Nach einigen Tagen des Wartens auf Wind bot der dritte Tag des Playa Surf CBbC Hotel Tenerife El Médano Windsurf Grand Slam endlich die Gelegenheit, die Wartezeit auf einen offiziellen Wettkampf zu beenden, als der Slalom X am frühen Abend bei 15 bis 18 Knoten Wind gestartet wurde. Da der Wind am unteren Ende des Spektrums lag, griffen die Rennfahrer zu ihrer größten registrierten Ausrüstung, was einen ganz anderen Test als auf Fuerteventura bedeutete. Da der Wind erst spät aufkam, blieb nur Zeit für eine Elimination, in der jedoch die üblichen Verdächtigen stark vertreten waren.

Elimination 1 Winners' Final

Slalom X

Men’s

Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing / NeilPryde) made a seamless transition to his new sails as the Frenchman clinched the opening bullet of the event. Mortefon, who leads the world title race having won in Fuerteventura last month, produced a superb second gybe as he utilised the swell to gybe inside Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails / Z Fins) and take the lead, and once there, never looked like relinquishing it.

Iachino starts the event with a solid second place, but he’ll know he slightly missed an opportunity to claim the opening bullet. The Italian produced a great first gybe as he went slightly wider and powered out of the turn to move from about fifth into the lead, but then just mistimed gybing onto the same piece of swell that Mortefon ultimately used, which caused him to lose a bit of momentum and lose valuable ground that he couldn’t make up.

After the opening race the top three is identical to Fuerteventura with Maciek Rutkowski (JP / NeilPryde), who held the lead down the opening reach, completely the current top three and it looks like the three heavyweights could be in for another epic tussle here.

In fact, the current top ten consists of exactly the same names that completed the top ten in Fuerte, but for now at least in a slightly different order. After the first race here, Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / Point-7 / Z Fins) occupies fourth followed by Ingmar Daldorf (Tabou / GA Sails) in fifth, Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) sixth, Nico Prien (JP / NeilPryde) seventh, Taty Frans (Point-7 / Z Fins) eighth, Jimmy Thieme (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) and Bruno Martini (I-99 / S2Maui / Z Fins) completing the current top ten.

The forecast for Monday looks marginally windier than today with 16-20 knots predicted during the afternoon, while the skies are expected to be clearer, which may hopefully mean we get a bit more from the local thermal effect. The skippers’ meeting for both the Wave and Slalom X fleets will be held at 12pm (GMT+1) with the action commencing from 13:00 onwards.

Tag vier brachte endlich wieder den Sommer nach Sylt. Strahlender Sonnenschein und leichter Wind begrüßte die Windsurf Elite beim California Surf Cup Sylt. Die GWA Foiling Championship auf Sylt bot atemberaubende Bedingungen, spannende Duelle und eine beeindruckende Dominanz von Fabian Wolf (GER-404, Starboard, Severne). In drei Rennen setzte sich der ansonsten in der olympischen iQFOiL Klasse antretende Athlet souverän gegen ein starkes Teilnehmerfeld durch und sicherte sich mit drei ersten Plätzen unangefochten den Gesamtsieg vor Vincent Langer (GER-1, Duotone) und Meno Büchler (GER-9, Starboard, Severne).

Schon im ersten Rennen ließ der Kieler Fabi Wolf keinen Zweifel an seiner Ambition: Mit einem fehlerfreien Lauf fuhr er auf Platz 1, dicht gefolgt von dem vielfachen deutschen, Europa und Weltmeister Vincent Langer, der mit Rang 2 seine Erfahrung ausspielte. Meno Büchler, einer der besten Nachwuchsfahrer der U21-Kategorie, überraschte nach einem schwachen Start mit einer sensationellen Aufholjagd, die ihn bis auf Platz 3 führte.

Auch im zweiten Lauf blieb Fabi Wolf unantastbar. Erneut siegte er deutlich vor Vincent Langer und Meno Büchler, die sich ein enges Duell um Platz zwei lieferten. Der Neumünsteraner Alexander Neubert (GER-294, Sailloft) und der aus Polen stammende Pawel Dittrich (POL-381, Starboard, Severne) komplettierten die Top-5 in Foil Elimination 2.

Im dritten und letzten Rennen starteten alle Fahrer gemeinsam im Full Fleet Format. Das sorgte für eine hohe Leistungsdichte und mehr Druck bei den Speedduellen und Manövern. Erneut bestätigte Wolf seine Überlegenheit und gewann auch diesen Lauf souverän. Meno Büchler fuhr in ausgezeichneter Form und konnte dieses Mal sogar seinen ehemaligen Trainer Vincent Langer auf Platz drei verweisen. Keno Recke (GER-10, Patrik) und Alexander Neubert folgen auf den Plätzen vier und fünf.

Ab drei abgeschlossenen Wettfahrten kann jeder Fahrer sein schlechtestes Ergebnis streichen. Fabian Wolf ist in der komfortablen Lage, sogar einen ersten Platz streichen zu können. Am Ende von Tag 4 der GWA Championship führt Wolf die Foiling Ergebnisliste mit der Idealpunktzahl 0,0 an. Auf dem zweiten Platz folgt Vincent Langer mit 4,0 Punkten. Nur einen Punkt dahinter liegt Meno Büchler auf Platz zwei. Alexander Neubert kann sich mit 7,0 Punkten Platz vier sichern. Im Kampf um Platz fünf liegen Keno Recke und Tjalve Böttger (GER-228, Patrik) punktgleich Kopf an Kopf. Im Tiebreak kann Recke allerdings Böttger auf Platz zwei verdrängen.

Bei strahlendem Sonnenschein verfolgten tausende von Zuschauern die Rennen der Surfelite von der Promenade und dem Brandenburger Strand aus. Westerland gilt nicht umsonst als wichtigster Ort für hochklassige Windsurf Events. Mit den Foiling Rennen konnte bereits am vierten von sechs Tagen der Regatta gültige Ergebnisse in allen drei ausgeschriebenen Disziplinen gesichert werden.

