PWA Fuerteventura World Cup - Five and a half hours of non-stop action

by Chris Yates on 26 Jul 2013 The penultimate day of the PWA Fuerteventura World Cup saw the trade winds continue to blow, allowing both the men’s and women’s double eliminations to be completed in 25-30 knots of breeze again. After a spectacular five and a half hours of non-stop freestyle it was Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Chris Benz / Maui Ultra Fins) who came out on top again in the women’s, whilst Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North) also defended his number one spot by the narrowest of margins over a hugely unlucky Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra).

For the third time this week Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo lined up against Kiri Thode in the winners’ final. Gollito had been a convincing winner in the opening two battles, but this time around it was an agonizingly tight call. The reigning world champion opened the final with a huge culo, only to see Thode pop into a super smooth air funnel into funnel.

The two sailors then landed paskos - with Gollito’s scoring slightly higher with the judges - before the Bonairean took his performance up a notch in a bid to finally defeat Estredo, as he launched himself into some unbelievable combos such as a brilliant burner into funnel, an amazing air bob into spock and probably the pick of the bunch an outstanding kabikuchi 360. Gollito - looking slightly underpowered - dug deep once again though as he responded with a spock into culo before adding both an exquisite no-handed burner and an ankle dry backloop out of nowhere just before the end of the heat. After a painfully long wait it was revealed that Estredo had avoided a super final re-sail by the way of a 3:2 decision from the judges.

Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra) produced the performance of the day in heat forty-eight against Dieter Van Der Eyken (Starboard / Severne). The Bonairean was on fire as he received several 9.5s from the judges for his outstanding display. Frans was in such form that he could have landed practically anything he wanted at will. In the jumping department Frans landed a superb pasko, a pushloop, an air chachoo and last but not least his trademark bongka. The thirty year old didn’t stop there either as he launched himself into a huge, fully tweaked shuvit spock and an impressive air funnel into funnel. Unfortunately though, he couldn’t quite replicate that form against Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different) as the Belgian advanced from the next round and more importantly the victory over Frans secures him third place for the time being due to the better last result.

Heat thirty proved to be a tight affair on both sides as Davy Scheffers (Tabou / Gaastra) took on Adam Gavriel (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg / Maui Ultra Fins) and Loick Spicher (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)) faced Yarden Meir (Loft Sails / Maui Ultra Fins). In the end it was Scheffers and Meir who advanced by way of a 2:1 decision, but for both of them the next round was as far as they would go in the double as Amado Vrieswijk (Starboard / Severne) and Adrian Beholz (Fanatic / Sailloft Hamburg / Maui Ultra Fins) proved too strong in heat thirty-nine.

Phil Soltysiak (Starboard / Sailworks) also produced an excellent display of sailing to finish sixth in the double elimination as he defeated Adrien Bosson (Fanatic / North / Maui Ultra Fins) and Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) by landing a combination of bongkas, futures and superb spock-culos to name a few.

The winners’ final saw Sarah-Quita Offringa and Arrianne Aukes (RRD / Simmer / AL360 / Maui Ultra Fins) resume their ongoing battle this week, but eventually it was Offringa who was able to come out on top again. Aukes made a solid start to the heat as she rotated her way through a super smooth clew-first puneta and a clean forward loop. At the same time Offringa opened with an e-slider and a brilliant burner to move into the lead - a position she wouldn’t relinquish. Aukes also landed a big flaka on the outside, but it wasn’t enough as Offringa went on to land a regular kono and a stunning shaka to keep her at the top of the podium.

Oda Johanne Brodholt (Maui Ultra Fins) - who is competing in her first ever PWA event - enjoyed a fine day as she won three heats in a row in the double elimination to fight her way into fifth place. The Norwegian firstly defeated Francesca Floris (RRD) followed by Maxime Van Gent (Fanatic / North / Maui Ultra Fins) and Maaike Huvermann (Maui Ultra Fins) as she particularly impressed with her switch konos. Olya Raskina (JP / NeilPryde) proved to strong in heat forty-eight, as the Russian claimed fourth place again as Yoli de Brendt (Fanatic / North) successfully defended her third place finish in the next round.

After the completion of two double eliminations there are several sailors who are currently tied for positions meaning that there will be sail offs in both the men and women’s division if the conditions are suitable tomorrow. The skippers’ meeting has been called for 10am with the action commencing from 10:30am.

Results After The Second Double Elimination - Men’s Freestyle

1st Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North)
2nd Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra)
3rd Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different)
4th Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra)
5th Dieter Van Der Eyken (Starboard / Severne)

Results After The Second Double Elimination - Women’s Freestyle

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Chris Benz / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Arrianne Aukes (RRD / Simmer / AL360 / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Yoli de Brendt (Fanatic / North)
4th Olya Raskina (JP / PWA World Tour Fuerteventura website