Final Day

Norwegian wild flyer, Vidar JENSEN (North) has won the men’s double elimination wave performance here at the PWA, Gran Canaria Grand Slam in epic Pozo wind and waves.

Jensen landed an insane one-handed double forward loop in an incredible action packed final up against local Spanish sailor Jonas CEBALLOS (Gaastra, Fanatic). In women’s wave double elimination Daida MORENO (Mistral, North) clinched victory after defeating Swiss sailor Karin JAGGI (F2, Arrows) in the second of two sensational finals.

Yesterday’s conditions here in Pozo were out of control with winds screaming across the course area at times in excess of 50 knots. The closing heats of this years PWA, Grand Slam started at midday after the judges decided to wait for the pushing tide and the best possible wave conditions.

In his opening heats against Josh ANGULO and Bjorn DUNKERBECK (Neil Pryde), Jonas CEBALLOS busted an amazing display of monster back loops all in excess of fifty feet. Some of the back loops from the Canarian young gun almost looked like they were simply going to be massive jumps but somehow Jonas managed to steer the rig around at the apex and float down into perfect landings. Both Angulo and Dunkerbeck battled hard against Ceballos but a mixture of his rocket aerial maneuvers mixed with radical wave 360’s and tweaked front side airs proved enough to take Jonas through to the final.

“50 Footer” © PWA/Carter

Jonas opened the final with yet another 50-foot plus back loop, moments later Jensen kept his cool and also nailed a high back loop. Choosing his ramps wisely during the ten minute final, Jensen filled out here score card with a Crazy Pete, double forward and finally, the one handed double which he saved until the dying seconds of the heat as his closing move. He also managed to connect with two set waves which he rode from the point all the way through to the beach with a series of backside and front side airs. Jonas replied with more massive back loops and a tweaked out ninja table top but seemed to have difficulty finding the sets for his wave rides. After a tense wait for the judge’s decision the result was unanimous with a 5-0 verdict in Jensen’s favour.

The women’s competition boiled down to a major battle between Karin JAGGI and Daida MORENO. Jaggi stormed her way through the losers bracket by defeating Anne Marie REICHMAN (Naish) and Iballa MORENO (Mistral, North) for her deserved slot in the final. Moreno seemed to struggle in the first final and crashed heavily on several of her aerial moves. Jaggi meanwhile sailed a smart heat and racked up the points with a superb display of high jumps and aggressive wave rides. When the judges gave the decision to Jaggi, it meant it was all down to the last heat of the day to decide the ladies winner. This time around Moreno held her nerve and managed to link together a high scoring heat, action packed with push loops, table tops, one handed back loops and stalled forwards. Jaggi fought back hard landing a monster push loop but in the end Moreno’s local knowledge and mastery of her home spot here in Pozo proved enough to give her the victory.

Moreno’s win in the waves means that she has cleaned up here in Gran Canaria winning both disciplines in convincing style. Her sister Iballa has also had a successful event after finishing second in freestyle and third overall in waves. Karin Jaggi has also sailed exceptionally this week taking second overall in waves and third in the freestyle.

The wind is still howling in Gran Canaria but after a grueling week of intense competition, this years PWA, Grand Slam is all over.

The PWA tour now moves over to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura for freestyle world cup and super cross exhibition which commences on 17 through to the 24 July.

MENS WAVE RESULTS

1. VIDAR JENSEN (North)
2. JONAS CEBALLOS (Gaastra, Fanatic)
3. BJORN DUNKERBECK (Neil Pryde)
4. JOSH ANGULO

WOMENS WAVE RESULTS

1. DAIDA MORENO (Mistral, North)
2. KARIN JAGGI (F2, Arrows)
3. IBALLA MORENO (Mistral, North)
4. ANNE MARIE REICHMAN (Naish)

MENS FREESTYLE RESULTS AFTER THREE DINGLE ELIMINATIONS

1. RICARDO CAMPELLO (JP, Neil Pryde)
2. KAULI SEADI (AHD, Naish)
3. ANTOINE ALBEAU (AHD, Neil Pryde)
4. VICTOR FERNANDEZ (Fanatic)
5. ROBBY SWIFT (JP, Neil Pryde)
6. TONKI FRANS (Gaastra, AHD)

WOMENS FREESTYLE FIRST DOUBLE ELIMINATION RESULTS

1. DAIDA MORENO (Mistral, North)
2. IBALLA MORENO (Mistral, North)
3. KARIN JAGGI (F2, Arrows)
4. NAYRA ALONSO

“Sled” © Max Ranchi “Norwegian Steam” © Max Ranchi “Nela” © Max Ranchi “Groovederci” © Max Ranchi “Alinghi” © Max Ranchi

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