The Colgate World Cup at the German island Sylt was the final tour stop of the PWA 2009 World Tour. From September 25th to October 5th the world’s best windsurfers met for the 26th time at the notorious Brandenburger Beach to fight for the event and the overall titles in the slalom, wave and freestyle disciplines.
The Colgate World Cup Sylt is the sole Super Grand Slam on the tour. But the huge prize money of 105.000 Euro is just one reason, why the Sylt tour stop is famous since more than a quarter century. The spot is one of the best windsurfing destinations worldwide, the sailors love to compete there, Sylt is the guarantee for superb sports action. Though, over two hundred thousand spectators came to the beach site to watch the awesome windsurfing performances.
The competition week started with some delay due to light and variable wind conditions on the first two days. Finally, on day three the conditions were perfect to complete a full single and double elimination in freestyle. The water show was unbelievable. The sailors went into overdrive, creating an amazing spectacle for those gathered on the beach. In the end the victory went to Bonaire, celebrating three sailors on the top three podium positions. It was 25 years old Taty Frans (7th overall in 2008), who performed best and therefore won the freestyle challenge at Sylt. His fellow countryman and friend Kiri Thode (3rd overall in 2008) made it for the second place. The third winner was Taty’s brother Tonky Frans, who finished the season 2008 on the 4th place overall.
Then the day came for high-octane slalom races. With plenty of wind, and the sun breaking through the clouds, the race crew quickly set the course in preparation for a downwind duel between the World’s fastest windsurfers. The racing got underway promptly, and before long, the four gybe downwind course was blessed with perfect wind conditions and wall-to-wall sunshine. This was champagne slalom racing at its finest. Antoine Albeau led the fleet and proved to the crowds on Brandenburger Beach that he’s the World’s number one racer. Until the end of the event this should remain the only competition in slalom. Antoine Albeau once more reigned the PWA slalom season by adding the fifth slalom victory in the 2009 PWA season. Thereby, he took five out of six titles. His strongest competitor Björn Dunkerbeck found his rhythm in the races, but couldn’t match Albeaus dominance. Dunkerbeck now has strong plans to get his eleventh Sylt-title next year. On the third podium position stood Cyril Moussilmani.
After one more day with competition on hold – this time due to unsailable stormy weather – the event came to its final two days, which should become the events highlight. The weather still was very stormy, but the wind direction turned a bit, which made the double elimination in wave riding the program for the day. The women hit the water first whilst the conditions looked a little less brutal, but it didn’t take long for the wind to increase and the shore break to build, creating an amazing scene for the thousands of spectators gathered on the beach. With a constant 25 knots and gusts of up to 40 knots, it really was an incredible sight, and the women put in a solid performance in the toughest of conditions. It was not only the proof for their superb windsurfing skills, but demanded also a lot of courage.
The event’s title was once more staged between the Moreno twins Iballa and Daida. Iballa Ruano Moreno was sitting pretty at the top of the single elimination, so by the time it came to her first heat she had barely sailed. Daida upped the level and actually sailed a better heat than most of the men did in their early rounds, to beat her sister. This meant a second final would have to take place to decide the event winner. Second time round, both of the Moreno twins were pushing hard and getting some excellent jumps and riding in. Iballa however pushed the sailing a notch higher and landed a huge push loop followed by a high scoring ride, which just edged her out in front, winning her the heat, and the event. The sisters’ countrywoman Nayra Alonso came in third position.
The men’s wave elimination was the “Klaas Voget show”. The German sailed tremendously well for much of the day, taking down the likes of Kauli Seadi, Wave World Champion of 2008. He was not very delighted about the unexpected top form of Voget, because this cost him the World Champion’s title of 2009. The local guy also passed over Josh Angulo, whom he made new Wave World Champion by eliminating Seadi. When it came to the final, Klaas Voget had to face Alex Mussolini, the winner of the single elimination. By that time, the German local hero had sailed eight heats successively, whereas his Spanish combatant was fresh from the wrapper and ready to defend his single elimination victory. He managed to defend his title against an exhausted, but still hard fighting Voget. The third place went to Josh Angulo.
Storm force winds and relentless seas restrict competition on the final day of the 2009 World Tour giving Marcilio Browne the opportunity to wow the crowds and win some cash in an epic Sylt super session.
Also heading out to please the crowds were the legends Robby Naish, Bjorn Dunkerbeck and Josh Angulo. They managed to please the crowds with various loops and rocket airs, but most of all, they just loved seeing their idols out on the water instead of on the screen.
The event came to a close in usual Sylt style with thousands of spectators cheering the champions on stage.
Results:
Slalom
1st Antoine Albeau (JP, NeilPryde)
2nd Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard, Severne)
3rd Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard, North)
4th Micah Buzianis (JP, NeilPryde)
5th Julien Quentel (RRD, NeilPryde)
Men’s Freestyle
1st Elton ‘Taty’ Frans (Starboard, MauiSails)
2nd Kiri Thode (Starboard, Gaastra)
3rd Everon ‘Tonky’ Frans (F2, Gaastra)
4th Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic, North)
5th Nicolas Akgazciyan (Starboard, Gun Sails)
Men’s Wave
1st Alex Mussolini (Tabou)
2nd Klaas Voget (Fanatic, NeilPryde, MFC)
3rd Josh Angulo (Angulo, MauiSails, Dakine)
4th Antoine Albeau (JP, NeilPryde)
5th John Skye (RRD, Naish, MFC)
Women’s Wave
1st Iballa Ruano Moreno (North)
2nd Daida Ruano Moreno (North)
3rd Nayra Alonso (Fanatic, Severne)
4th Karin Jaggi (F2, Severne)
5th Evi Tsape (Fanatic, NeilPryde)
Please find more detailed reports about the single competition days at the PWA website: www.pwaworldtour.com/index.php
