PWA Tenerife World Cup event summary

by Chris Yates on 17 Jul 2012 The opening day of the 2012 PWA Planet Win 365 Tenerife World Cup saw the sailors registering for the event in the morning, before the competition began shortly after lunch. By the end of the first day, 13 fantastic heats were completed. Omar Sanchez (Simmer) produced a sparkling performance to knock out Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC), and in doing so he created the upset of the day.

Sanchez stole the show and a super tweaked pushloop was the highlight of the heat. The former World Champion Scott McKercher (Starboard / Severne) enjoyed a fine start to the event as he showed off his trademark vertical top turns to advance past the local man Valter Scotto (Fanatic / Challenger), before taking down Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra) in the next round.

The wind Gods clearly didn’t read the script for day two as the brilliant forecast failed to materialize, which resulted in somewhat disappointing conditions. By the end of the second day only an additional seven heats were completed, but we did see the women hit the water for the first time as two heats of the single elimination were completed. The second day also proved to be a true test of the sailors’ wave riding ability as no jumps were to be judged during the heats.

This suited Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg) perfectly as she once again demonstrated her super fluid wave riding to dominate against Julia Meijer. Meanwhile in the men’s division Scott McKercher continued his fine form to dispatch of Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Gaastra / MFC), the Australian’s wave riding was second to none as he continued to revel in the conditions, which Tenerife produced. Elsewhere Ben Proffitt (Simmer) was able to gain the upper hand over Jules Denel (Exocet) as the pair continued their ongoing battle.

Day three saw the wind Gods more than deliver as winds of up to fifty knots hit the shore of El Cabezo. The strong wind was accompanied by amazing waves, which ensured an enthralling day of epic action as both the men and women’s single eliminations were completed. Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) was able to win the men’s fleet ahead of Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North) after a mesmerizing performance. The wonderkid instantly landed one of his trademark ankle dry double forwards but it was Köster’s wave riding that really stood out.

He landed a massive wave 360, which he then effortlessly linked into a bottom turn and an outstanding double taka to wow the crowd and the judges. The women’s single elimination saw Daida Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne) return to the top of the podium after she was able to defeat her sister, Iballa Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne). Daida looked her usual dominant force in the air as she landed an awesome one-handed backloop and a big stalled forward to clinch the winners’ final.

Day three also saw the men’s double elimination begin and we were treated to some amazing comebacks as several sailors fought their way back through the double elimination. Adam Lewis (Patrik / Point-7) was one of those men, the Brit sailed faultlessly to beat; Pablo Ramirez (Goya Windsurfing/ MFC) followed by Albert Pijoan (Starboard / Severne) and Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer) to claim his place in the top sixteen. Marcilio Browne, John Skye (RRD / Mystic / MFC) and Alessio Stillrich (Fanatic / North / AL360) were all able to replicate Lewis’ result as they all fought their way back from the first round to also book a place In the top sixteen.

The fourth day of the PWA Tenerife World Cup saw even more amazing action as the men and women’s double eliminations were concluded. By the end of the day Philip Köster had successfully managed to defend his single elimination victory as he defeat an on fire Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra) in the winners’ final. Köster’s latest event victory means that the eighteen year old has now won the last six PWA Wave events after another incredible performance. Köster wowed the crowds and the judges in the single elimination with his wave riding but this time around it was Köster’s jumping which really did the talking.

With his first two jumps he landed a perfect double forward before unleashing into an astonishing pushloop forward to claim twenty-three points out of a possible twenty-four for jumping. Mussolini actually won the wave riding section but he was still powerless in trying to stop Köster from claiming the crown.

The Italian produced the best wave riding of the competition as he defeated John Skye, Thomas Traversa, Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360), Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) and finally Victor Fernandez to cap an outstanding performance. The best wave of the bunch from Mussolini saw the Spaniard launch into a massive wave 360 followed by a super vertical frontside smack and a sick taka but event this wasn’t enough to force a super final. The women’s double elimination saw Iballa Ruano Moreno fight back from the death the claim her second event victory in a row. Iballa left it until the final minute to strike against Daida in the winners’ final as she pulled an astonishing goiter to force a re-sail of the final.

Iballa was able to deliver the goods again as she defeated her sister, after landing a radical pushloop and shredding her waves to pieces. Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) completed an all Severne top three after she managed to hold off the challenge of Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North). Unfortunately, Eva Oude Ophius (Fanatic / North) had to be taken to hospital after landing a super flat forward loop, which results in a neck/back injury. Everyone involved with the PWA would like to wish Eva a speedy recovery and we hope to see her back competing very soon.

After the completion of the competition yesterday, the sailors took the opportunity to relax and go free sailing on day five. The wind and waves continue to hit the shores of Tenerife, so there is still the possibility that we may hold a super session over the coming days. Tomorrow morning at 11am we will be holding an interview with the winners of the 2012 PWA Planet Win 365 Tenerife World PWA World Tour Event website