PWA Netherlands World Cup - Perfect conditions on day 4

by Chris Yates on 12 Sep 2013 At the PWA Netherlands World Cup, having played the waiting game for much of the morning and early afternoon on day four, Brouwersdam burst into life to deliver several hours of perfect freestyle conditions, as winds of 20-25 knots combined with flat water created the ultimate windsurfing playground for the contortionists of the windsurfing world. The competition for the day was eventually concluded just before 8:20pm as fading light brought an end to the explosive proceedings.

The men’s fleet has been whittled down to the remaining top three sailors - Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra), Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra), both of whom didn’t sails today, and Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different) who held off the strong challenge of the reigning world champion Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North) - whilst only the top four ladies remain in the women’s fleet - Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Chris Benz / Maui Ultra Fins), Yoli de Brendt (Fanatic / North), Arrianne Aukes (RRD / Simmer / Maui Ultra Fins) and Olya Raskina (JP / NeilPryde)

Davy Scheffers (Tabou / Gaastra) produced a stunning comeback in the double elimination as he won six heats overall in the double - five today. Scheffers suffered an unlikely early exit at the hands of Max Matissek (Fanatic / North) in the single and he was clearly on a mission to put the record straight today as he produced a simply magnificent display, as well as showing his full potential. The twenty-one year old’s first victim of the day was Julien Mas (Patrik / Sailloft) shortly followed by Andy ‘Bubble Chambers (JP / NeilPryde). Against Chambers, Scheffers was simply unstoppable as he stomped amazing burner 360s, stunning skopus and a huge air bob to continue his comeback. After a close call against Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard / Hot Sails Maui), fellow countryman Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne) was his next opponent and Scheffers delivered the goods again. This time around - the quite literally flying Dutchman - spun into a technically outrageous culo into spock, a big air bob and the pick of the bunch an astonishing no-handed burner 360.

The current European Freestyle champion then dispatched of France’s Adrien Bosson (Fanatic / North / Maui Ultra Fins) as he delivered more stunning moves, such as a superb e-slider into puneta and a huge kabikuchi.

However the next battle against an on fire Youp Schmit (JP / NeilPryde) - who had already defeated Max Rowe (Fanatic / North), who claimed his first top ten finish in a double elimination since 2011, and Anthony Ruenes (Tabou / Gaastra) - proved a step too far on this occasion as Schmit secured his place in the top five with another brilliant performance, as both sailors went blow-for-blow with each other. The reigning PWA Youth World Champion showed exactly why he is considered one of the hottest talents on the tour as he landed a super tweaked, planing shuvit spock, and explosive air bobs.

The eighteen year old couldn’t defeat Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo in the next round though due to a combination of missing the first minute of his heat - changing sail size - and also Gollito being back in his usual irresistible best as he seriously turned on the style with a brilliant no-handed flaka, a one-handed shaka and a spock into culo as well as several monster burners and culos to name just a few.

The final heat of the day saw the 2011 PWA Freestyle world champion - Steven Van Broeckhoven - go head-to-head with the reigning world champion - Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo in a battle for the top three and beyond. With the light rapidly fading and the breeze also slightly subsiding the last heat was challenging to say the least, but the action that followed was amazing as both sailors landed some stunning combos. In the end Van Broeckhoven advanced as the Belgium maestro popped into an explosive air funnel into funnel before launching into a textbook air bob and an exquisite spock into culo.

Oda Johannes Brodholt (Maui Ultra Fins) won three successive heats today as she fought her way into fifth place overall. The Norwegian first defeated Heleen Muijsers (F2 / Challenger Sails) before also dispatching of Rolien Caers (Fanatic / North) and Maxime van Gent (Fanatic / North / Maui Ultra Fins) as the twenty-four year old launched into switch konos and spun her way through perfect grubbys and funnels.

However, Olya Raskina (JP / NeilPryde), proved too much this time around as the Russian linked together a fantastic heat consisting of a perfect fully planing grubby, a textbook puneta and a couple of very quick flakas to earn the chance of a shot at a place on the prestigious podium, where she’ll be face by Arrianne Aukes in the battle for third and fourth.

Results as the Double Elimination Currently Stands - Men’s Freestyle*

1st Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra)
2nd Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra)
3rd Steven van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different)
4th Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North)
5th Youp Schmit (JP / NeilPryde)

Results as the Double Elimination Currently Stands - Women’s Freestyle*

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Chris Benz / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Yoli de Brendt (Fanatic / North)
3rd Arrianne Aukes (RRD / Simmer / Maui Ultra Fins)
4th Olya Raskina (JP / NeilPryde)
5th Oda Johannes Brodholt (Maui Ultra Fins)

*Please note these results may PWA World DAM7 event site