The 2007 Colgate World Cup Sylt – Registration Day
Word of an early start gets Sylt’s faithful masses flocking to the beach in their droves as the first round heats of the men’s wave contest kick off.
Phill Horrocks
Martin Ten Hoeve
Faithful crowds gather
A positive forecast prompted the organisers to make an unusually early start to the competition on registration day to maximise the conditions available.
20-25 knots and up to head high surf got competition underway late in the afternoon. An 8-minute heat duration was set with just one jump and one ride to count from each competitor.
Even during the warm-ups the infamous Sylt shore dump claimed a bag full of masts.
Timing is everything at this bone-crunching, shallow bottomed beach break, and that skill was exactly what allowed those who made it into the second round to advance.
6 riders made it through to the second round before the wind shut down and competition was called off for the day.
Heat of the day was definitely between Welsh-based rider Phil Horrocks (JP / NeilPryde) and Tenerife ex-pat Dany Bruch (F2 / Gaastra) who proved popular with the local crowd.
Bruch notched the highest jump score of the day with a massive backloop whilst Horrocks brave and well aimed hits on the inside sections earned him superior wave scores, and subsequently the victory.
Ben Van Der Steen (Exocet / Naish) also took a key victory over radical Gran Canarian rider Dario Ojeda in the difficult conditions towards the end of the day.
The heavyweight Dutchman made the most of the sketchy conditions to book a second round match against Levi Siver (Starboard / NeilPryde) who’s fresh off the podium in Brazil.
Also making the cut were Boujmaa Guillol (Starboard / Severne), Martin Ten Hoeve (Fanatic / North), who edged out his compatriot Peter Volwater (F2 / North) with a solid one-handed, one-footed back loop, Yann Sorlut (Simmer) of France and freestyle and wave specialist Colin Sifferlen (Starboard / Simmer).
Forecasts suggest much lighter wind for the weekend and a switch of focus to Slalom racing. The first possible start tomorrow is at 10.30.
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