Neben den spektakulären Rennen auf dem Wasser bietet der California Surf Cup Sylt ein reichhaltiges Programm auf der Promenade. Über fast 500 Meter zieht sich die Flaniermeile an der Nordseeküste entlang. Hier mann man nach Herzenslust shoppen, schlemmen, bummeln oder auch selbst aktiv werden, wie zum Beispiel bei den kostenlosen Yogasessions powered by LVM Versicherung. Abends verwandelt sich die Promenade in eine Partymeile auf der zum Sundowner gechillt und gefeiert wird, bis die Sonne im Meer versinkt.

Der California Surf Cup Sylt läuft noch bis zum Sonntag. Dann werden bei der Siegerehrung um 17:00 Uhr die neuen GWA Champions gekrönt.

Bei traumhaften Bedingungen konnten beim California Surf Cup auf Deutschlands beliebtester Windsurf-Insel sechs Wettfahrten und damit das Maximum pro Tag eingefahren werden. Dabei setzte sich der vielfache deutsch, Europa- und Weltmeister Vincent Langer (GER-1, Duotone) eindrucksvoll an die Spitze des Teilnehmerfeldes beim Fin Slalom der GWA Championship auf Sylt. Mit einer nahezu makellosen Leistung und fünf ersten Plätzen ließ der erfahrene Athlet der Konkurrenz keine Chance und sicherte sich verdient die Führung in der Disziplin Slalom nach Tag drei der Veranstaltung.

Der Zweitplatzierte Gunnar Asmussen (GER-2, Severne, FMX) zeigte ebenfalls starke Rennen und konnte auch das Auftaktrennen für sich entscheiden. Asmussen konnte Langers Dominanz jedoch nicht brechen. Auf dem dritten Platz landete Fabian Wolf (GER-404, Starboard, Severne), der konstant vordere Platzierungen einfuhr und mit seiner Leistung ein Ausrufezeichen setzte. Alexander Neubert (GER-294, Sailloft) und Tjorve Studt (GER-12, GA-Sails, Tabou) komplettieren die Top-5.

In der U21-Wertung überzeugte Keno Recke (GER-10, Patrik) mit einem starken sechsten Gesamtrang und zeigte eindrucksvoll, dass die nächste Generation deutscher Windsurfer im Fin Slalom bereitsteht. Auch Mika Henning (GER-64, Duotone) setzte als U17-Fahrer mit Platz 8 ein starkes Zeichen gegen die ältere Konkurrenz. Oliver Schott (GER-26, Patrik, Neil Pryde) bewies als Gandmaster (Ü50) mit Platz 9, dass er noch lange nicht zum alten Eisen gehört.

Top 5 Gesamtwertung (nach Tag 3):

Vincent Langer (GER-1) – Duotone
Gunnar Asmussen (GER-2) – Severne, FMX
Fabian Wolf (GER-404) – Starboard, Severne
Alexander Neubert (GER-294) – Sailloft
Tjorve Studt (GER-12) – GA-Sails, Tabou

Die Veranstaltung auf Sylt zeigt einmal mehr die hohe Leistungsdichte und den Nachwuchsreichtum in der deutschen Windsurfszene. Organisatoren und Zuschauer zeigten sich begeistert vom spannenden Wettbewerb und der familiären Atmosphäre am Strand.

Neben dem Sport auf dem Wasser bietet der California Surf Cup Sylt ein buntes Programm für die ganze Familie.

Sei es die Autoausstellung und Fotobox bei Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, das Familienprogramm bei der Autostadt oder die Pop-Up Stores von Medusa-Chiemsee und Kersy. Beim Sun Downer am Abend lädt der Wein von California Wines zu einem entspannten Ausklang ein.

Am Wochenende legen dann DJ Tom Sass mit Reto sowie DJ Bvillage auf und heizen den Besuchern ordentlich ein.

Starker Wind und hohe Wellen brachten radikale Bedingungen an den Brandenburger Strand. Zu extrem, um Boote sicher auf die Nordsee zu schicken und offizielle Rennen austragen zu können. Trotzdem gab es spektakuläre Windsurf-Action am Eröffnungstag des California Surf Cup Sylt. Beim Tower Race mussten die Teilnehmer ein Langstreckenrennen bis zum markanten „Langen Hans“ und wieder zurück zum Strand absolvieren. Vincent Langer (GER-1, Duotone) kam am besten mit den extremen Bedingungen klar und konnte sich so den Sieg vor Gunnar Asmussen (GER-2, Severne, FMX) und Fabi Wolf (GER-404,Starboard, Severne) sichern.

Meterhoher Shorebreak und hohe Wellen machten normale Wettfahrten unmöglich. Aber die besten Windsurfer nahmen trotzdem die Herausforderung des Tower Race an. Die größte Schwierigkeit war dabei, mit dem Racingmaterial die hohen brechenden Wellen direkt am Strand zu überwinden. Nach dem Start machten sich die Athleten, von einem Jetski begleitet, auf den kilometerweiten Weg zum „Langen Hans“, einer Offshore-Wetterstation, gerade noch so in Sichtweite vom Brandenburger Strand.

Vincent Langer hatte einen perfekten Start und konnte das Long Distance Race von Beginn an von der Spitze her kontrollieren. Er umrundete den Tower in Führung liegend und gab diese auch bis ins Ziel nicht mehr ab. Unter dem Jubel tausender Zuschauer am Brandenburger Strand schlug er als Erster bei der LVM-Flagge am Brandenburger Strand an und verbuchte so den Sieg bei der Premiere dieses Rennens für sich. Neben dem Sieg konnte sich Langer auch über 500 Euro Preisgeld freuen.

Big G is back. Der Flensburger Gunnar Asmussen gehört zu den Legenden im Windsurf Cup. Nach längerer Wettkampfabstinenz meldete er sich beim California Surf Cup Sylt wieder zurück. Dabei zeigte sich der Flensburger in bestechender Form. Nur knapp hinter Langer schlug er an der Flagge am Strand an und sicherte sich so Platz zwei plus 300 Euro Preisgeld der LVM Versicherung.

Platz drei und damit 200 Euro Preisgeld konnte Fabi Wolf gewinnen. Normalerweise ist Wolf in der olympischen iQFOiL-Klasse unterwegs. In der tobenden Nordsee vor Sylt bewies er, dass er nicht nur auf dem Foil, sondern auch auf der Finne stark ist. Der Kieler Kai Paustian (GER-707, Gaastra, Tabou) und der Hannoveraner Tim Wunderlich (GER-15, Starboard, Severne) komplettierten die Top 5 beim Tower Race.

