PWA Surf World Cup Podersdorf - Magnificence from Gollito on day 3

by PWA on 30 Apr 2012 On the third day of the PWA Surf World Cup Podersdorf, the wind was blowing from the word go which enabled the conclusion of the single elimination on what was an enthralling day of competition. Another scorching day in Austria saw Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North) eventually come out on top, after sailing magnificently for the duration of the elimination.

Heat 5 was the first heat of the day and this saw Bryan Metcalf-Perez (JP / NeilPryde) and Adam Sims (RRD) dispatch of their opposite numbers very efficiently as they progressed into round two. Heat 7 brought an interesting turn of events as Rich Jendrusch (F2 / Severne / Mystic) and Adam Gavriel (Patrik / Simmer) were tied, both on style and diversity. The inseparable riders were eventually split up, after a group decision, resulting in Gavriel progressing into the next round, after a painstaking wait to find out their fate.

Round two of the elimination resulted in one upset, as wildcard entrant Andreas Lachauer (JP / NeilPryde) knocked out the vastly experienced Andy Chambers (JP / NeilPryde). Lachauer took full advantage of the marginal conditions to earn his place in the third round.

The stand out heat from round two was heat 12. Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra) was up against yesterday’s stand out sailor Adrian Beholz (Maui Ultra Fins), but there was little the German could do on this occasion. Thode put together the highest scorecard so far as he danced his way through the heat with moves such as a huge air bob, a shaka flaka and a sick regular kono to name just a few. With this performance Thode sent out a warning message to all of his rivals that he meant business.

In the quarter finals, Davy Scheffers (Tabou / Gaastra), who finished third here last year, was taken down by Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins).

Despite landing a culo on his bad side and a super smooth double puneta, Scheffers didn’t have enough in the tank to dispatch of Frans, who wowed the judges with a fully planing culo and a monstrous kono. Meanwhile, Estredo was able to navigate past the French rider Nicolas Akgazciyan (Starboard / Point-7 / Maui Ultra Fins), Kiri Thode continued his impressive form to advance past Anthony Ruenes (Tabou / Gaastra), whilst the current world champion Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde) was able to fend off Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard / Hot Sails).

The semi-finals consisted of Estredo, Thode, Taty Frans and Van Broeckhoven.

Incidentally, these four sailors made up the overall top four last year. Gollito unleashed a super technical shaka diablo and then threw down a sick burner, Thode responded with a switch chachoo 900, a sweet shaka flaka and an excellent culo.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough and Gollito booked his place in the first winner’s final of the year. Joining him would be Taty Frans as he managed to out perform the current world champion Van Broeckhoven, who looked underpowered. However nothing can be taken away from Frans who sailed an excellent heat, linking an unconventional ponch with a full speed e-slider and a switch flaka to seal the deal.

Kiri Thode sailed a brilliant losers final to secure third place in the single elimination. Thode quickly racked up numerous moves including a perfect air funnel into funnel and an outstanding air bob, as he took a strong hold over the heat. Van Broeckhoven, meanwhile, was struggling in comparison in the light winds, spending a decent amount of time off the plane whilst his opponent continued to bust out all the latest moves. Van Broeckhoven did manage to fight back with a flaka into ponch but by that point it was too late to recover.

The biggest heat of the day was timed perfectly for the strongest wind. Gollito and Frans were well powered and ready to treat everyone to a fantastic show of freestyle wizardry. Gollito sailed an astonishing heat and effectively gave Frans no chance of victory. Gollito jumped burners on both tacks followed by one of the tricks of the day, a stupendous flaka shaka flaka.

Although Frans may not have won the winners final he certainly played his part. Frans made sure some of the limelight stayed with him as he popped an air chachoo out of nowhere to leave the judges astounded. Overall Gollito was on fire and obviously very determined to return to the top. He got his just rewards in front of a packed out crowd on the beach.

After his performance today, we got a few words with the 4-time freestyle world champion Gollito.

'Today was a really hard day for us, the competition was tough. Today we were just trying to finish the single elimination because the wind was really gusty. I’m really happy with my first place today and I hope that in the next couple of days we get some more wind.'

The forecast for tomorrow shows the potential for some wind in the late afternoon but conditions can also change here in an instance, so be sure to tune in to tomorrow’s action as we look to get the double elimination completed. The skippers’ meeting has been called for 09:30 with the first possible start at 10am.

Results after Single Elimination

1st Jose Gollito Estredo (Fanatic / North)
2nd Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra)
4th Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde)

The second night of the EFPT tow in saw Kiri Thode, Bjorn Saragoza and Jose Gollito Estredo all qualify for Monday night’s final. Thode secured his place with a super sick double flaka pirouette, whilst Saragoza threw a brilliant air flaka into flaka. Gollito left it all for his last run and he didn’t let the pressure get to him as he jumped a sick burner flaka to make sure his name was booked in the final.

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