2024 PWA Sylt Tag 2

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Sylt ist berühmt für seine vielfältigen Wetterbedingungen, und auch heute war es nicht anders, denn alle Jahreszeiten waren irgendwann im Laufe des Tages zugegen. Von massiven Sturmböen bis hin zu Sonnenschein und Regen war heute wirklich alles dabei, was die besten Wavesurfer der Welt auf eine harte Probe stellte. Angesichts des auflandigen Windes von 20 bis 30 Knoten, einer wahnsinnigen Strömung auf der Innenseite und einer heftigen Brandung war der heutige Tag wahrlich nichts für schwache Nerven. Am Ende des Tages waren es Marc Paré (Simmer / Simmer Sails) und Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins), die den goldenen Topf am Ende des Regenbogens fanden, da sie in der aktuellen Event-Rangliste nach den Einzelausscheidungen ganz oben standen.

Wave Women’s

Sarah-Quita Offringa has an excellent track record when it comes to Sylt having won the event in 2018, ’19 and ’22 and she’s now in pole position to add to her event title haul here after securing the top place on the podium in the single elimination - meaning the Aruban now leads the event after a tough day of competition. Offringa needed a wave in the dying seconds against Sol Degrieck (Severne / Severne Sails) to advance into the final, but found the score she required to do just that and then went on to secure the victory.

Alexia Kiefer Quintana (Duotone Windsurfing) boasts a remarkable record so far this season, which has seen her claim two second places and a third before Sylt. The 19-year-old is enjoying a breakout season and is guaranteed another podium after managing to negotiate her way into another winners’ final today. Unfortunately the final didn’t quite play out how she would’ve wanted with the Spaniard getting trapped on the inside due to Sylt’s infamous shorebreak, bolt onshore winds and strong current, but once she reflects on the day overall, she’ll be able to be extremely proud of what she has achieved.

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Sol Degrieck continues to lay down the gauntlet to her peers. The highly talented young Belgian secured the final place on the podium in the single elimination after managing to defeat current World Tour leader - Lina Erpenstein (Severne / Severne Sails) - in the battle for third and fourth.

Men’s

Reigning world champion, Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing) and Marc Paré (Simmer / Simmer Sails) had been the two standout sailors throughout the single elimination, so it was only fitting that the two of them met in the winners’ final.

Paré came into Sylt on the back of winning last time out in Tenerife and he took a giant step towards securing back-to-back event wins after seeing off his Brazilian rival in the final. Despite the extremely testing conditions, Paré still managed to land a 7.12 point double forward, while also linking together a solid opening wave which earned him 5.38 points. Browne tried to reply with a double forward of his own on a couple of occasions, but couldn’t quite find his usual textbook execution, which is perhaps testament to just how difficult the conditions were, more than anything else.

Paré endured a tough start to the season after suffering a Lisfranc fracture in March, but after choosing to skip Pozo as it came a touch too soon, the Spaniard has hit the ground running and will now look to defend his single elimination crown over the remainder of the event.

Browne posted the highest scoring heat of the day in his opening heat - 22.45 points - and will probably be quite happy with his second place in the single elimination given how unpredictable Sylt can be, while with another eight days to go, he may well get another opportunity to fight for the victory as he bids to defend his wave world title and complete a hat-trick.

Victor Fernandez (Duotone Windsurfing) continued his fine form as he navigated his way into the top three of the single elimination after defeating Antoine Martin (Starboard / North Windsurfing) in Heat 16. The Spaniard has finished on the podium in three out of four events so far this season and took a big step towards making that four from five after another polished display here, which included landing one of the only frontside 360s of the day.

After claiming the scalp of Philip Köster (Severne / Severne Sails / Black Project Fins) in the quarterfinals, Martin has already guaranteed himself his best result of the season at a 5-star event as the worse he can now finish is fifth.

Miguel Chapuis (Flikka / North Windsurfing) recorded his best result to date in a single elimination after claiming joint fifth place alongside Marino Gil (JP / NeilPryde), Köster and Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde), who is seeking another top five finish after also finishing fifth in Pozo.

The top ten is currently completed by Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails), Dieter Van der Eyken (Severne / Severne Sails / Black Project Fins), Henri Kolberg (Naish / Naish Sails), Liam Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne Sails / Black Project Fins), Titouan Flechet (Tabou / Hot Sails Maui), Jules Denel (Tabou / GA Sails), Takuma Sugi (Tabou / GA Sails / Black Project Fins) and Morgan Noireaux (JP / NeilPryde / Black Project Fins), all of whom currently share ninth place.

Wave of the Day

Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails), who finished the single elimination ranked in joint ninth, earned the only excellent wave score of the day - 8 points - after he exploded through a sick frontside 360 despite the almost bolt onshore conditions at the time. As mentioned earlier, Fernandez was the only other sailor to land a frontside 360 and the Spaniard was awarded 7.78 points.

The forecast looks significantly lighter for Sunday, but depending how wavy it is, there could be the option of running Foil Slalom at some point. The skippers’ meeting for all three fleets has been schedule for 10am (GMT+2) with a first possible start at 10:30am for the Wave and Freestyle sailors, while the first possible start for the Foil Slalom is 11:30am.

Current Ranking 2024 Citroën Windsurf World Cup Sylt - Women’s Wave

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Alexia Kiefer Quintana (ESP | Duotone Windsurfing)
3rd Sol Degrieck (BEL | Severne / Severne Sails)
4th Lina Erpenstein (GER | Severne / Severne Sails)
5th Maria Behrens (GER | Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Justyna Sniady (POL | North Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Maria Morales (ESP | Goya Windsurfing)
5th Coraline Foveau (FRA | Flikka / GUNSAILS)
Current Ranking 2024 Citroën Windsurf World Cup Sylt - Men’s Wave

1st Marc Paré (ESP | Simmer / Simmer Sails)
2nd Marcilio Browne (BRA | Goya Windsurfing)
3rd Victor Fernandez (ESP | Duotone Windsurfing)
4th Antoine Martin (FRA | Starboard / North Windsurfing)
5th Robby Swift (UK | JP / NeilPryde)
5th Philip Köster (GER | Severne / Severne Sails / Black Project Fins)
5th Marino Gil {ESP (JP / NeilPryde)
5th Miguel Chapuis (ESP | Flikka / North Windsurfing)
9th Thomas Traversa (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)
9th Dieter Van der Eyken (BEL | Severne Windsurfing / Black Project Fins)
9th Henri Kolberg (GER | Naish / Naish Sails)
9th Liam Dunkerbeck (ESP | Starboard / Severne Sails / Black Project Fins)
9th Titouan Flechet (FRA | Tabou / Hot Sails Maui)
9th Jules Denel (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)
9th Takuma Sugi (JPN | Tabou / GA Sails / Black Project Fins)
9th Morgan Noireaux (HI | JP / NeilPryde / Black Project Fins)