Für den morgigen Mittwoch sind noch extremere Bedingungen für den Brandenburger Strand angesagt. Bis zu 30 Knoten Wind versprechen gute Bedingungen für die Disziplin Wave. Deshalb wurde Wave-Alarm gegeben, sodass sich die Waver aus ganz Deutschland auf den Weg an den Brandenburger Strand machen können.

Ab 11:00 Uhr ist der erste Start geplant.

Tower Race

1. Platz Vincent Langer (GER-1, Duotone)
2. Platz Gunnar Asmussen (GER-2, FMX, Severne)
3. Platz Fabian Wolf (GER-404, Starboard, Severne)
4. Platz Kai Paustian (GER-707, Gaastra, Tabou)
5. Platz Tim Wunderlich (GER-15, Starboard, Severne)

Am zweiten Freestyle-Tag (Tag 7) des 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam wurden die Double Eliminations der Männer und Frauen abgeschlossen, um einen weiteren explosiven Tag in Sotavento zu krönen, an dem die weltbesten Freestyler ein weiteres episches Spektakel boten, um den diesjährigen offiziellen Wettbewerb mitreißend abzuschließen. Die Emotionen kochten hoch, als der Weltmeistertitel der Frauen auf dem Spiel stand, während beide Fleets weiterhin die Messlatte für das, was im Freestyle-Bereich möglich ist, höher legen...

Freestyle

Women’s

Less than a point separated Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) and Maaike Huvermann (Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) in yesterday’s Single Elimination Final and today Huvermann threw the kitchen sink at Offringa in the Final to force a Super Final.

With a heat break between before the Super Final, Offringa used that time to compose herself and the Aruban once again managed to up her game when it mattered most as she landed culos and burners on both tacks, while also stomping a big, clean forward loop to deny Huvermann a maiden world title by 1.8 points. Offringa started the event with the aim of adding two world titles to her haul, and she has managed to accomplish her goals again, meaning she has now won 27 world titles and counting.

Huvermann cut a dejected figure upon hearing the result as she dropped to the ground in disappointment, but ultimately she should take great heart from this performance as this is the closest anyone has ever got to stealing the Freestyle crown from the Queen’s clutch.

Meanwhile, Lisa Kloster (MB Boards / Sailloft Hamburg) completes the event and overall podium as she reaches a new career high benchmark. The German produced several great performances as she has added some power moves to her weaponry and will be one to watch moving forwards.

Having been unlucky to draw Offringa in the opening round of the Single Elimination, Živa Batis (Flikka / GUNSAILS) was able to show her full potential today as she battled back from last all the way into fourth after winning three consecutive heats.

Men’s

Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde) spent most of the day waiting to find out who he would face in the Double Elimination Final as the Belgian looked to regain his Fuerte crown having relinquished it last year to Lennart Neubauer (Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins). In the end, Caers would face Jacopo Testa (WeOne / GUNSAILS / AL360) and the former two-time world champion had too much firepower on this occasion as Caers starts the season unbeaten after producing a huge port tack display with a bongka, massive shifty and a pasko.

Testa did well to climb two places from the single as he first denied Takumi Moriya (Severne / Severne Sails) a maiden podium on the World Tour before also managing to take down Steven Van Broeckhoven (WeOne / GUNSAILS) to progress into the top two. The Italian actually almost matched Caers’ port tack performance with a superb display of his own on starboard, which included a sick triple spock, but was heavily punished for not completing his port tack scoresheet - missing one move, while also counting a 3.2 point forward loop. Second place represents Testa’s best finish ever in Fuerte - bettering his third place finish in 2019.

Van Broeckhoven slips one place to third from the single, but will still be delighted with his start to the season as the Belgian earns his first podium since Sylt in 2023.

Moriya may be a little gutted to have lost his place on the podium, but fourth place in Fuerte still represents a huge result for the 18-year-old. The hugely talented Japanese sailor almost staged a late come back against Testa in the battle for the podium, but his late flourish came a little too late on this occasion. Moriya leaves Fuerte with his best result to date on the World Tour, which equals the best individual result by a Japanese sailor after Takuma Sugi (Tabou / GA Sails / Black Project Fins) also finished fourth in Fiji in 2023.

Lennart Neubauer (Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) managed to fight back from ninth in the Single Elimination to fifth in the Double. The reigning world champion posted the highest scoring heat of the entire contest against vice-world champion - Adrien Bosson (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins) - in Heat 30b as he became the only sailor to break the 40 point barrier - eventually posting a huge total of 42.5 points. Neubauer then suffered a slender half a point loss to Testa.

Elsewhere, Dieter van der Eyken (Severne / Severne Sails) also staged a great come back as the Belgian won four heats on the bounce to secure sixth place in the Double Elimination, which is his best result in Fuerte since 2019.

Adrien Bosson shares seventh place with Bodhi Kempen (Severne / Severne Sails), with the latter earning his best result to date on the World Tour after producing a standout performance against Gollito Estredo (Tabou / GA Sails) in Heat 28a when he posted 36.8 points, but could’t reach those dizzy heights again as he bowed out against van der Eyken in the next round.

The top ten is completed by Niclas Nebelung (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins), Antony Ruenes (Tabou / GA Sails), Gollito Estredo and Balz Müller (Severne / Severne Sails), who landed a cheeseroll into shaka today to continue his innovative ways.

That concludes the official competition at the 37th edition of the Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam, but that’s not necessarily the end of the action as if there is wind over the next few days then we are planning to run some Super Sessions. There will be an announcement at 12:30pm (GMT+1) on Friday, so depending on the wind, there may be more action to come tomorrow.

