GRAN CANARIA PWA GRAND SLAM 2005 – PREVIEW
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After the colossal success of the Guincho World Cup in Portugal the PWA tour is now en route to Pozo, Gran Canaria for a €130,000 Wave and Freestyle Grand Slam in both men’s and women’s divisions. With registration set for June 28th and action commencing on the 29th through till July 6th, the event promises to be one of the most exciting legs of the 2005 tour.
Pozo Izquierdo beach is one of the windiest places in the world and has been one of the favourite stopovers on the PWA World Tour for the past decade. While the coastline around can be completely still, the wind in Pozo can easily reach 40-50 knots, with its cross onshore port tack conditions making an ideal playground for radical action.
Home to the Dunkerbeck (North) family, Pozo has proved a breeding ground for some of the most high profile sailors in the world. With Vidar and Orjan Jensen (North), Marcos Perez, Jonas Ceballos (Fanatic), Nayra Alosno (Fanatic) and the incredible Moreno Twins (Mistral, North) all local residents, Gran Canaria now boasts one of the most distinguished windsurf communities outside Maui.
Matt Pritchard (Tabou, Gaastra) is the man on form at the moment and will no doubt be out to consolidate his recent victory at the Guincho World Cup. Facing the Pozo specialist locals is sure to be a formidable task but Pritchard is proving hard to beat with two event victories already under his belt this season.
Current PWA world wave champion, Scott Mckercher (Starboard) is still in the race for the overall world title after placing a credible 5th in Portugal. Joined by a formidable fleet that includes Josh Angulo, Nik Baker (Mistral, North), Victor Fernandez (Fanatic), Kevin Pritchard (Starboard, Maui, Sails) and Alex Mussolini (JP, Neil Pryde) and all the Pozo locals, Mckercher will have to sail his best to make it to the podium two years running.
The freestyle competition should also be action packed when the likes of Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde), Kauli Seadi (Quatro, Naish), Robby Swift (JP, Neil Pryde), Tonky Frans (F2, Gaastra) and Taty Frans (Starboard, Maui Sails) go head to head in high winds. ‘Double loops’, ‘shakas’, ‘air chachos’ and the new ‘cana brava’ will no doubt feature when the best in the world start fighting it in the chase for the 2005 freestyle title.
The women’s wave and freestyle tours are both hotting up this year, with more entrants than ever before expected in Gran Canaria. The Moreno sisters (Mistral, North) are favourites on their home waters but the likes of Karin Jaggi (F2), Nayra Alonso (Fanatic), Silvia Alba (JP, Neil Pryde) and Anne Marie Reichmann (Naish) will all be out to upset the bookies once action commences.
Gran Canaria is one of the most reliable venues on the PWA world tour so don’t miss out on the ride! Make sure to add the PWA website www.pwaworldtour.com to your list of favourites and stay tuned throughout each event for all the news, pictures and results brought to you from the heat of the action by our on site press team.
