PWA Tenerife World Cup - Early conclusion to day 1

by Chris Yates on 13 Jul 2012 On the opening day of the 2012 Planet Win 365 PWA Tenerife World Cup, the competitors registered between 10am and 12pm. After the registration process was completed, the men’s single elimination began shortly after 13:45, with sailors needing to complete one jump and two waves to meet the judging criteria. The contest got underway with 25 knots of wind and excellent waves, however, at half past four the conditions started to deteriorate, which brought the first day to an end just before the conclusion of the men’s second round.

The opening heat of single elimination featured the former World Champion Scott McKercher (Starboard / Severne) and he showed off his trademark vertical top turns to advance past the local man Valter Scotto (Fanatic / Challenger). The Frenchmen Antoine Martin (JP / NeilPryde) looked in great form as he advanced past Francesco Cappuzzo (RRD / AL360), who was making his debut at just fifteen years old.

The standout rider from the first round was Moritz Mauch (Starboard / North) in heat five b. The German’s wave selection and riding really separated him from the rest of the fleet as he threw big frontside airs to dispatch of Levi Lenz (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) and progressed into round two. On the other side of the heat Arthur Arutkin (Starboard / Severne) sailed well to end the hopes of Pablo Ramirez (Goya Windsurfing / MFC).

Elsewhere in the first round; Adam Lewis (Patrik / Point-7) used his local knowledge to knock out Fabrice Devos. Whilst Albert Pijoan (Starboard / Severne) was able to successfully defeat Ben Newson (Patrik / KA Sail) and Leon Jamaer (Fantatic / Hot Sails Maui) secured his place in the next round by holding off Michael Kleingarn (Fanatic / Gaastra). The remaining battles saw Jonas Ceballos advance against Robert Baldyga (Quatro / MauiSails), whilst Christopher Friis (Simmer) and Eleazar Alonso (JP / NeilPryde) defeated Per Schmitz and Jonas Handekyn (RRD / Hot Sails Maui) respectively. The final sailor to book his place in the second round was Italian, Frederico Infantino (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing / MFC / AL360), who had enough in the tank to end Ismaele De Nuzzo’s (Quatro / Challenger) single elimination at the first hurdle.

The second round, heat nine, saw the first upset of the competition as Scott McKercher rolled back the years to defeat Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra). The Australian landed a clean backloop but it was his wave riding that really impressed the judges. McKercher unleashed several massive frontside smacks to leave Williams in trouble. The Brit tried to respond with some fluid wave riding and takas of his own but in the end it wasn’t enough. Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Gaastra / MFC) suffered no such upset as he beat Antoine Martin.

Heat ten instantly saw more upsets as Martin Ten Hoeve (Goya Windsurfing / Point-7) took down another Brit by defeating John Skye (RRD / Mystic / MFC). The Englishman suffered a broken mast during the heat but Ten Hoeve still deserves a lot of credit for his performance. The Dutchman landed a perfect backloop and he also managed to throw a brilliant wave 360 to clinch the heat. Meanwhile, Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North) avoided any dramas by putting together an assured display. The Spaniard landed the first double forward of the contest and his wave riding was on a different level to the rest of the competition thus far, with one magnificent frontside aerial in particular being the highlight.

Heat eleven; involving Klaas Voget (Fanatic / Simmer / MFC) taking on Adam Lewis, proved to be the closest contest of the day. Both sailors produced outstanding performances, which saw them open the heat with inseparable one-handed backloops. Voget then took a stranglehold of the tie as he landed a slick wave 360. However, Lewis drew upon all of his local knowledge to hit back with a couple of powerful frontside smacks before throwing a quite brilliant wave 360 of his own. As the judges’ verdict was revealed, it would be Voget progressing after the German had accumulated the greater second wave score.

Phil Horrocks (Tabou / Gaastra) became the first Brit to advance from the second round as he managed to defeat the hugely talented youth, Alessio Stillrich (Fanatic / North / AL360). The B-side of heat twelve saw Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360) successfully navigate his way past a potentially tricky opponent in Jonas Ceballos. Bruch remained perfectly focused on the task at hand, and he went onto land an amazing double forward as well as delivering some super late frontside hits to end Ceballos’ single elimination.

Heat thirteen saw the performance of the day as Omar Sanchez (Simmer) claimed the scalp of Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC). Sanchez delivered a performance that demonstrated, both composure and flair beyond his years as the Spaniard provided the biggest upset thus far. Sanchez’s jumping in particular was extraordinary, with a super tweaked pushloop being his best. Meanwhile, Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde) reveled in the condition on offer as he combined his super fluid wave riding style, with effortless wave 360s. This proved too much for the standout rider of the first round, Moritz Mauch, and the Brazilian safely advanced into the third round.

Heat fourteen which involved; Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer), Jamie Hancock (Tabou / Gaastra), Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) and Arthur Arutkin, was started but the conditions soon deteriorated, which led to the cancellation of the heat.

With an epic forecast on offer for tomorrow, which promises both wind and waves, the skippers meeting has been called for 09:30am with the action commencing from 10am. Friday promises to be an action packed day.

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