Result 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Women’s Freestyle

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Maaike Huvermann (NED | Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Lisa Kloster (GER | MB-Boards / Sailloft Hamburg)
4th Živa Batis (SLO | Flikka / GUNSAILS)
5th Elena Dominick (GER | Severne / Severne Sails)

Result 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Men’s Freestyle

1st Yentel Caers (BEL | JP / NeilPryde)
2nd Jacopo Testa (ITA | WeOne / GUNSAILS / AL360)
3rd Steven Van Broeckhoven (BEL | WeOne | GUNSAILS)
4th Takumi Moriya (JPN | Severne / Severne Sails)
5th Lennart Neubauer (GRE | Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
6th Dieter van der Eyken (BEL | Severne / Severne Sails)
7th Adrien Bosson (FRA | Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins)
7th Bodhi Kempen (NED | Severne / Severne Sails)
9th Niclas Nebelung (GER | Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins)
9th Antony Ruenes (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)
9th Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (VEN | Tabou / GA Sails)
9th Balz Müller (SUI | Severne / Severne Sails)

Am ersten Tag des Freestyle beim PWA Grand Slam 2025 auf Fuerteventura boten die Verrenkungskünstler der Windsurfwelt ein unglaubliches Spektakel mit Überraschungen, epischen Duellen und gewaltigen Moves, die den ganzen Tag über gezeigt wurden. Nach sieben Stunden fast ununterbrochenem Wettbewerb führen Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) und Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde) nach ihren Siegen in den Single Eliminations die Rangliste des Events an.

Freestyle

Women’s

Maaike Huvermann (Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) made her intentions pretty clear before the start of the event that she wanted to challenge Sarah-Quita Offringa for the coveted top spot on the podium and she certainly wasn’t lying as she and Offringa put on, not only the best ever women’s Freestyle final in Fuerte, but quite possibly the best women’s Freestyle final ever on the World Tour, as both women pushed each other to raise the bar once again.

Huvermann has an inner belief, which most people don’t possess, that she can beat Offringa as she is the only woman since 2008 to have taken a heat off the Queen of Freestyle, and you could sense that in the final as she unloaded her full artillery of moves in the final consisting of; a shaka, skopu and massive burner on port, while she landed a regular kono, culo and the first ever spock into kono in competition to place Offringa under all kinds of pressure.

The problem for Huvermann was that she was up against one of the greatest female athletes of all time in Offringa, and no matter the discipline, the Aruban has an uncanny knack of raising her game when it matters most, which is what she did once again to fend off Huvermann’s attack by just 0.8 of a point, which is made all the more impressive given Offringa’s seamless transition from Slalom X to Freestyle.

By the looks of things, and with no disrespect, Offringa and Huvermann are a cut above, and it’s more than likely that they will lineup against each other again in the Double Elimination, which should provide an intriguing conclusion to the Women’s Freestyle.

Meanwhile, third seed Lisa Kloster (MB-Boards / Sailloft Hamburg) claimed her place in the top three for the first time in her career as she comprehensively saw off Elena Dominick (Severne / Severne Sails) in the b-final and she will now look to defend that position in the Double Elimination. Kloster should take plenty of confidence from her performances today as she continually improved heat-by-heat and was head and shoulders above the rest of the competition.

Yentel Caers survived a potential injury scare to deservedly claim the top spot on the podium in the Single Elimination. The Belgian came out of his straps mid-trick in his quarterfinal against Antony Ruenes (Tabou / GA Sails) and suffered a nasty cut to his leg after landing on his fin, but didn’t let that affect his focus as he laid down the highest scoring heat of the event thus far against Jacopo Testa (WeOne / GUNSAILS / AL360) in the semifinals - 39.5 points. Caers sailed with his usual clinical, powerful style and was the only sailor to land a double air culo throughout the day. The Belgian last won here in 2023 and will look to regain his Fuerte crown by successfully defending his top spot in the Double Elimination, which will start tomorrow.

They say that Freestyle is a young man’s game, but Steven Van Broeckhoven (WeOne / GUNSAILS) continues to seamlessly deny Father Time as the 39-year-old still manages to keep his younger peers at bay after delivering another polished display. Van Broeckhoven edged an incredibly close Round of 16 heat against Sam Esteve (JP / NeilPryde) with just 0.4 of a point separating them by the end of their fight. The Belgian then went on to win the battle of the veterans as he defeated former 9-time Freestyle world champion - Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Tabou / GA Sails) - in a matchup that was often a Winners’ Final little more than a decade ago, before taking down 18-year-old Takumi Moriya (Severne / Severne Sails) in the semifinals.

Today marks a massive day for Takumi Moriya as the hugely talented Japanese sailor qualified for the semifinal of a Single Elimination on the World Tour for the first time in his youthful career. Moriya has been on the radar for a couple of years already, but today he truly announced himself as a face that will carry Freestyle for years to come. Not only did Moriya qualify for the semifinals, but he then won an epic duel against Testa in the battle for third and fourth after staging a phenomenal late comeback to claim the last place on the podium - for now at least.

Jacopo Testa was on song throughout the day as the Italian only posted one score below 36 points as he sailed with his usual silky style - he was just unlucky to lose out in the dying stages against both Caers and Moriya - but don’t be surprised if he still challenges for the event title in the Double Elimination.

Fifth place is currently shared by the French duo of Antony Ruenes (Tabou / GA Sails) and Adrien Bosson (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins), Germany’s Niclas Nebelung (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins) and Venezuela’s Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo. Bosson and Nebelung both lost extremely close quarterfinals against Testa and Moriya, respectively, with Bosson losing out by just 0.3 of a point, while Nebelung missed out by just half a point and all of the current joint fifth places are more than capable of breaking into the podium positions during the Double Elimination.

Last year, Gollito made his first appearance on the World Tour since 2019, and while he showed glimpses of what he’s still capable of, he didn’t look quite like the 9-time Freestyle world champion winning machine that he once was. However, today, the 35-year-old rolled back the years with a couple of unbelievable performances as he oozed his usual ‘Gollito’ style that has made him such an iconic Freestyle figure through the years.

No-one was quite sure of what to expect from him this year, but his first round performance soon made everyone standup and take notice as he posted the third highest score of the opening round - 34.5 points. With Gollito being unseeded, that would setup a mouthwatering, but extremely unlucky draw for reigning event and world champion - Lennart Neubauer (Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) - who would be forced to face the Freestyle legend in the Round of 16 and fireworks ensued as they produced one of the heats of the day in Heat 12b. It’s hard to call it an upset when the reigning world champion loses to the 9-time Freestyle King, but ultimately in today’s day and age it is, as Gollito prevailed by 0.2 of a point.

