After 5 days we can view back onto some slalom racing, a single elimination in freestyle and a first round in the wave-discipline.
We ran freestyle on Tuesday. The wind was just strong enough to go on a 5,2 – sometimes on a 4,7 – but Sylt offered us really hard conditions.
Many competitors did not even get through the huge shorebreak. I was lucky to have a gust and be out in the competition area on time for my heat. As my first opponent missed his heat, I was forwarded into the next round where I was set against Tonky Frans (NB-7). Well – I was victim of the hard conditions – trying to get out through the shorebreak in the superlight winds for 10 minutes without success made me loose – Tonky was delivering a great show anyways and even made it into the finals!
The finals were Tonky (BON) against Kiri (BON) and Gollito Estredo (VEN) against Antxon Otaegui (ESP).
Tonky against Kiri was a cool and very stylish heat, Tonky was a bit underpowered – while Kiri was benefiting from the light winds and was still doing Burner and Culo. He won the heat which set Tonky to the 4th place and himself to the 3rd.
The winners final Jose “Gollito” Estredo from Venezuela against Antxon Otaegui from Spain was great action! – Antxon started from the left, had a good gust and started with a very very stylish and clean planning Forward, followed by a pretty good Ponch. Gollito somehow missed the start of the heat a bit – then showed Shaka, Burner and Kono – While Antxon answered with Switch Chachoo and Clew First Puneta. The wind was getting less and less during the heat – and although Gollito added a Switch Chachoo Diablo he couldn’t catch up with Antxons save and stylish performance.
At the end, Antxon won the single elimination in front of Gollito, Kiri third and Tonky fourth. Brawzinho who had the chance to become world champion ended up at the 5th place – which secures another World champion Title for Jose “Gollito” Estredo from Venezuela.
Anyway we’ll see good action in the double elimination during the next days.

By the way we are having Tricktionary books here for sale – at the Windsurfingjournal stand – just pass by and check it out!

All the best from Sylt
Rossi

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