PWA Reno World Cup Sylt Grand Slam fleet prepares for battle

by PWA on 24 Sep 2011 The PWA Reno World Cup Sylt Grand Slam fleet are getting registrations taken care of today and the event site is heating up as the stars of the PWA descend on Westerland beach in preparation for nine intense days of super grand slam action.

A gentle start to the 2011 VW PWA Reno World Cup in Sylt witnessed the world’s finest windsurfers spend the day rigging and registering for the upcoming competition, whilst floods of spectators lined the seafront to meet their windsurfing idols. There is something for everyone on the event site from trying your first forward loop on the windsurfing simulator to relaxing with a glass of champagne in the sunshine.

The spectacular opening ceremony kicked the event off in style this afternoon with the sailors parading with their countries flags along the beach and being introduced on stage to an enormous crowd.

The atmosphere will be all the more charged tomorrow as things get serious when the competition starts; we took the opportunity to catch up with some of the competitors that have had a particularly successful year on tour and the PWA’s head judge, to find out about their thoughts for the week ahead.

Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC) – currently sixth on the men’s wave tour: 'I have been training really hard for this year and trying all the new maneuvers to get a good result. I am really happy with my third in Gran Canaria and Tenerife was ok, the conditions were really hard in Denmark and I finished ninth, but I am really pleased to be in sixth place overall. I am looking forward to the week ahead, and I hope some waves arrive.'

Nayra Alonso (Fanatic / Severne) – currently joint third on the women’s wave tour: 'So far we have had great conditions on tour; the two competitions have been really windy. I hope the conditions get really good here so we have a decent competition. I will try to sail my best and get a great result here.'

Davy Scheffers (Tabou / Gaastra) – currently fifth on the men’s freestyle tour: 'I have done really well this year and I am really happy but I am not done yet, there is a load more to come, I am going to really go for it this week.'

Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic) – currently third on the men’s slalom tour: 'I have had a great year and the top three places are already secure, but I am still going to go for it this week and will try to make it on to the podium again.'

Duncan Coombs – Head PWA Judge: 'We will try open the competition up with some light wind racing, and on Monday there is certainly potential for a round of freestyle. We will see what the wind does the rest of the week, anything can happen here.'

There is a mixed forecast on its way for the next few days, ranging from light winds to super-windy on Monday, so make sure you keep your eyes on the PWA website for all the action. The skippers meeting for the wave and freestyle fleet is planned for 9am tomorrow morning, with the first possible start to competition at 9:30am. The skippers meeting for the slalom fleet will kick off at 10am with a first possible start at 10:30am.

PWA World Tour website

PWA Reno World Cup Sylt Grand Slam website