PWA Reno World Cup Sylt Grand Slam day 6 mingling with the stars

by PWA on 30 Sep 2011 The 2011 VW PWA Reno World Cup Sylt Grand Slam has now comepleted day six in which thousands of spectators headed out to soak up the sun on the beach and mingle with the stars of the PWA.

There was a very relaxed feeling to the sixth day of competition at the 2011 VW PWA Reno world cup, due to the high pressure that is currently lingering over the majority of Europe, providing the last bout of summer before the winter sets in.

Thousands of spectators spent the day chillingon the beach, listening to the tunes from the resident DJ, and watching regular interviews with the world’s best windsurfers. The sailors spent the day relaxing in the sailors’ tent, hitting the water on SUPs or playing football on the beach.

We took the opportunity to catch up with one of the new boys to the tour, Bryan Metcalf-Perez (JP / NeilPryde / Dakine) who iscurrently ranked twenty-third in the freestyle, about his first year and being the only American freestyler.

PWA: So Bryan, tell us about your first year on tour.

Perez: 'I have had a great year on tour, Ihaven’t achieved the result I was hoping for, but it has been an amazinglearning experience as I had never competed before the tour. Even to beat some of the better guys this year is good enough for me in my first year.'

PWA: How does it feel to join the largest windsurfing tour in the world?

Perez: 'I have been lucky because I knew a fewof the guys before like Phil Soltysiak and Max Rowe who have really helped me out when it comes to arranging places to stay and where to be, otherwise Iwould have been pretty nervous. But it has been really exciting to go to these amazing windsurfing locations and sail with the world’s best, just being around these guys makes you feel like your improving.'

PWA: What is the freestyle scene like in the US; do you have many people you train with?

Perez: 'There are some really amazing sailorsin the US like Tyson Poor (JP / NeilPryde). A lot of the sailors are at the same standard as the top freestylers but they haven’t joined the tour, but itis really useful to have guys to train with back home.'

PWA: What are your plans for training this winter?

Perez: 'I am going to go to Maui and trainfreestyle and I would also like to train in the waves so I can do some of thewave comps next year. I feel likeI have all the moves so I am going to really focus on building the consistency so I can do them anytime in any conditions.

PWA: What are your goals for next season?

Perez: 'I would really like to finish in thetop ten next year. I think now that I have been to each of the events andsailed at all the spots I will be able to concentrate a lot more on my sailing in the competition environment, rather than worrying about where I need to beand getting to the event.'

PWA: What has been your favorite moment this year on tour?

Perez: 'My favorite part of the tour was Vietnam, as we had really good windthere and the conditions suit my style of sailing, there were some waves so we could go for backloops and air chachoos.'

'My first heat against Gollito really standsout as well, at that point you really don’t worry about losing, you just go outt here enjoy it and try keep up.'

PWA: What’s your favorite move?

Perez: 'I love doing backloops, other than that it is the shaka.'

PWA: Thanks Bryan, any last words?

Perez: I’m looking forward to next year, staying focused and kicking ass!

Having spent the day waiting patiently on standby the sailors were released for the day at 5pm. The skippers’ meeting will kick off at 10am tomorrow morning for all three fleets.

PWA World Tour website
PWA Reno World Cup Sylt Grand Slam website