The 2005 Guincho Estoril PWA World Cup – Day 1

The heat is on as the 2005 Estoril Guincho PWA World Cup got off to a flying start on the opening day. The world’s greatest wavesailors have set up camp on the Portuguese beach of Guincho for five days of no holds barred wave action. With good conditions on the first day and forecasts for the coming days looking excellent, get ready for a wild ride on the Atlantic in Guincho’s notoriously powerful summer winds and merciless shorebreak.

After registering and preparing their equipment in the morning and afternoon while the wind was light and onshore, the riders got down to business in the evening, as wind and waves came through one day ahead of schedule according to the weather predictions. At 1900 the horn sounded for the first heat of the single elimination, as the wind gradually picked up and turned sideshore.

As conditions were relatively gusty, making it difficult to get good jumps, the first fifteen minute heats were judged on two best waverides only. Round number one has seen no major surprises so far. Advancing into the next round are Jason Polakow (KA-1111, JP/ Neil Pryde), Antione Albeau (F-192, Neil Pryde), Victor Fernandez (E-42, Fanatic), Kai Katchadorian (US-33, Quatro), Kauli Seadi (BRA-253, Quatro/ Naish), Boujmaa Guilloul (M-3, Starboard/ Severne), Andy Wolff (G-9, Tabou/ Gaastra), John Skye (K-57, F2), Thomas Traversa (F-3, Tabou/ Gaastra) and Fransisco Porcella (US-69).

As the fifth heat came to a close, the sun set behind the Atlantic horizon, taking the second wave event of the 2005 PWA world tour into day 2. Still to come are long standing icons such as Bjorn Dunkerbeck (E-11, North), Scott McKercher (KA-181, Starboard/ Severne) and Josh Angulo (US-11), taking on the hungry fleet of young guns eager to knock their heroes of the throne.

Highlights of the action are in the 2005 Estoril Guincho PWA World Cup photo gallery. As forecasts indicate strong winds from tomorrow onwards, stay logged onto www.pwaworldtour.com to find out if there will be a changing of the guard in the wavesailing ranking this year as the biggest names in windsurfing go head to head from the 15th until the 19th of June in Guincho, Portugal.

SINGLE ELIMINATION LADDER