The 2006 Colgate PWA World Cup Sylt, Day Eight

You can cut the atmosphere with a knife here in Sylt, as the clock runs down to the final day. The wavesailors are on edge like never before as promising forecasts give hope for their last chance to perform tomorrow. An impromptu Super Session saw the pent up frustration of the Freestyle fleet unleashed in front of record crowds. Jose Estredo (V-1, Fanatic/ North) took the honors in a frenzy of top flight trickery. A bonus fun race further stoked the crowds as Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG-3, F2 / NeilPryde) earned rapturous applause for his victory, despite the Slalom 42 fleet having to wait another day to confirm its end of season podium places.

Kiri during the Super Session

Freestyle Tour leader Estredo

Die hard, windsurf mad German crowds

The freestyle fleet finally took the spotlight in front of the Sylt crowds today after an impressive warm up session urged Head Judge Duncan Coombs to kick off the first official heats at 10.00.

Heat one involved Kauli Seadi (BRA-253, Quatro/ Naish) who faced Florian Jung (G-213), while Marcilio Browne (BRA-105, Naish/ Naish) took on Mattia Pedrani (I-00 Mistral / North). The heat was started and cancelled twice before the irregular wind strength forced the head judge to switch to un-official competition format instead, and a no-holds-barred expression session.

Three riders were picked out by the judges after a 15 minute heat, right under the noses of the dedicated fans at the waters edge. Tour leader Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo was the clear winner with the most technical move of the heat – a perfect switch chacho brava! Close behind in second was Thomas Traversa (F-3, Tabou / Gaastra) with his textbook switch chacho. Teenage trick innovator Kiri Thode (NB-61 Gaastra / Starboard) came third, proving exactly why he’s ranked 4th in the world at just 15 yrs old.

Tomorrow’s closing ceremony will see two world champions crowned in the Slalom 42 and Freestyle disciplines. If the titles are not ultimately settled on the water, then fingernails will be short tomorrow as the seconds tick away to closing time here in Germany.

Fine weather and the highest standard of windsurfing ever, has attracted over 180,000 visitors to pass through the giant welcome arches of event title sponsor Colgate. More die hard windsurf fans are guaranteed tomorrow to view the final moments, and to applaud this seasons most worthy winners.

Be sure to check www.pwaworldtour.comthroughout tomorrow and each day for live updates, results, daily summaries and more.

You can view a video diary of the event so far in our Video Gallery, plus there‘s a German language event site at www.worldcupsylt.deand video podcasts available at www.worldcupsyltlive.de 

For more information, please contact the PWA office at [email protected]


© PWA / Brian McDowell