POZO GRAN CANARIA PWA GRAND SLAM DAY 6

Sunday July 14, 2002
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We are down to the final stages of the men¹s double elimination wave
competition here at the Gran Canaria PWA 2002 Gran Slam. The wind and
waves were excellent for most of the day but competition was eventually
abandoned at heat 61 when the high tide late this afternoon killed off the
surf. The sailors who are still in the running to face Kevin Pritchard
(Gaastra, Bic) in the ultimate final of the competition are Levi Siver
(F2, Arrows) Tristan Boxford (North, Fanatic), Scott Mckercher (Starboard,
Naish), Andy Wolf (Neil Pryde, RRD) Orjan Jensen (Proof, North) Jonas
Ceballos (Gaastra, Fanatic) Josh Angulo, Nik Baker (North, Mistral) and
Bjorn Dunkerbeck Proof, Neil Pryde).

In the top half of the draw Britain¹s Tristan Boxford had an excellent

afternoon at the office and managed to advance through two heavy duty
heats defeating Antoine Albeau (AHD, Neil Pryde) of France and Matt
Pritchard (Gaastra, AHD) of the USA. Boxford who is sailing with six
stitches in his left foot will now face Levi Siver (North, F2) in his next
heat. Siver only had to sail one heat today but faced a monster battle
against Norwegian high flyer Vidar Jensen (North). Jensen pulled out his
usual trumps cards including the one handed forward and Crazy Pete but
Siver found better waves and matched Jensens jumping with a huge back loop
and a super tweaked table top.

On the opposite side of the ladder there were key performances from Andy
Wolf of Germany and local sailor Jonas Ceballos. Wolf, who advanced though
heats against Xavier Huart (Mistral ,North) of France and Eric Troostheide
(Mistral, North) of Holland now faces Aussie wave guru Scott McKercher in
his next heat. Jonas Ceballos pulled off some of the biggest back loops of
the day as he advanced through heats against Tenerife sailor Daniel Bruch
(Arrows) and Pozo sailor Victor Fenandez (Fanatic). Ceballos who is tipped
by many to cause some major upsets here now faces Orjan Jensen in his next
confrontation.

With five days remaining here at the PWA Gran Canaria Grand Slam the stage

is all set now for a thrilling climax to both the wave and freestyle
competitions. As it stands the Pritchard brothers are holding all the aces
with Matt currently holding first overall after three rounds of freestyle
and younger brother Kevin in the top slot of the waves after winning the
men¹s single elimination yesterday. In the women¹s competition Daida

Moreno (Mistral, North) is holding first in both disciplines but is well
aware that the likes of Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows), Anne Marie Reicham
(Naish boards, Naish sails) and Colette Gaudagnino (JP, Neil Pryde) are
all hot on her heels.