Marino Gil reigns supreme at the Spanish wave Windsurfing Cup held in Pozo Izquierdo
by Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup 11 Jul 09:45 PDT
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup day 7 - Marino Gil © Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup
Pozo Izquierdo beach once again became the heart of Spanish windsurfing with the staging of the Spanish Wave Windsurfing Cup, as part of the 38th Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup. The event brought together some of Spain's finest wave sailing specialists in a competition marked by significantly more favourable conditions than those experienced earlier in the week.
Although the wind remained the dominant feature throughout the weekend, the sea was considerably more stable, giving competitors the confidence to tackle each heat with greater security while performing highly technical manoeuvres. Better ramps and cleaner wave selection created the perfect setting for an outstanding competition, where technique, commitment and creativity were rewarded by the judges.
In these exceptional conditions, local rider Marino Gil once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the leading figures in both Spanish and international wave windsurfing. The Gran Canaria native dominated the Men's division with authority, posting an impressive 19.15 points thanks to a powerful performance featuring radical manoeuvres that delighted the spectators gathered at Pozo Izquierdo.
The podium was completed by two more local riders. Liam Dunkerbeck claimed second place with 16.85 points, while Alessio Stillrich finished third on 15.08 points. Miguel Chapuis secured fourth place with 12.23 points.
Excitement was equally high in the Masters division, where Josep Pons claimed victory after an outstanding performance. Toni Pijoan finished second with 12.31 points, narrowly ahead of John Skye, who placed third with 12.24 points, making it one of the closest results of the day.
The youth divisions once again highlighted the excellent standard of Spain's next generation of wave sailors. In the under-15 category, Dennis Kolb took victory with 15.11 points, ahead of Elías Antolín, who scored 12.87 points. Daniel Dunkerbeck finished third with 8.26 points, while Eric Kolb placed fourth with 7.58 points.
In the under-18 division, Javier Escribano claimed first place with an outstanding score of 14.50 points. Yannik Kolb finished second with 10.40 points, followed by Elías Antolín in third with 6.33 points, and Dennis Kolb in fourth with 6.05 points.
Hosting the Spanish Wave Windsurfing Cup within the framework of the 38th Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup once again demonstrated Pozo Izquierdo's ability to stage world-class competitions, reinforcing this iconic spot in the municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana as one of the world's premier venues for wave windsurfing. The combination of established champions and rising young talents reflected the sport's excellent current health and promises an exciting generational transition for the years ahead.
Beyond the competition itself, the 38th Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup continues to serve as an outstanding showcase for promoting the island of Gran Canaria. Throughout Saturday, spectators enjoyed a wide programme of side activities. Children took part in marine-themed face painting workshops organised by Poema del Mar, while visitors also had the chance to enter a prize draw to win double tickets for Loro Parque and Poema del Mar.
The afternoon programme continued with a live performance by Lara Márquez, accompanied by her cajón, before concluding with a lively DJ session featuring entertainment, dancing, competitions, games and prize giveaways, creating a fantastic atmosphere during the penultimate day of the 38th Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup.
The 38th Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup will officially come to a close tomorrow, Sunday, with the event's closing ceremony. The ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. at the Gloria Palace Hotel in San Agustín, where the prize-giving ceremony will honour the winners across the different competition categories.
The event will bring together athletes, organisers, sponsors, public authorities and event partners to celebrate the achievements of the riders who have taken part in this year's competition, bringing the curtain down on another outstanding edition of one of the world's premier windsurfing events.
The PWA Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup is an event endorsed by the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation. The 38th edition is supported by Turismo Islas Canarias of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Gran Canaria Island Council, through Turismo de Gran Canaria and the Department of Sports, the Municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, and Gloria Palace Hotel. Event partners also include Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Monte Feliz - powered by Playitas, Centro Comercial Atlántico, Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias, 7iFilm.com, Gran Canaria Blu, Poema del Mar, Ejove Lab, Provital, Bazar Ani, Bahía Grill, Jaklar, WS, AS Acción, Surf Magazine, Wind, Windsurf TV, and Daily Dose.