2008 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Event Preview

by PWA / Andrew Buchanan on 18 Jul 2008
The PWA rolls onto Fuerteventura for the final stop on the Canaries tour.

Leaving the shores of Pozo behind, the PWA World Tour makes a short leap over to Fuerteventura for the third and final stop in the Canaries. The event takes place in the southeast corner of the island, on Sotavento beach.

Hosting the action is the world famous Rene Egli Windsurfing Centre, which sits in prime position just a stones throw from the waters edge. The idyllic location, with its white sands and azure backdrop proudly boasts a wealth of heritage, being one of the most enduring fixtures on the PWA world tour, with a history of epic contests stretching back over more than twenty years.

2008 sees both the men’s and women’s fleets competing for top honors in the slalom and freestyle disciplines.

Slalom

The biggest names in racing will be congregating on Sotavento beach to fight for crucial points in the race for the World Title.

Confirmed so far are: Tour leader, multiple World Champion, and last year’s event winner, Antoine Albeau (Starboard, NeilPryde). Former World Champion and tour runner up, Kevin Pritchard (Starboard, Gaastra, Dakine, MFC). Current number three, Finian Maynard (RRD, NeilPryde). Windsurfing legend, Bjorn Dunkerbeck (T1, North Sails), alongside dangerous rivals Cyril Moussilmani (Fanatic, North Sails) and Micah Buzianis (JP, NeilPryde, MFC).

In the line up of the women’s fleet are; Swiss legend, World Champion and current tour leader, Karin Jaggi (F2, North Sails), who will be doing battle with 2007 runner up Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou, The Loft, Dakine), current tour number two, Iballa Moreno (North Sails), and slalom’s most recent addition, Lee Korzitz (Fanatic, Gaastra).

Freestyle

In the men’s fleet, Venezuelan Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic, North Sails, MFC) enters this event riding high on the back of his last two victories in Austria and Lanzarote. Also present will be 2007 World Champion, Brazil’s Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne (Mistral, Gaastra), current tour number three Kiri Thode (Starboard, Gaastra), and the ever creative Everon ‘Tonky’ Frans (F2, Gaastra).

In the women’s fleet, expect to see Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard, NeilPryde) fighting to defend her season lead from hungry opposition, in the form of current number two Daida Moreno (North Sails), the ever improving Junko Nagoshi (Simmer Sails, Dakine) and slick trickster Laure Treboux (Fanatic, North Sails) to name but a few.

Join us at www.pwaworldtour.com where you can follow the action with our live event ticker, daily news summaries, video footage, awesome photo galleries, online elimination ladders and more!