The 2005 Schroders London Boat Show PWA Indoor Windsurfing Championships Day 1

Friday January 14, 2005

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The opening day of the London Indoor Windsurfing Championships has launched the 2005 PWA World Tour in radical style. The crowds that have flocked to the London Boat Show were treated to some of the most radical action ever seen in the indoor arena with massive back loops off the jump ramp, nail biting competition on the slalom course and outrageous “never seen before in the indoor” moves on the freestyle pool.
In what promised to be a contest ruled by the young pretenders of windsurfing, it was the veterans of the sport who in general dominated the men’s division today. The Freestyle however, was still the domain of the young. Jose “Gollito” Estredo (Fanatic, North) achieved an excellent third in his first ever outing on the pool, narrowly beaten by Robby Swift (JP, Neil Pryde) who gave a dynamic performance including shove-it spocks and switch-stance moves. Neither man was quite up to the extreme speed and style of Nicholas Akgazciyan (AHD, Neil Pryde) who landed perfect Flakas and even a switch-stance chacho to win round one convincingly.

Almost inevitably, it was a Moreno who staked their claim on the number one slot in women’s freestyle, but for once it was Iballa, not Daida who sailed to victory. Despite some nice flat water forwards from Daida and an excellent vulcan from Nayra Alonso, Iballa secured her place at the top with a superb grubby that she exited so fast she only just manage to stay in the pool.

Nik Baker (Mistral, North) faced some close challenges in the Slalom, disposing of racing expert Steve Allen (Fanatic, Neil Pryde) along the way, before finally coming head to head with young upstart and current PWA World Freestyle Champion, Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde). Campello himself had made it through to the final after leaving Josh Angulo swimming in his wake in the semi final. But, six times indoor World Champion, Baker, applied all his years of experience to outdo Campello’s incredible control and take the first round.

The women’s slalom final saw sibling rivals, Iballa and Daida Moreno (Mistral, North) go head to head on the seventy meter pool. Dominant once again, Daida repeatedly out-gybed her sister to finish clean ahead an back in her usual number one slot.

Angulo above the fans Courtesy of PWA / Carter

Despite the early action, all eyes were on the evenings jump ramp session, which held the promise of unbelievable aerobatics and acrobatics. The talent ranged from the youthful agile form of Alex Mussolini (JP, Neil Pryde), to the sheer strength and power of former PWA Wave World Champ Josh Angulo. Everyone put their all into the ramp, with the likes of Campello and Taty Frans (Starboard, Gaastra) really pushing the limits, with Frans nearly completing an air-chaho (duck gybe forward loop) off the ramp. There were also notable performances from Yannick Anton who launched his lightweight frame into some massive one foot forwards and Mussolini who landed an incredible arched-back, back loop, to rack up the highest score of the event so far. Once again however, it was consistency and experience that paid off and with a perfect planning back loop combined with a tweaked table top, it was Angulo who showed he still has what it takes to be number one.

Iballa huge back loop Courtesy of PWA / Carter

Spurred on by earlier success, it was a new revitalized Iballa Moreno who was the first to rack up serious points in the women’s jump landing a massive forward. Daida Moreno then continued to trade blows with her sister, doing her best to match the example that Iballa set. The icing on the cake for Iballa was the almost clean back loop that chalked up a massive score and left her untouchable as the queen of the pool so far here in London.


After the opening tasters of today, there can only be more to come in what is expected to be a radical display in front of packed crowds here in London. Tickets for the show are still available, but for those not lucky enough to make it to London, you can check out the action live, in full screen Technicolor, on www.high.tv.