PWA Tenerife World Cup - Testing conditions on day 2

by Chris Yates on 14 Jul 2012 Day two of the 2012 PWA Tenerife World Cup got underway amid extremely light winds as the wind Gods refused to follow the forecast, however by twelve o’clock there was enough wind to resume the men’s single elimination. The first five heats of the day provided a true test of the sailors’ wave riding ability as the decision was made to count two waves with no jumps.

Later in the afternoon the wind did increase sufficiently to allow one jump to be judged, unfortunately though the stronger wind only lasted for the duration of two heats before dropping back again. In the seven heats that were completed today we witnessed some incredible riding from both the men and women.

The first heat of the day in the men’s single elimination saw heat fourteen being re-run after it had to be cancelled yesterday due to deteriorating conditions. Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer) made a great start to his heat as his picked out the best opening wave to take an early lead against Jamie Hancock (Tabou / Gaastra). The Brit soon responded though with a terrific wave as he linked multiple turns together before finishing with a taka.

Danielsen soon hit back and he managed to clinch to opening heat of the day. The Dane threw a couple of powerful slashes and a perfectly executed taka to leave Hancock disappointed. Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) saw off the challenge of Arthur Arutkin (Starboard / Severne). The Venezuelan was in good form today as he connected his top turns to the lip of the wave time and time again.

Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) had too much class for Christopher Friis (Simmer) in heat fifteen. The Brit unleashed several big frontside hits to advance. Meanwhile, Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra), produced some wave riding of the highest quality in the second round. The Spaniard looked fantastic in both his front and backside riding and his wave selection was superb as he consistently picked out the biggest waves. His Spanish counterpart had no chance and Traversa marched on into the third round.

Ben Proffitt (Simmer) and Jules Denel (Exocet) were once again drawn against each other, but this time it was Proffitt who managed to come out on top after Denel had got the better of the two in Pozo. Denel had one great wave that included a super slick taka but the Frenchman was lacking a second wave to back his score up. This allowed Proffitt the opportunity to hit back and the Brit did just that. Proffitt landed a taka of his own and his wave riding was more radical overall. Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) cruised into the third round after dispatching of Frederico Infantino (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing / MFC / AL360).

Into the third round and Scott McKercher (Starboard / Severne) continued his rich vein of form to knock out Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Gaastra / MFC). McKercher simply tore his waves apart as he delivered more of his trademark vertical frontside smacks and an outstanding frontside aerial to leave Ojeda in trouble. The Canarian, who finished on the podium in Pozo, tried to respond with a backside 360 and some slick wave riding, but it wasn’t enough as the Australian reigned victorious after a magnificent performance.

The other side of heat seventeen saw Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North) versus Martin Ten Hoeve (Goya Windsurfing / Point-7). Fernandez open the heat with an absolutely perfect double loop, before the Spaniard was given a free pass into the next round after Ten Hoeve was disqualified for having a new set of equipment sailed out to him without any breakages to his original setup.

Heat eighteen saw Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra) perform brilliantly as he landed a superb one-handed one footed backloop as well as a myriad of frontside smacks. Voget (Fanatic / Simmer / MFC) landed a one handed aerial and a one handed backloop but it wasn’t enough to beat Mussolini.

The B-side of the heat saw Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360) navigate his way past Phil Horrocks (Tabou / Gaastra). The local man landed a perfect one-handed backloop but it was his wave riding that really stood out. Bruch performed in his normal stylish way as he combined his frontside turns with a fantastic wave 360. If Horrocks had landed his taka which he went for right in the critical section of the wave, then the story may have been different but for now the Brit will have to wait until the double elimination, as Bruch advances into the quarterfinals.

Before heat nineteen was started the decision was made to return the judging criteria to just two wave rides and no jumps, as the wind began to drop. Unfortunately halfway through the heat the conditions became inadequate for the competition and the heat was cancelled.

The women hit the water for the first time of the competition on day two of the PWA Planet Wind 365 Tenerife World Cup. As the women’s single elimination was completed up to the quarterfinals.

In the opening heat of the single elimination Eva Oude Ophius (Fanatic / North), managed to progress against Hester Anderiesen (Fanatic / North) in the all Dutch battle. Whilst Amanda Beenen (F2 / North) saw off Carmen Afonso Martin, who suffered a broken UJ during her heat. However Beenen was in complete control of the heat before this, so it is unlikely that the result would’ve been any different anyway.

The other women’s heat of the day saw Fanny Aubet (JP / NeilPryde) defeat Ireland’s Katie McAnena (Simmer), who was another debutant on the PWA Tour. The B-side of the heat saw Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg) dominate against Julia Meijer. The German demonstrated her fluid wave riding again, after her impressive display in Pozo.

Despite the sailors being held on standby until six o’clock the wind never returned, so we will have to wait until tomorrow to see the completion of the men and women’s single eliminations. The forecast looks epic for tomorrow with much stronger winds and bigger waves being predicted. With this in mind the skippers meeting has been called for 08:30 tomorrow morning and the first possible start is 9am, with the view to catching the incoming tide to take advantage of the better waves.

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