PWA Fuerteventura 2003 World Cup Freestyle And Super X Demo

Event Preview

Tuesday July 8, 2003

After eight grueling days of non-stop action in Gran Canaria, the PWA
world tour now moves over to the neighboring island of Fuerteventura for a

world cup freestyle and Super X demonstration. Commencing on the 17th of
July (Registration day) the freestyle event will run through until the
21st with the Super X running from the 22nd to the 24th.

Sotevento, Fuerteventura is one of the most legendary flat water, cross
offshore freestyle venues in the world, with wind statistics to dream of.

Spanning over several idyllic miles upwind and downwind of the competition

site, the beaches down in Sotevento are truly a windsurfers paradise. The

Rene Egli Pro centre at Sotevento is the event Headquarters and is
probably one of the best equipped windsurf centers in the world.

The prevailing wind conditions are 15-30 knots, cross offshore from the
left. Waves are generally flat although occasionally Sotevento is blessed

with perfect clean 3-4 feet waves.

Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde) is hot favorite going into the event
after taking a clean sweep in the Gran Canaria freestyle. Campello who
sails for Brazil but lives in Margarita (Venezuela) represents the new
school of freestyle and his mind blowing routines are action packed with
all the latest hot moves, pulled off with his innovative free flowing style.

Kauli Seadi (Naish, AHD) of Brazil is also tipped for a possible podium
placing after taking second place in Gran Canaria. Seadi is another young

gun in the freestyle world and is definitely a force to be reckoned with
highly technical routines, which he has perfectionised to be able to
reproduce consistently.

Last years world champion Matt Pritchard (Gaastra) suffered a devastating

blow in Gran Canaria after injuring his knee in the third elimination.
Pritchard is currently in Gran Canaria awaiting doctors advice to see if
he will be able to compete at full strength in time for the event.

Other names to watch out for in Fuerteventura will be Tonky and Taty Frans

(Gaastra, AHD), Robby Swift (JP, Neil Pryde), Christian Sammer (F2,
Arrows) and Remko de Weerd (Gaastra, Fanatic) who will all be hoping for
podium finishes.

In the womens freestyle Spanish sailor Daida Moreno (Mistral, North) is
firm favorite after her clean sweep of the silverware in Gran Canaria,
although her sister Iballa Moreno (Mistral, North) and Karin Jaggi (F2,
Arrows) will no doubt be challenging hard.

The spectacular 3000 square meter marquee which acts as a daytime home for

the 80 sailors competing, is night time home for relaxed drinking and
partying on the beach. The legendary closing party in Fuerteventura is one

of the biggest parties on the PWA world tour when sailors say goodbye to
the Canaries leg of the tour in rocking style.

SUPER X!
For the first time in PWA history, it is planning a trial of the new super

x discipline! This exciting new format, which combines racing with
freestyle tricks will take place on the 22nd through to the 24th of July.

For years now there have been attempts at obstacle type racing and similar

variations on that theme, but now for the first time, we will see a truly

professional concept that harnesses all the speed of slalom racing with
the control and versatility of the freestyle discipline.

Freestyle gave a very rounded look to the family of PWA competition
disciplines, but there were still some areas left unexplored, a radical
angle, and a gladiatorial arena, which would leave just one man standing
at the end. Super X provides that arena.

The PWA, together with major manufacturers, event organizers and the
windsurfing press has collaborated to form this new discipline and to
bring about its first trial run at the Fuerteventura, PWA Freestyle Grand

World cup this year. Fuerteventura has always been a fantastic testing
ground for new ideas and was instrumental in some of the earliest
Freestyle experiments on the tour. This year, Fuerteventura will become
windsurfings Coliseum as the gladiators of the PWA do battle to take
victory in this new format.

Speed, whilst essential, will not be not sufficient on its own.
Flamboyance and dexterity will not suffice without a good start. Control
and experience will be invaluable, duck gibing the marks and getting over

a 50 cm high obstacle, with 7 other contenders, whilst traveling at around

20 knots will be no easy job!

The first one over the finish line will be the winner and will stand out
as an all-rounder. He will have proved that he is skilled in all areas of

windsurfing techniques. There will only be one winner!

Check out the PWA web site for all the new pictures and results that are
updated daily, from registration day onwards.