Pozo produced a small window of competable waves accompanied by strong winds at 4pm. However, after starting the opening race of the women’s single elimination conditions quickly deteriorated, resulting in the cancellation of the race. This proved to be the end of the action today as the sailors were released at 6pm.

Camille Juban (Quatro / MauiSails / MFC), Graham Ezzy (Quatro / Ezzy), Justin Denel (RRD / RRD) and Arthur Arutkin (Fanatic / North) fought it out for the final two places in the main draw and it was Juban who managed to impress the judges the most to win the race. The twenty-four year old showed great style on the wave as he combined a sick backside air and a smooth taka on the same wave. Ezzy secured the final qualifying place with a planing pushloop and a perfect one-handed backloop.

Having earned their places in the main event the eight qualifiers now know their fates about who they will face in the first round. This has resulted in some mouthwatering ties, which could certainly cause some early upsets.

As the first man to qualify from the trials Moritz Mauch (Starboard / Severne / MFC) will now face fellow countryman Leon Jamaer (JP / NeilPryde) in the first round, whilst fellow winners Alessio Stillrich (Fanatic / North / MFC), Jonas Ceballos and Camille Juban will face Jules Denel (JP / NeilPryde) - who is an injury doubt - Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails) and Ricardo Campello (Patrik / Point-7 / MFC) respectively.

Meanwhile, Jaeger Stone (SSD / Severne) has been drawn against the current vice-world champion Alex Mussolini (Tabou / GA Sails), whilst Albert Pijoan (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) and Eric Sanllehy (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) have been pitted against Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North) and the reigning world champion Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC). Graham Ezzy has been handed the unenviable task of taking on Philip Köster (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) in the first round, who many view as unbeatable on his home patch.

Graham Ezzy was pleased to see an end to the 15 minute announcements: 'I hate these 15 minute announcements. You can’t do anything. I can’t even read because it takes longer than that to get into it.'

Amanda Beenen (Tabou / GA Sails) is ready for the green flag: 'I really want to compete. I’ve never been more prepared than I am for this year.'

Duncan Coombs shares his thoughts on the women's race which was cancelled: 'I only really saw one real wave in 14 minutes, so whilst conditions were okay for jumping there wasn’t the possibility to hit any lips really and I didn't think the conditions were suitable for competition.'

The forecast for tomorrow is for slightly stronger wind accompanied by a marginal increase in swell size which will hopefully allow the men’s and women’s single eliminations to be started. The skippers’ meeting has once again been called for 9:30am tomorrow morning with the action kicking off from 10am onwards. PWA World Tour