Tiree World Cup Countdown Begins

Scotland’s place as a world-class events destination was further reinforced today as organisers of The Corona Extra PWA World Cup on Tiree confirmed that the Corona Extra World Cup event will now be the final stage of the 2007 PWA World Cup Tour calendar. 

With a prize fund of 30,000 Euros and World Cup titles up for grabs, competition will be fierce; not just for the first Corona Extra PWA World Cup titles, but also for the PWA Wave World Tour series titles.  Three winners will receive a very special 50 litre cask of Kilkerran Single Malt which will be filled in the spring of 2008 and will be laid down in their name at the Mitchell’s Glengyle Distillery in Campbeltown by event partners J&A Mitchell, Scotland’s oldest distilling family. The casks will mature for ten years, during which time the winners can visit the distillery to monitor progress.

In addition, a limited edition run of 300 of Mitchell’s Blended Whisky will be produced to celebrate the event, the first time a PWA Wave World Cup has been held in the UK. Bottles no, 1-50 of the Mitchell’s PWA whisky will be presented to the competitors, with the other 250 bottles only available on the island for the duration of the event!

Managing Director of Mitchell’s Glengyle Distillery, Neil Clapperton, said: “I have a huge amount of respect for these men. They are out in huge waves in the freezing cold, and hopefully a wee dram of Mitchell’s will warm them up after a hard days sailing.”

An impressive line-up of top-level international riders will arrive on Tiree in the next few  days ready to battle it out in what is now the final round of the PWA World Tour.  Amongst the top world seeded competitors due to contest the 2007 Wave World Cup Finals is top British windsurfer and Gul team rider Nik Baker.  Nik won the Tiree wave Classic back in 1990 and is currently sitting 4^th in the world wave rankings. 

Fellow Gul team-mate Ben Proffitt will also be out to impress at Tiree.  Ben has had successful times at Tiree in previous years, including winning the waves discipline and coming second overall in the Tiree Wave Classic Triple Crown in 2005.  Ben said of his experiences on Tiree, “I had a great contest at Tiree back in the Wave Classic in 2005.  I won the Waves and ended up second overall in the Triple Crown.  Tiree has always been highlight of the British contest scene for all the UK guys…it’s so remote that once everyone makes it up there they really go for it day and night.  I could let you in on some stories from the contests there but I think I would give too much away!  All I can say is that it’s a great British windsurfing event and I’m proud to get to compete there!”

International favourites such as Kauli Seadi (BRA), Victor Fernandez Lopez (ESP) and Josh Angulo (USA), who are currently in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place in the Wave World Cup standings with only 300 points difference between 1^st and 3^rd; Ricardo Campello (BRA), Jason Polakow (AUS) and Vidar Jensen (NOR) are also set to brave the elements to compete in this, the final event of 2007 PWA World Tour.

As headline sponsors of the event, the Corona Extra brand will play a major part in helping people to enjoy their time on the island. Angel Garcia Gomez, head of Corona Extra in the UK, said: “The association with Tiree is one of the biggest sponsorships ever undertaken by Corona Extra in Scotland and shows our commitment to supporting hi-octane, high profile initiatives like this. Corona Extra is the 4th largest beer brand in the world and the global television coverage of this event will undoubtedly boost sales.”

Andy Groom, of event organisers GMFCo, said: “We’re delighted to have Corona Extra on board as they boost the international dimension of the competition. There are significant costs involved in putting on such a prestigious event and we appreciate the support that comes from our partnership with Corona Extra and our other partners and funders; EventScotland, Visit Scotland and HIE Argyll and the Highlands.”

“We’ll be pulling out all the stops to ensure that the competitors, support crew, media and visitors to the island experience the best that Scotland has to offer, from our Loch Fyne Oyster night, to Haggis tasting and traditional Scottish music on Thursday evening – there’ll be a lasting memory of Scotland for everyone.”

Battling it out in freezing waters is not for the faint-hearted, and so for the third consecutive year Gul International is supporting the Tiree Wave Classic, and this year the Corona Extra PWA World Cup too.  As official clothing and wetsuit sponsor, Gul will be providing a full set of waterproof apparel from it’s highly regarded ‘Marine’ range for all members of the crew working at this years’ event.  The kit will include waterproof jackets and trousers, as well as fleeces and thermal layers. 

Gul has a long-standing relationship with the world of windsurfing. Gul is celebrating its 40^th anniversary in 2007, and being one of the first wetsuit manufacturers in Europe, much of the company’s initial growth was the boom of windsurfing in the early 80’s.  Therefore the sport is an important area to the company, with a huge emphasis on supporting British windsurfers.

Further support for the event comes from Go Fast Sports UK, the official energy drink sponsor of this year’s PWA event in Tiree. Billed as the ‘Athletes Energy Drink’ Go Fast is one of the newest brands to hit the UK and with it’s background of extreme sports makes it a perfect brand partner for this year’s event. Go Fast’s involvement in the event means we will be seeing the Go Fast lifestyle first-hand with a spectacular parachute display; the Go Fast Expression Session competition with cash prizes going to the best big Air trick of the tournament, and even an on beach ‘adrenalizer’ team who will ensure the riders are kept fired up for each round of the event.

Kris Yule Director of GFUK said, “We are delighted to be involved with such a high profile event here in Scotland with one of the world most exciting sports. Go Fast is more than just an energy drink it’s a total lifestyle brand and this event is a perfect combination”