Reflections on an almighty 2007 PWA season

by © PWA Brian McDowell on 27 Nov 2007 With the silverware all dished-out and the big names sent home to re-charge and reflect on their years work, the world of windsurfing can be proud of an impressive run of competition that pushed levels far beyond most people’s expectations.

All in all six world championship titles were settled in wave sailing, slalom racing and freestyle between the most talented men and women windsurfers on the globe.

Wave Sailing

The wave tour glittered brightly with three sparkling new additions to the calendar and six events in total.

The 2007 Cabo Verde World Cup – Feb 22nd-March 4th

Fortune smiled immediately upon the world wave sailing elite as a pumping swell raced towards the Cabo Verde archipelago, hell-bent on unleashing its power upon the shallow ledges of Ponta Preta, on the Island of Sal.

The event was a big deal to this small Atlantic republic too. An impressive infrastructure by the organizers, and the level of crowds coming to support their nation were a testament to the importance of windsurfing to Cabo Verde's low rise and eco-friendly tourism development,

Surf of epic proportions thundered seemingly inches away from the shore at Ponta Preta, and you could almost touch the riders as they flew past on the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime.

The cream rising to the top of 4-man single elimination final contained the worthy names of Josh Angulo, Kauli Seadi (Quatro / Naish), Kevin Pritchard (Starboard / MauiSails) and Nik Baker (Mistral / North).

Seadi, the 2005 world champ, dazzled the judges with his twin fin trickery to win ahead of local favorite Angulo after a tense and tactical final with all four riders hustling for position to snag the prime set waves.

The double elimination was blessed with more perfect surf, and the biggest fight back was undoubtedly from Jason Polakow (JP / NeilPryde) who trashed six entire rigs after working his way back up to fourth overall.

But Angulo had other plans, and the years he's spent living here paid off as he proceeded to tear apart the peachiest set waves, punting huge airs, including an outrageous back-arched example, that left Pritchard in third position overall.

Angulo stood firm in the double elimination and disaster struck for Seadi when they met in the final – his choice of a tiny sail resulting in a serious trashing on the rocks. However the re-match simply couldn't have been any closer.

Eventually Angulo's decisive wave, including a severely late under-the-lip punt, had more variation with snaps, one-handed cutbacks, vertical hooks and two powerful aerials on the inside bowl.

The beachside carnival was silenced as the judge's scores were tabulated. A tight four to three verdict awarded Angulo's more powerful assault the victory and jubilation erupted like wildfire throughout the adoring throng.

Carried by a tidal wave of fans, Cabo Verde's newest icon was mobbed at the waters edge to be swept towards the podium in a frenzy of drums, whistles and unabated elation.

The largest sporting event and athletic achievement to ever have graced these shores was celebrated long through the night with cavalcades and parties spilling onto the streets.

With several days left in the holding period and conditions still off the scale the UK's Boards magazine offered up $1000 for an expression session to wind up the event won by Marcilio Browne (Mistral / Gaastra) for his daring one-handed aerial.

This marked the end of the most spectacular event modern windsurfing's ever seen; leaving the competitors free to enjoy the waves and welcome the people of Sal had gifted them.


The PWA World Cup Guincho Wave Contest 2007 – Portugal June 4th-9th

Portugal's stylish Estoril coast welcomed the tour next and the seasonal 'Nortada' wind also greeted the women for their first competitive outing of the year.

In typical fashion Praia do Guincho once again delivered quality wind and waves to fully challenge the entrants.

As the men's single elimination started heads rolled immediately as the new skool of windsurfing made their presence felt en masse. In fact, from the old-guard, only Angulo remained amongst the youthful pack in the top 8 including form player Yann Sorlut (Simmer) Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra), Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / Simmer), Kauli Seadi, Boujmaa Guilloul (Starboard / Severne), Marcilio Browne and Jonas Ceballos (Fanatic / Simmer).

The final was game of chance in the lighter than usual breeze, which left scarce opportunities for jumping. Some exciting semi-finals threw Fernandez and Seadi together and this time it was Fernandez who played a tactical game of staying upwind to pick off the best ramps and wave rides.

A long wait on an un-typically windless Praia do Guincho meant only a single elimination was completed which earned Fernandez his second career event victory.

In the ladies event 2006 World Champion Iballa Moreno (North) couldn't quite defeat Karin Jaggi (F2 / north) in the semi-finals and had to settle for third after a loser's final against Junko Nagoshi (F2 / Simmer), who lost on the other side of the draw against Daida Moreno (North). That meant there was another classic Moreno vs. Jaggi final in the fluky late evening conditions with strong currents hindering both riders.

Jaggi matched Moreno on wave scores but eventually it was Moreno's jump scores, which won favor with the judges and earned her the opening victory of the season.

The 2007 Gran Canaria PWA Grand Slam – Canary Islands, Spain. July 9th-19th

Pozo Izquierda immediately served-up a feast of wind and swell for the single elimination of the wave contest. A truly groundbreaking day saw both the tour leader and the current world champion ejected from the ladder.

Predictably some of the famous Gran Canarian locals such as Dario Ojeda (Quatro / Gaastra) and Vidar Jensen (North) prevailed before an historic final between Victor Fernandez and Kauli Seadi.

That historic clash included perfect double forward loops and the first push-loop forward ever witnessed in competition. Fernandez took the honors in a close fought encounter, in which, despite both riders' aerial skills being near-perfect, the young Spaniards wave riding was superior.

The women's event was also marked a milestone in the sport. It takes more skill than ever before to compete at this level so, perhaps unsurprisingly; it was Pozo legends Iballa Moreno (North) and Daida Moreno (North) who emerged as the finalists. Both the twins ripped and threw double loops mixed with sick wave riding, but Daida Moreno took the victory after landing the first ever Pushloop-tabletop seen in a women's contest.

More good waves meant there was no delay in starting the double elimination of the wavesailing event on day two. Strong comebacks were made by 2006 champ Kevin Pritchard, local hero Marcos Perez (Exocet) and France's Julien Taboulet (F2 / Naish), but Seadi and Fernandez stood firm to fight through to another final to settle the event title.

The conditions were not as good as the first day but another jumping-oriented final allowed Fernandez to seal his second consecutive event win and second successive Pozo crown.

The 2007 Mormaii Ibiraquera Wave Contest / PWA World Cup – Brazil. September 9th-16th

The stunning National Park Zone of Brazil's Santa Catarina State welcomed the PWA men's fleet for its inaugural visit to this breathtaking nature reserve and its high quality surf and round-the-clock breeze.

Ibiraquera immediately turned it on as the fresh new tour stop provided logo high wave and wind on day one to allow competition to start immediately after registration.

It became clear from the off that this event would definitely throw up some surprises.

Amongst the movers and shakers, Phil Horrocks (JP / NeilPryde)