Neubauer is nursing an ankle injury, which impacts him more on port tack, but even so, he was humble enough to admit that he was happy enough with his sailing and that he was just on the wrong side of the outcome this time around. Neubauer is more than capable of coming all the way back through the double, but that ankle injury does still leave question marks about whether he can really push that hard for the 10 heats it would require to comeback. As a spectator it should make for great viewing either way.

The forecast for Thursday looks as equally windy as today, so tomorrow promises to provide another blockbuster installment of Freestyle. With the forecast looking dodgy for the closing weekend it’s likely that we will push to finish both the Men’s and Women’s Double Eliminations if the wind plays ball. The Freestyle fleets will meet again at 09:30am (GMT+1) tomorrow morning with the action commencing from 10am onwards.

Current Ranking 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Women’s Freestyle

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Maaike Huvermann (NED | Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Lisa Kloster (GER | MB-Boards / Sailloft Hamburg)
4th Elena Dominick (GER | Severne / Severne Sails)

Current Ranking 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Men’s Freestyle

1st Yentel Caers (BEL | JP / NeilPryde)
2nd Steven Van Broeckhoven (BEL | WeOne | GUNSAILS)
3rd Takumi Moriya (JPN | Severne / Severne Sails)
4th Jacopo Testa (ITA | WeOne / GUNSAILS / AL360)
5th Niclas Nebelung (GER | Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Antony Ruenes (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)
5th Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (VEN | Tabou / GA Sails)
5th Adrien Bosson (FRA | Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins)
9th Tig Kort (NED | JP / NeilPryde)
9th Bodhi Kempen (NED | Severne Windsurfing)
9th Lennart Neubauer (GRE | Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
9th Sam Esteve (FRA | JP / NeilPryde)
9th Antoine Albert (NC | Goya Windsurfing / MFC)
9th Balz Müller (SUI | Severne / Severne Sails)
9th Dieter van der Eyken (BEL | Severne / Severne Sails)
9th Youp Schmit (NB | Flikka)

Damit ist der Slalom X für ein weiteres Jahr auf Fuerteventura beendet, das mit fünf Tagen Wahnsinnsbedingungen gesegnet war. Herzlichen Glückwunsch an Pierre Mortefon, Matteo Iachino und Maciek Rutkowski, die das Podium bei den Männern komplettieren. Und Glückwünsche an Sarah-Quita Offringa, die zum 26. Mal Weltmeisterin wurde, Justine Lemeteyer und Femke van der Veen, die das Event- und Gesamtpodium vervollständigten. Morgen geht es in Fuerteventura weiter, wenn sowohl bei den Männern als auch bei den Frauen zum Freestyle gewechselt wird.

Am vorletzten Tag des Slalom X auf Fuerteventura krönte sich Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) zum unglaublichen 26. Mal zur Weltmeisterin, nachdem sie ihren Slalom X Weltmeistertitel erfolgreich verteidigt hatte. In der Zwischenzeit kam es bei den Herren zu einem weiteren Drama, da eine solide Dünung in Kombination mit der Winddünung, die in eine andere Richtung lief, den Weltbesten echte Probleme bereitete, was schließlich dazu führte, dass Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing) die Kontrolle über das Event erlangte, aber das erzählt noch nicht die ganze Geschichte...

Slalom X

Women’s

Sarah-Quita Offringa started the day on the cusp of an incredible 26th world title, however, the Aruban didn’t want to know the maths behind her world title run in and instead chose to focus on taking things race-by-race.

Unbeknown to Offringa, a victory in the opening elimination of the day would secure her the world crown and with Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing) dropping the tricky last gybe, Offringa would swoop to collect her sixth bullet in a row and with it the 2025 Slalom X PWA world title. At that point, Offringa didn’t know she had won, so there was understandably a lot more emotion once she had also won the next race adding: “It’s insane. I really didn't see this coming at the beginning of the week. I didn't think I could even finish the event, but here we are. It's really cool. I got more determination and motivation as the event progressed and today things started to click. It feels insane to win the event. Now I can relax.”

Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) walks away from Fuerteventura as the Slalom X vice-world champion after saving her best until last to keep Femke van der Veen (Starboard / Severne Sails) at bay. Lemeteyer started the day with a fifth place, but then claimed a second followed by her only bullet of the event in Elimination 14 to remain in control before surviving a scare at the final gybe in Elimination 15 to secure second just ahead of van der Veen to claim that all important second place.

van der Veen fought valiantly, and aside from the opening day, the 25-year-old also produced her best performance as she claims her place on the overall podium for the first time in her career. The Dutch girl sailed superbly today registering a second and three thirds, but it wasn’t quite enough as she finishes just 0.7 of a point behind Lemeteyer.

For Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing) it was another day of what could’ve been - as it has been for much of the event for the Brit. After starting the day with a second place, Gibson did briefly jump into the podium positions, but her top three aspirations fizzled out following a fifth, seventh and an eighth. The 27-year-old led the majority of the races at some point with her phenomenal top speed, but couldn’t quite see them out, which ultimately means she has to settle for fourth.

The top five is completed by 15-year-old Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde), who hit a hot streak of form by finishing fourth in the last three eliminations to pip Blanca Alabau (WeOne / Severne Sails).

Men’s

After being slightly off the pace yesterday, Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing) made no mistake today as he regains the event lead for the first time since the opening day. The reigning world champion struck twice to claim back-to-back bullets to ensure fate in his own hands tomorrow. As so often seems to be the case, Mortefon is capable of raising his level in these key moments and you’d back him to secure the victory tomorrow. If two races are completed tomorrow then the equivalent of a third and fourth (7 points from two races) would be enough to guarantee him the event title.

Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails / Z Fins) continued his phenomenal level of consistency without being able to land a killer blow as the Italian recorded a fourth and a second today to jump into second place. For the second day running, Iachino did well to stay on his feet in a Winners’ Final - this time managing to avoid Jordy Vonk’s (Duotone Windsurfing) falling mast after a nasty catapult. Iachino is 5.6 points behind Mortefon heading into the final day of racing.

