No Wind Sailing PWA Style

Freestyle action continued at the 2010 Colgate World Sylt yesterday despite very light winds putting the official competition on hold.

What do you do when there is no wind, an expectant crowd and riders desperate to jump back in the water? Duncan Coombs had the Professional Windsurfer Association’s answer to the problem at the Colgate world Cup Sylt yesterday. He simply organised a late afternoon light wind freestyle exhibition allowing the sailors to wow the crowds with a technical display tow-in-styling.

The world’s best freestylers responded in style to the hi-speed jet ski tows, putting on a spectacular display of trickery, which saw the king of pop, Steven Van Broeckhoven play true to his name on the becalmed North Sea!

Having had more than twenty-four hours to recover from their single elimination event, the impromptu freestyle frenzy was over subscribed with riders. Six were lucky enough to be automatically seeded through to the final, and the remainder had to fight it out in the qualifiers for their chance to challenge the best.

The final eight consisted of the French men, Anthony Ruenes and Nicolas Akgazciyan and the boys from Bonaire, Kiri Thode, Tonky and Taty Frans. They were joined by Belgian boy wonder, Steven Van Broeckhoven, and the Venezuelan whiz kids, former world champion Ricardo Campello and current world champion Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo. 

Steven Van Broeckhoven managed to impress both the judges and the spectators with an awesome culo on the glassy North Sea to win himself the top prize. Second went to the current world champion, Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo who was actually the first to gain respect from the crowd with a clean air flaka. The final prize went to Taty Frans for his slick double trick, a burner into a flaka!

The remaining fleets had to watch on in awe after a full day on standby had tested the nerves of even the most experienced of competitors. However, with four days still to go, there’s everything left to play for. With a new low pressure rolling in, the North Sea will soon turn into a windsurfer’s paradise!

Official Competition Results
Freestyle After The Single Elimination
1. Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic, North)
2. Taty Frans (Starboard, MauiSails, Mystic)
3. Steven Van Broeckhoven (F2, Gaastra)
4. Kiri Thode (Starboard, Gaastra)

Slalom After One Race
1. Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard, Severne, Mystic)
2. Antoine Albeau (JP, NeilPryde)
3. Jimmy Diaz (Starboard, North)
4. Alberto Menegatti (Starboard, Simmer)
5. Kevin Pritchard (Starboard, Gaastra, Dakine)

For more information on all the entrants, and to keep up-to- date with all the live action, click on www.pwaworldtour.com