Tenerife PWA Day 3
A challenging day of competition where wave selection proved crucial
The wind and waves continued on Day 3 of the Tenerife PWA World Cup allowing the double eliminations to continue. Conditions today proved to be more tricky with wave selection proving to be critical with some waves just closing out, while others would open up with bowly sections to produce excellent scoring opportunities. Women’s Double Elimination Alice Arutkin (Fanatic / NorthSails) began her comeback through the double elimination by overcoming Birgit Rieger in the first round, before also ending the hopes of Arrianne Aukes (Fanatic / NorthSails / Maui Ultra Fins), who suffered a broken mast. Next up for, Arutkin, would be Caterina Stenta (RRD / RRD / Maui Ultra Fins) and the Italian got the better of Arutkin in the air. However, the French beauty showed better wave selection and execution to win her third heat on the spin and she will now face Amanda Beenen (99NoveNove / Point-7) in Heat 30a. The final heat of the day saw Nicole Bandini (Fanatic / NorthSails) versus Justyna Sniady (Simmer / Simmer / Mystic) after the 17 year old successfully navigated her way through the opening two rounds by defeating Alexa Escherich (JP / NeilPryde) and Serena Zoia (Loft Sails). Sniady landed a stylish forward loop, but couldn’t hunt out the waves she needed, while Bandini earned her best wave score on her opening wave as she picked out a set and delivered a sick turn in the pocket — with Sniady unable to find a response the young Italian advanced as she also won 3 heats in a row today. Men’s Double Elimination The first heat of the day — Heat 19 — saw two upsets as Julian Salmonn (Severne / Severne) used his local knowledge to take down Florian Jung (RRD / Gun Sails / Maui Ultra Fins), while Loick Lesauvage (Goya Windsurfing) produced a complete display to defeat Graham Ezzy (Tabou / Ezzy). However, neither sail could escape from the next round as Dany Bruch (Starboard / Flight Sails / AL360 / Shamal Sunglasses) ended the hopes of Salmonn, while Lesauvage had chances to beat Leon Jamaer (JP / NeilPryde), but couldn’t find the second wave he needed as the German escaped unscathed. After a disappointing showing in the single elimination — Antoine Martin (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) — bounced back to somewhere near his best as advanced past Tim van dam Sanchidrian (Starboard / Flight Sails) by landing a sick frontside tweaked aerial and frontside 3, but that’s as good as it would get for Martin with Jules Denel (JP / NeilPryde) coming out on top in Heat 24a. Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne) is making a habit of becoming the comeback King in the double elimination. The Belgian won 6 heats on the bounce at the recent freestyle contest in Fuerteventura and gained momentum again today to win 3 successive heats. Van der Eyken first defeated Morgan Noireaux (JP / Hot Sails Maui) in a close run contest before going on to defeat Moritz Mauch (Severne / Severne / MFC) and Jules Denel (JP / NeilPryde) as he consistently landed stylish backloops, while unleashing gouging turns and frontside 3s. Against, Denel, Van der Eyken pulled it out of the bag in the dying moments as he produced the best wave of the heat with his final scoring opportunity to turn the result on its head as he once again busted on a frontside 360. The reigning freestyle world champion has now guaranteed himself first top 10 finish in the waves and will meet teammate — Philip Köster (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) — in Heat 29a next. Elsewhere, Adam Lewis (Fanatic / NorthSails / SWOX), looked to be in good form as he dispatched of Ben Proffitt (Simmer / Simmer) and Josep Pons (Simmer / Simmer) to set up a duel against Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / SWOX), while Dany Bruch clinched victory against fellow countryman Leon Jamaer and the event organiser will now face Ricardo Campello (Patrik / Point-7 / MFC). In Heat 27b, Aleix Sanllehy (Tabou / GA Sails), struck late to steal victory from the claws of Omar Sanchez (Angulo / KA Sails) with a super tweaked pushloop swinging the tie in his favour. Waiting for the 27 year old in the next round will be Jaeger Stone (Starboard / Severne / SWOX / Shamal Sunglasses). The forecast for tomorrow looks similar today so the decision has been made to keep the skippers’ meeting at 10:30am — with the action commencing from 11am (GMT+1) if conditions allow. Make sure you tune into www.pwaworldtour.com to follow all of the brilliant action as it happens via the PWA live stream. To see all the latest from the event — including the live stream, elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker simply click HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page.