PWA Sotavento, Fuerteventura Grand Slam – Registration Day
by PWA/Paul Griffiths on 24 Jul 2010
Windy conditions! - PWA Sotavento, Fuerteventura Grand Slam John Carter / PWA
http://www.pwaworldtour.com
PWA Sotavento, Fuerteventura Grand Slam 2010.
The scene is set for five days of world class racing, as sixty-three men, including many past and present world champions, sign up to battle round the buoys off the white sands of Sotavento.
For the 25th year in a row the world famous Rene Egli windsurfing centre welcomed the PWA’s elite racers onto the southern shores of Fuerteventura today to sign up for what promises to be an action packed week filled with explosive slalom action.
Emotions will be forced out of control in the following few days as the fast and furious competitors stake their claim towards the Furteventura World Cup crown, and win or lose precious points towards their overall rankings. The battle of the titans is set to commence, with many times world champion, Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard, Severne) and the 2009 world champion, Antoine Albeau (JP, NeilPryde), currently on equal points at the top of the rankings. By the end of the week one of these legends will take the lead…
Whilst the sailors were rigging and registering, we took the opportunity to rack the brains of the PWA’s president, Jimmy Diaz (Starboard, North) about what’s in store for the week ahead.
Jimmy Diaz:'Since we arrived on the island a couple of days ago it’s been really windy, so the sailing is bound to be quite a contrast to what we had in Korea or Costa Brava, which will mix things up a little amongst the fleet. The conditions have been quite challenging for those that registered slightly bigger boards for the season, and if the wind remains strong it will be very tough physically.
I think we’ll see Bjorn and Antoine having an almighty battle at the front because these really are their conditions - they both love it when it’s full on, and super windy. Micah Buzianis (JP, NeilPryde) will be up there too, he’s always done well here, as has Finian Maynard (RRD, Gaastra). And, Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard, North) will be a tough competitor to beat. You can also never rule out Kevin Pritchard (Starboard, Gaastra, Dakine) - he’s so fast at home in Hawaii, and will do really well here. There are loads of other guys that are fast in strong winds as well, such as Peter Volwater (Fanatic, MauiSails), and Josh Angulo (Angulo, Gun). They’re both hardcore sailors that love muscling their way round the course when the going gets tough.
My guess is that by the end of this event, the top ten in the overall rankings will certainly look a little different to what it does right now, which definitely means a true all rounder will be crowned at the end of the year.'
So there you have it, with the current forecast it looks like we’ll see heaps of action, so if you’re lucky enough to be in Fuerteventura this week keep your eyes glued to the water, otherwise stay tuned to the PWA website http://www.pwaworldtour.com
Event website www.fuerteventura-worldcup.org
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