PWA Stars Shine In London This Week!
In front of over 3000 cheering fans Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde) and Daida Moreno (North Sails, Mistral) have taken overall victories following another insane night of indoor action here in London. The show finished in spectacular fashion tonight, when US sailor Josh Angulo clinched the jump title from Ricardo Campello, with his final jump of the session. Earlier in the day Nicolas Akgazciyan (AHD, Neil Pryde) of France took victory in the freestyle while in the afternoon session Ricardo Campello managed to fend off a concerted challenge from Ben Proffitt (Fanatic) to clinch the race victory. In the women’s competition Iballa Moreno (Mistral, North) took overall victory in the jumps while Daida (Mistral, North) cleaned up in both race and freestyle.
 iballa takes the jump |
Three days of intense action at the Schroder’s London Boat Show, yet again proved that windsurfing can be an excellent spectator sport with incredible freestyle, sensational slalom and insane jump competition. As the PWA Indoor London windsurfing championships continued the pros became more and more confident in the pool and pushed the level up another notch each day. However danger was ever present as Diony Guadagnino (Neil Pryde) proved when he almost broke his neck when his fin jammed into the ramp tonight, luckily he was thrown just clear of the ramp. It goes to show how these guys are really risking the whole season on the jump ramp.
 Angulo wins the jumps |
RACING
The absence of Nik Baker (North, Mistral) probably influenced the outcome of the slalom discipline (Nik injured his shoulder yesterday and had to retire from the event). After an amazing battle with UK pro Ben Proffitt, Ricardo narrowly won the title despite Proffitt taking victory in today’s final race. Ricardo’s experience in the 2004 Super X season probably went a long way to earning him the race title, adding to an already outstanding regatta for the 19-year-old Venezuelan.
 campello tweaked |
In the women’s division Daida Moreno (North, Mistral) comfortably took first place winning all three races after a close fought battle with her sister Iballa. Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows) and Lucy Horwood (North, Fanatic) tied for fourth place after three rounds of racing.
FREESTYLE
In the freestyle Nicholas Akgazciyan (AHD, Neil Pryde) proved that the seemingly impossible is in fact possible, landing switch stance air chachos; he dominated the freestyle with an awesome display of technical control and flair. Surely he is one to watch out for in the regular 2005 season. Robby Swift (JP, Neil Pryde) came through to take second while fifteen-year-old young gun, Golito Estredo (North, Fanatic) sailed brilliantly to take third.
In the ladies division Daida Moreno (Mistral, North) won the freestyle with an impressive display of power and control closely followed by her sister Iballa with Nayra Alonso (Fanatic) hot on her heels in third.
JUMP
The tension was electric tonight as Josh Angulo (MPG) lined up for his fourth and final jump, he needed to pull something special out of the bag in order to take down the current jump leader Ricardo Campello. Josh Angulo delivered the goods with a perfect one handed back loop to clinch the overall victory. Tonight’s finals also saw stunning displays from Ricardo Campello with one of the sickest tweaked table tops ever seen in windsurfing competition while Spanish whiz kid Alex Mussolini (JP, Neil Pryde) continued to dazzle the crowds with his contorted back loops.
In the women’s jump Iballa Moreno (Mistral, North) was on fire tonight nailing huge forward loops and tabletops to clinch victory from her sister Daida. Despite a nasty cold hindering her performance this week Karin Jaggi (F2) battled hard to take third.
The PWA London Indoor windsurfing championships have been huge success this weekend and proved to be a hit with the crowds with sell out shows for all performances. The next event on the world tour will be in Maui, Hawaii in April when the PWA returns for the PWA Hawaii Pro.