After claiming second place in Elimination 6, Jordy Vonk started Elimination 7 just one point behind Mortefon, however, when prominently placed, the Flying Dutchman, who has been in the form of his life, suffered a nasty catapult on the opening reach, which actually resulted in Vonk being knocked out in the water and the 32-year-old is currently in hospital getting fully checked over. It’s sometimes easy to forget the risks these guys are taking when sailing in these hardcore conditions and everyone from the PWA wishes Jordy all the best.

Maciek Rutkowski (JP / NeilPryde) cut a dejected and emotional figure after the wheels all but came off his event title challenge for another year in Fuerteventura. The Pole was leading Elimination 9, but on the penultimate reach he hit a horrible piece of death chop, which instantly ended his chances as he went from first to eventually finish sixth. Rutkowski has been in the top three for the entire event, but heads into the last day just outside the podium positions. It’s not mathematically impossible for Rutkowski to still win, but the odds are not in his favour - stranger things have happened in sport before though…

The top ten after the top four remains unchanged; Taty Frans (Point-7 / Z Fins) - 5th - Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / Point-7 / Z Fins) - 6th - Nico Prien (JP / NeilPryde) - 7th - Bruno Martini (I-99 / S2Maui) - 8th - Jimmy Thieme (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) - 9th - and Ingmar Daldorf (Tabou / GA Sails) tenth.

The last day of Slalom X will see the conclusion of the men’s fleet and the plan, wind depending, will be two run another two eliminations. The sailors will meet again at 11:30am (GMT+1) on Tuesday morning with the action commencing from 12pm onwards.

Result 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Women’s Slalom X

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)

2nd Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails)
3rd Femke van der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)
4th Jenna Gibson (GBR | Duotone Windsurfing)
5th Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (NB | Starboard / NeilPryde)
Current Ranking 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Men’s Slalom X *After 9 Eliminations (2 Discards)

1st Pierre Mortefon (FRA | FMX Racing)
2nd Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / Severne Sails / Z Fins)
3rd Jordy Vonk (NED | Duotone Windsurfing)
4th Maciek Rutkowski (POL | JP / NeilPryde)
5th Taty Frans (NB | Point-7 / Z Fins)
6th Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / Point-7 / Z Fins)
7th Nico Prien (GER | JP / NeilPryde)
8th Bruno Martini (ITA | I-99 / S2Maui / Z Fins)
9th Ingmar Daldorf (NED | Tabou / GA Sails)
10th Jimmy Thieme (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails)

Der dritte Tag des PWA Grand Slam 2025 auf Fuerteventura bot einige der aufregendsten Rennen, die es bisher gab, mit mehr Überraschungen und Wendungen, als man hätte vorhersagen können, da das Wettkampfrezept für einige Fahrer über den Haufen geworfen wurde, während andere weiter aufblühten. Die Fahrer der beiden Fleets waren auf einer Größe von 5,6 bis 6,8 m unterwegs, und da der Swell lief und die Wurst wieder eingeführt wurde, kam es zu einem kleinen Gemetzel, als sich Slalom X als die äußerst unterhaltsame Disziplin erwies, die sie ist.

Slalom X

Women’s

Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) is now on the cusp of defending her Slalom X world title, which would extend her tally to 26. The Aruban has gotten better and better over the last three days and after winning all three eliminations today the 33-year-old has now won the last five eliminations, which has put her in complete control of the race for the event and world title. Offringa hasn’t been the fastest over the last three days, but she has managed to avoid a lot of trouble, while being able to stay on her feet at crucial moments to open an almost unassailable 15.8 point advantage at the top of the event rankings.

Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) leapfrogs Femke van der Veen (Starboard / Severne Sails) into second place, after claiming two second places today, but just 0.6 of a point separate them heading into the last two days. Van der Veen had her worst day on the course so far with a tenth, an eighth and a fourth, but still remains in the hunt for the podium.

Meanwhile, Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing) will be ruing both her luck and individual errors. The Brit powered to the front in Elimination 9, but then went down hard as she prepared to gybe the opening buoy, which resulted in her finishing seventh. Gibson was then prominently placed in Elimination 10, but was then taken out by Blanca Alabau (WeOne / Severne Sails) at the first gybe. The fastest woman in the world then used her pace to battle back into third place only for Mae Davico (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) to fall in front of her at the last mark, which would eventually lead to a fifth place finish. While in the last elimination of the day, Gibson, once again powered to the front of the pack and opened up a significant lead by the third, only to be scuppered by a piece of swell as she catapulted on the exit, but still managed to finish third. So far, this has been a case of missed opportunities for Gibson, but she now has a shot of the podium with the third discard to come after Elimination 12.

Elsewhere, Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) earned her best finish to date on the World Tour - second in Elimination 10 as she managed to avoid the carnage and now just two points separate her and Alabau in fifth and sixth, while 17-year-old Charlotte Philip (Challenger Sails), who is making her debut, claimed her first top four finish in Elimination 9.

Men’s

Things really couldn’t be any closer at the top of the Men’s fleet with just 1.3 points separating first to third, while just 3.3 points separate first to fourth after the latest two races.

Overnight leader Maciek Rutkowski (JP / NeilPryde) still leads the event, but he had his worst day on the water thus far as he recorded an eighth and a ninth, which he currently discards. The Pole entered the first gybe of the Winners’ Final of Elimination 6 in second place, and with Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing) failing to qualify for the top eight for the first time this week, it looked as though Rutkowski may cement his place at the top of the rankings, but he went down on the entry. Rutkowski then majorly rode his luck in the quarterfinals of Elimination 7 as he went down hard at the sausage, but fortunately he was in a heat with only six sailors, so he somehow escaped unscathed. Rutkowski did eventually still miss out on a place in the Winners’ Final after a coming together with Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / Point-7 / Z Fins) in the semifinals and he’ll now need to reset heading into the last two days.

While Rutkowski endured his worst day so far, Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) enjoyed his best as the flying Dutchman won Elimination 6 to secure back-to-back bullets for the first time in his career, while he claimed second place in the next to deservedly jump from fourth to second and is now just a point behind Rutkowski as he hunts for a first event win on the World Tour. Vonk flirted with danger each time his navigated his way over the sausage, but he looked phenomenally quick all day.

