The normally powerful tramuntana winds refused to play ball here on the final
day of the Costa Brava, PWA Freestyle world Cup. The day started with a promising
forecast but a thermal breeze blowing straight in from the Mediterranean seemed
to cancel out the tramuntana winds from the north-west.

The lack of an official result has not detracted from the beauty of the surrounding
environment, marvellous hospitality and excellent event infrastructure here
in Costa Brava. Throughout the week sailors have been enjoying the superb facilities
of the Ballena Alegre 2 campsite. Its friendly atmosphere and close proximity
to the beach have helped make the stay extremely enjoyable for the international
fleet of sailors

We did have one day of blistering action on Friday, which provided a feast
of hot action and entertainment for large crowds on the beach. One thing we
did ascertain is that the standard of freestyle has undoubtedly been pushed
to a new level. The likes of Vidar Jensen (North, Drops), Web Pedrick (AHD,
North) Richard Foster (Mistral, Naish) and Frank Lewisch (Gaastra) all revealed
during the first round that their repertoires have been perfected to an incredibly
high standard and that many new moves have been mastered.

Another aspect that has become apparent here in Costa Brava is that there is
a whole new generation of young kids and previously unknown sailors that can
come straight into an event and compete at the highest level. The likes of Ricardo
Campello (Neil Pryde, JP), Colin Sifferlain (North, Mistral) Kavli Seadi (Naish
sails, Naish boards) and Andy Pusch (JP, Neil Pryde) have all proved during
the competition that they pose a major threat to the more experienced tour professionals.
Freestyle is becoming cool in the windsurfing world, all the new tricks and
moves have not only helped attract to youngsters to into the sport but is equally
providing a refreshing challenge to more accomplished sailors. From the point
of view of the PWA Freestyle tour it has definitely been stimulating to see
a lot of new faces both on and off the water.

It is now time for sailors to pack and start preparing for Lake Garda the next
freestyle event on the World tour, which will take place between the 4th and
8th of July.

KEVIN PRITCHARD (GAASTRA, BIC)
"It was a good event for the public. They could come down here, sail, try
out all the equipment and meet all the stars. It was good to see so many sailors
that I have never seen before with such a high level. Freestyle is the most
progressing discipline of our sport as far as new moves and the fact everybody
can do it all over the world. Kids are coming out of nowhere and competing at
the highest level professionally. We haven’t seen that for a long time in the
sport, I think freestyle is great for the sport"

FRANK LEWISCH (GAASTRA)
"I like it here in Costa Brava but we were a bit unlucky this year. The
level here was really high. Even compared to Austria which was only six weeks
ago. The level is higher than then, it goes up so quickly. There are lots of
new moves and it’s just like that, it makes it interesting! It’s not just the
kids, everybody is pushing. Overall the level is getting higher, I was very
impressed"

VIDAR JENSEN
"We had one day of wind but unfortunately we could not get any further
than the second round. The place here is nice, it is different from everywhere
else we go and the place we stay is right on the beach. What is most important
for me now is the Canaries and I am going to go home now and practice for that
so hopefully I will be ready just in time!"

BEN VAN DER STEEN (NORTH FANATIC)
"It is a nice place here when it is windy. The food was good, the weather
was nice but the wind just didn’t happen. I like stronger wind but the wind
we had was good for competition. The level here was unbelievable!"