Sylt PWA Super Grand Slam - Freestyle title race turned on its head

by Chris Yates on 5 Oct 2014 Conditions didn’t look too promising first thing this morning, but thankfully after a few hours of waiting the forecasted wind filtered through allowing the completion of the men’s freestyle single elimination on the penultimate day of the Davidoff Cool Water Sylt PWA Super Grand Slam. Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North / MFC) was in outstanding form as he claimed victory to move to the top of the PWA Freestyle World Tour rankings, and the Venezuelan is now on the verge of being crowned freestyle champion for an incredible sixth time, after reigning world champion - Kiri Thode (Starboard / GA Sails) - finished outside of the top four.

History repeated itself today as Anthony Ruenes (Tabou / GA Sails) proved to be the thorn in Kiri Thode’s back, just as in 2007 when he also derailed the Bonairean’s title challenge. Ruenes was in fantastic form, but unfortunately for Thode, many of his best moves were completed after he had already filled his scoresheet. This opened the door for either Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde) or Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo to assume control at the top as they met each other in a blockbuster semifinal - which could decide the 2014 PWA Freestyle World Champion.

Ultimately, it was Gollito who managed to take advantage of the opportunity presented before him as he defeated Van Broeckhoven in the semifinals with a stunning performance, to set up a battle with Anthony Ruenes in the winners’ final.

Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo continued his inspired form in the final as he took a giant step towards his sixth world title. The Venezuelan was particularly outstanding on port tack as he dominated with big, powerful air moves - starting with a monster shaka before adding a trademark pasko and a double culo. His opponent - Anthony Ruenes - made a strong start to the final as he stomped an air funnel into funnel, before going slightly off the boil in the middle of the race. However, the Frenchman, soon re-found his form to fight back by landing a stylish shuvit spock and an amazing no-handed air flaka. Unfortunately, for Ruenes, Gollito was just too good on this occasion as he claimed the single elimination victory. Ruenes still enjoyed a fantastic day though, as today was the first time he has been able to break back into the top three and beyond in almost ten years - since his return to the world tour after completing his studies.

Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo on the verge of world title number six: 'I wasn’t thinking about the title race when I was sailing - to be honest I was just focusing on sailing my best and hoping that that would be enough! Today and yesterday have been amazing. I was happy to win the tow-in and I’m even happier to win the single elimination. The conditions were good and I was fully powered to overpowered on my 5.2m.'

Earlier in the single elimination - Anthony Ruenes - was involved in an almost inseparable race versus Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails). The two countryman finished the heat tied on both technical skill and diversity, so the decision came down to the best non-counting move, which saw Ruenes advance with a burner as his backup trick.

Elsewhere, Björn Saragoza (Starboard / Hot Sails Maui) defeated fellow Bonairean Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic / MFC) in heat eighteen. Frans sailed a good race, but unfortunately for him two of his best moves were judged as being outside the competition area, and therefore didn’t count, whilst his backloop was landed moments after the buzzer.

Adrian Beholz (Fanatic / Sailloft Hamburg / Maui Ultra Fins) was also unlucky in race nineteen as he crashed out against an on form Tonky Frans (Tabou / GA Sails) - who finished fourth. The German accumulated one of the highest scores of the day, up to that point so far with 45.5 points, which would have been enough to defeat either Adrien Bosson (Fanatic / North) or Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne) on the opposite side of the race.

The opening two rounds of the double elimination were completed before the conditions became too inconsistent, which led to the competition being abandoned shortly after 4pm. Up until this point the top seeds had successfully navigated their way through to the next rounds.

Shortly after the freestyle double elimination was abandoned, the second elimination resumed. However, the conditions soon deteriorated further and only another six heats were completed before the racing was also abandoned, which could prove to be a blessing in disguise for event leader - Arnon Dagan (RRD / NeilPryde) - who was disqualified from the second semifinal after a premature start. This means that no result will stand until the winners’ final has been completed, so he could still escape as the champion, after his untimely error.

The forecast for tomorrow doesn’t look particularly promising with light winds expected throughout the day. However, just in case the forecast proves to be wrong the slalom fleet will meet at 9:30am with the first possible start at 10am. Meanwhile, the freestyle and wave heats will meet at 10am and 11am with the action beginning at 10:30am and 11:30am, respectively. If the wind proves too light for official contest then there will be more action on the water with another freestyle tow-in session from 11:30am until 1pm, followed by a wind SUP race at 2pm until 3:15pm.

Results After Single Elimination - Men’s Freestyle

1st Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North / MFC)
2nd Anthony Ruenes (Tabou / GA Sails)
3rd Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde)
4th Tonky Frans (Tabou / GA Sails)
5th Amado Vrieswijk (Starboard / Severne)
5th Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne)
5th Kiri Thode (Starboard / GA Sails)
5th Björn Saragoza (Starboard / Hot Sails PWA World Tour