Like Rutkowski, Mortefon also didn’t enjoy his best day on the water as he finished outside the top three for the first time this week in both eliminations. The reigning world champion was leading the first semifinal of Elimination 6, but then came a cropper at the sausage as he missed out on the Winners’ Final, while he snatched a place in the top eight of the next race after an untimely poor last gybe by Vrieswijk allowed Mortefon to claim the last qualifying position - eventually finishing fifth. Mortefon also discards both results today and slips one place to third, but remains very much in contention for the title.

Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails / Z Fins) has been Mr. Consistent all week with just one finish outside the top three in the first seven eliminations (6th), so while he may currently be fourth, the Italian does have a trump card up his sleeve as his current second discard is a third, which puts him in a powerful position compared to the top three, who all know any mistake will now cost them to pick up more points. Iachino knows he needs to try and find a little extra on his top speed, but he’s perfectly placed to make an aggressive attack at the top now heading into the last two days after another two third places today.

Taty Frans (Point-7 / Z Fins) remains in fifth place, but the Bonairean has consolidated that position after earning his best result of the event to date in Elimination 6 - second - before backing it up with a fourth in Elimination 7 to cap a fine day. Frans looked like he was revelling in the conditions as he confidently launched into huge jumps as he accelerated towards the sausage, where many other sailors backed off.

Elsewhere, Vrieswijk and Nico Prien (JP / NeilPryde) also remain in sixth and seventh respectively from the overnight rankings, while the latter was fortunate to escape unscathed after a nasty coming together with Ingmar Daldorf (Tabou / GA Sails) as the two crossed the start line in the Winners’ Final of Elimination 7 - thankfully both of them were okay.

Bruno Martini (I-99 / S2Maui / Z Fins) continues to climb his way up the leaderboard as everything finally clicked into place for the Italian in Elimination 7 to claim his first bullet of the week, which sees Martini jump from just outside the top 10 (11th) into eighth as he showed tremendous pace throughout the day.

The top 10 is completed by Ingmar Daldorf - 9th - and Jimmy Thieme (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) - 10th - while 19-year-old Sacha Fortune (Duotone Windsurfing) qualified for his second Winners’ Final of the week in Elimination 7 before eventually finishing sixth, which sees the young Frenchman break into the top 16 - currently 14th.

Things couldn’t be hotting up much better than as we head into the final two days of the Slalom X and with the wind expected to continue it promises to provide a pulsating finale to the racing. The sailors will meet again at 11:30am (GMT+1) on Monday morning with the action commencing from 12pm onwards.

With another solid forecast to come the skippers’ meeting has been called for 11:30am (GMT+1) with the action commencing from 12pm onwards - once the wind has properly filled in.

Current Ranking 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Women’s Slalom X *After 11 Eliminations (2 Discards)

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails)
3rd Femke van der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)
4th Jenna Gibson (GBR | Duotone Windsurfing)
5th Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)

Current Ranking 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Men’s Slalom X *After 7 Eliminations (2 Discards)

1st Maciek Rutkowski (POL | JP / NeilPryde)
2nd Jordy Vonk (NED | Duotone Windsurfing)
3rd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | FMX Racing)
4th Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / Severne Sails / Z Fins)
5th Taty Frans (NB | Future Fly / Point-7 / Z Fins)
6th Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / Point-7 / Z Fins)
7th Nico Prien (GER | JP / NeilPryde)
8th Bruno Martini (ITA | I-99 / S2Maui / Z Fins)
9th Ingmar Daldorf (NED | Tabou / GA Sails)
10th Jimmy Thieme (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails)

Nach vier Tagen endete der California Windsurf Cup in St. Peter-Ording. Fabian Wolf (GER-404, Starboard, Severne) konnte in der Disziplin Foiling gewinnen, während Vincent Langer (GER-1, Duotone) die Disziplin Fin Slalom für sich entschied. In der Overallwertung liegen beide punktgleich an der Spitze des Klassements. So hat der Tourstopp der deutschen Spitzenserie gleich zwei Sieger.

Nach dem actiongeladenen Eröffnungs-Donnerstag mit sechs Fin Slalom Eliminations musste sich die Windsurf-Elite gedulden. Der Nordseestrand wurde zwar mit perfektem Strandwetter verwöhnt, allerdings reichte der Wind am Freitag und Samstag nicht für offizielle Wettfahrten aus. Umso größer war die Freude, als am Abschluss-Sonntag der Wind zurückkehrte und zwei komplette Foling Eliminationen zuließ.

Der ansonsten in der olympischen iQFOiL Klasse antretende Fabi Wolf konnte beide Rennen für sich entscheiden und sicherte sich so überlegen den Sieg in dieser Disziplin. Auf Platz zwei folgte der vielfache deutsche, Europa- und Weltmeister Vincent Langer. Der Kieler sicherte sich in beiden Läufen Platz zwei. Der niederländische Worldcup-Profi Bob van de Burgt (NED-737, Point7, Patrik) lief zweimal auf Platz drei ein und eroberte so den dritten Platz auf dem Podium der Disziplin Foiling. Meno Büchler (GER-91, Starboard, Severne) belegt als bester Youth U21 den vierten Platz, Jonne Heimann (GER-107, Gunsails) komplettiert die Top-5 in dieser Disziplin.

In Fin Slalom fiel die Entscheidung bereits am Eröffnungstag-Donnerstag. Fünf bis sechs Windstärken boten optimale Bedingungen für diese Disziplin, sodass die maximal mögliche Anzahl von 6 Wettfahrten pro Tag durchgeführt wurde.

Vincent Langer dominierte diese Disziplin mit fünf Laufsiegen. Da ab drei Wettfahrten jeder Fahrer sein schlechtestes Ergebnis streichen kann, liegt Vincent Langer mit der Idealpunktzahl 0,0 an der Spitze der Ergebnisliste. Fabi Wolf zeigte eindrucksvoll, dass er nicht nur auf dem olympischen iQFOiL Board zu den besten Deutschen gehört. Mit sechs zweiten Plätzen sichert er sich 8,0 Punkte und damit Platz zwei in der Ergebnisliste. Nur einen Punkt dahinter folgte Leo Richter (GER-9, Neil Pryde, JP-Australia), der als einziger neben Langer eine Fin Slalom Elimination gewinnen konnte. In Verbindung mit drei dritten Plätzen kommt Richter so auf 9,0 Punkte und liegt so in der Endabrechnung der Disziplin Fin Slalom nur einen Punkt hinter Fabi Wolf auf Platz drei. Ebenso eng gestaltete sich der Kampf um Platz vier in dieser Disziplin. Keno Recke (GER-10, Patrik) liegt hier am Ende um einen Punkt vor Jonne Heimann und verweist diesen so auf Platz fünf.

