The 2006 Catalunya Costa Brava PWA World Cup Super-X Day Two

Wednesday June 14, 2006

Day Two Summary


After going straight into action yesterday, the competitors here in The Bay of Roses in Costa Brava, Spain, this morning prepared their equipment for the possibility of another sea breeze later today. The outlook for the rest of the week is similar and Friday seems to hold the most promise of fortified thermal winds.

Yesterday Kevin Pritchard (US-3 Starboard / Maui Sails) took first place after one round of racing, straight off the back of his victory in the waves of Guincho.

Sure enough the wind kicked in around one o’clock and a rigging frenzy followed. For the second race of the contest, a longer, 3 leg course was set with spocks nominated as the two compulsory manoeuvres since the wind was still a little light for forward loops on the big 7sqm sails.

Have a look at the elimination 2 ladder here.

Local boy Alex Mussolini (E-30, JP/ Neil Pryde) missed out straight away on his first attempt at Super-X by just losing out on a place in the first semi-final. Kevin Pritchard smoked everyone in his heat and looked extremely dangerous.

The first semi-final saw a close finish between Nik Baker (K-66, Mistral/ North Sails) and Antoine Albeau (F-192, Neil Pryde) but Albeau got over the line just in time. In the second semi-final Kevin Mevissen (H-79, JP/ Neil Pryde) was over early and had to settle for a loser’s final place. But, taking a rocket fast downwind line, Kevin Pritchard streaked through the course right from the start line. Two clean spocks and two perfect duck gybes saw him home. There was another excitingly close finish between Cyril Moussilmani (F-71, Fanatic/ North Sails) and Taty Frans (NB-9, Starboard/ MauiSails) for 4th and 5th place, with Cyril Moussilmani just making the last spot for the final.

Off the start line in the second round final, Kevin Pritchard smoked Peter Volwater (H-24 F2 / North Sails) and Antoine Albeau to the first inflatable jump, but Albeau gained time through the air and held his own all the way to the first mark. Both Kevin Pritchard and Albeau fell on their first spocks, which let Matt Pritchard through, but Matt fell on his second spock, along with brother Kevin, leaving Albeau in a dominant position after completing his manoeuvre perfectly. Albeau crossed in first, flowed by Matt in second and Kevin in third place.

Race Director Juan Antonio Aragon called for the third round to be run straight away. You can see the elimination 3 ladder here.

4th ranked Robby Swift (K-89, JP/ Neil Pryde) got tangled up in his first heat at a pile-up on the sausage jump and missed out on progressing further. In heat 2 Matt Pritchard sent a warning signal to any pretenders as he defended his title with a clean victory. Antoine Albeau however was a little to keen and was over early ending hopes of backing up his round two victory.

The first semi final had both Pritchard brothers involved. Kevin was first off the line, but brother Matt took the lead just before the second sausage, ahead of a super-close finish, with Matt in just in first.

The third round final started at furious pace. Peter Volwater had an amazing start but crashed his first spock letting World Super-X champion Matt Pritchard through. There was a huge pile-up at the second jump between Cyril Moussilmani, Kevin Pritchard, and Ross Williams (GBR-83, Tabou/ Gaastra). But Volwater pulled it back with a near perfect planing spock and speed to spare, to get past Matt Pritchard and claim first.

See the full Results after three roundshere.

For more information, please contact the PWA office at www.pwaworldtour.com