35th Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup Pozo Izquierdo - Day 1
by Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup 2 Jul 2023 21:27 AEST
1-9 July 2023
Marcilio Browne, leading Weaves category - 35th Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup Pozo Izquierdo © Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup
Pozo Izquierdo hosted over 150 competitors from more than 15 countries around the world with unbeatable conditions: over 40 knots of wind, and big waves during the first day.
It was not the traditional world champions who stood up during the show, but the local young rider, Marino Gil, who made it to the final against the three-time world champion, Marcilio Browne, in a closely contested final where only 0.4 points gave the victory to the Brazilian at the last moment. "I didn't expect to go this far, but I'm very happy with the result but let's see what happens during the double elimination round" said Gil.
Marino Gil dazzled during the final with the highest-scoring jump of the competition, a push loop forward awarded a perfect score of 10 points. This jump also gave him the highest height of the day (11.6 meters), thus leading the Red Bull Rockets. Despite Gil's incredible jump, the Brazilian managed to launch a 6.78-point push loop forward at the very last moment, adding to his previous 8.50-point push forward.
Browne was consistent throughout all the heats, it was Marino Gil who thrilled the spectators every time he hit the water, demonstrating his mastery of the field and proving that he can compete with the best riders, despite being only 20 years old. "Marino has been the star of the day, a surprise. It's clear that he's competing better this year and he handles himself very well at home. He's at the level of the world's best windsurfers despite his age, but he had some bad luck while surfing during the final, due to weather conditions" commented Willy Richa, Waves judge of the competition.
Marino Gil made an impressive start: scoring 7.88 with a stall forward, followed by an 8.62-point push forward that defeated German Moritz Mauch in the qualifiers. But the Gran Canarian rider didn't stop there, defeating British rider Robby Swift in his next heat with an incredible combination of push forward and stall forward that drew applause from the stands. The Agüimes-born competitor shone in all his heats, even outscoring the five-time world champion Philip Köster and the current leader of the world rankings, Venezuelan Ricardo Campello, whom he faced in the semifinals after defeating Frenchman Justin Denel.
In the semifinal the current leader of the PWA world rankings, Ricardo Campello, the competition started strong with a stalled double forward by Campello that was enjoyed by both the Venezuelan competitor himself and the audience. Marino Gil responded with a solid push loop forward, but Campello maintained the lead thanks to a perfect push forward executed in front of the Canary Islands rider. It was not until the last moment that Marino Gil landed a one-foot backloop to claim victory.
In the battle for the third spot on the podium, the current world leader, Venezuelan Ricardo Campello, managed to snatch the place from Catalan Marc Paré during the single elimination. With just the double elimination to complete, so "Marino Gil could have a second chance to defeat Marcilio, so anything can happen in Pozo Izquierdo," explained Luis Escribano, head judge of the World Cup. According to his words, Sunday is expected to continue with the double elimination in the men's Waves discipline, as well as start the women's category.
Local riders demonstrate their mastery of the waters in Pozo Izquierdo
Alongside Marino Gil, Gran Canarian windsurfer Liam Dunkerbeck also stood out during the qualifiers, defeating Frenchman Baptiste Cloarec in his first heat thanks to the score obtained from ridden waves. "I'm very happy to have made it to the second round of the Pozo Izquierdo World Cup. The conditions have been great," expressed Dunkerbeck, son of windsurfing legend and event organizer Björn Dunkerbeck. He couldn't overcome Catalan Marc Paré, the prince of the waves, who impressed both in wave riding and jumps. In fact, the Catalan competitor reached the quarterfinals, where he even surpassed one of the favorites, Andalusian Víctor Fernández, to face three-time world champion Marcilio Brown in the semifinals, a fierce competition in which the Brazilian eventually claimed victory.
Another favorite on day one in Pozo Izquierdo was Gran Canarian Philip Köster (competing for Germany), who honed his skills in Vargas (Gran Canaria) and knows how to navigate both on the left and right side, making him a very versatile competitor. In his first heat, Köster started strong with a double forward against Gran Canarian windsurfer José Romero, despite recently recovering from a foot fracture, which ultimately cost him the victory in the face-off against Frenchman Justin Denel, who surpassed him by one-tenth of a point at the final moment.