In der Overallergebnisliste werden die beiden Disziplinen kombiniert und die Gesamtsieger der Regatta ermittelt. Hier kommt es in St. Peter-Ording zu einer Premiere. Da sowohl Fabi Wolf als auch Vincent Langer eine Disziplin für sich entscheiden konnten und in der jeweils anderen auf Platz zwei lagen, kommen beide in der Overall-Ergebnisliste auf 3,0 Punkte und liegen so punktgleich an der Spitze der Overall Veranstaltungswertung. Der Tie kann nicht aufgelöst werden, sodass der California Windsurf Cup St. Peter-Ording zwei Sieger hat, die sich den Triumph beim Tourstopp an der Nordseeküste teilen.

Ebenso eng ging es beim Kampf um Platz drei zu. Keno Recke und Jonne Heimann kommen in der Overallergebnisliste beide auf zehn Punkte. Im Tiebreak kann sich Recke aber aufgrund seines vierten Platzes in der Disziplin Slalom durchsetzen und so den dritten Platz auf dem Podium erobern. Nur einen Punkt hinter dem viertplatzierten Jonne Heimann komplettiert Leo Richter die Top-5 beim California Windsurf Cup St. Peter-Ording 2025.

Keno Recke siegt in der Youth U21 Wertung vor Jesse Richter (GER-180, Starboard, Sailloft) und Thies Johnson (GER-86, Duotone). Bei den Youth U19 gewinnt Jesper-Mo Thomsen (GER-510, GA-Sails, Tabou) vor Noah Schmäh (GER-855, Starboard, North Sails) und Oke Hochschild (GER-50, Patrik). In der Junioren U17 Divisionen triumphiert Mika Henning (GER-64, Duotone) vor Lena Schmäh (GER-857, Starboard, Severne) und Philipp Köhlert (GER-2009, Fanatic, Severne).

Mit der LVM Youngster Trophy werden altersstufenübergreifend die besten Nachwuchsfahrer geehrt und mit einem Preisgeld von insgesamt 500 Euro honoriert. Keno Recke sichert sich als bester Nachwuchsfahrer mit 250 Euro den Hauptanteil davon. Jesse Richter und Mika Henning können sich über 150 Euro bzw. 100 Euro freuen.

Bei den Grandmastern Ü50 gewann Oliver Schott (GER-26, Duotone, Patrik) vor dem Schweizer Remo Diethelm (SUI-2, Patrik) und Michael Brozio (GER-27, Duotone). Lena Schmäh bewährte sich als beste Dame in dem stark besetzten Herrenfeld und kommt in der Overallwertung auf Platz 15.

Der California Windsurf Cup St. Peter-Ording war ein voller Erfolg. Es konnten offizielle Wertungen in allen ausgeschriebenen Disziplinen erzielt werden. Das Teilnehmerfeld war mit praktisch der kompletten deutschen Windsurf-Elite und starken Startern aus Dänemark, der Schweiz und den Niederlanden hervorragend besetzt. Neben dem spektakulären Sport auf dem Wasser überzeugte der Event mit einem bunten Rahmen- und Partyprogramm. Skimboarding, LVM Family World, Kinderprogramm bei der Autostadt, Vanlife-Expo, Catering und vor allem gigantische Beachpartys. Das Eventvillage auf dem Ordinger Nordseestrand lockte über die vier Veranstaltungstage fast 50.000 Besucher nach St. Peter-Ording.

Im kommenden Jahr wird der California Windsurf Cup wieder in St. Peter-Ording Station machen. Als nächstes geht es aber für die Windsurf-Elite auf die Nordseeinsel Sylt. Vom 29. Juli bis zum 03. August findet dann am Brandenburger Strand in Westerland die GWA Championship im Rahmen des California Surf Cup Sylt statt.

Der zweite Tag des 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam enttäuschte nicht, denn die Windmaschine Sotavento setzte sich fort, wenn auch etwas schwächer als gestern, besonders zu Beginn des Tages. Die weltbesten Surfer wurden wieder einmal auf eine harte Probe gestellt, denn die wechselnden Winde und die unruhige See bedeuteten, dass sie jederzeit auf der Hut sein mussten, zumal auch ein neuer Swell den Kurs durchzog. Am Ende des zweiten Tages waren vier weitere Eliminations bei den Frauen und drei weitere bei den Männern abgeschlossen, und es bleibt unglaublich eng an der Spitze, während wir in die letzten drei Tage der Rennen gehen.

Slalom X

Women’s

Having had thoughts about whether to continue racing last night after yesterday’s hardcore conditions, Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) will no doubt be a much happier campier at the end of day two as she now leads the event after the opening eight eliminations. The Aruban started the day with two solid second places before extending her advantage at the top by securing back-to-back bullets to sign off, which were her first wins since the opening elimination.

Femke van der Veen (Starboard / Severne Sails) couldn’t quite repeat yesterday’s performance, but even so, she enjoyed another decent day on the water as she never finished outside of the top four in today’s racing with a second, third and two fourths and although she has lost pole position the 25-year-old is still Offringa’s closest rival, but now trails by 4.3 points.

Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) picked up where she left off yesterday to start with as she bagged another two third places in Eliminations 5 and 6, but then she lost a bit of momentum with a fifth and an eleventh place, which sees her lose some valuable ground to the top two.

What a Difference a Day Makes

Having experienced a disastrous start yesterday, Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing) enjoyed a much better day as she managed to show her true potential. The Brit started the day in eight place, but rises all the way into fourth place at the close of the second day and is now just 0.1 of a point behind Lemeteyer in third. Gibson completed a brilliant hat-trick to start the day before doing brilliantly to battle back in Elimination 7 after round the first buoy in last she managed to battle back into third place, while she then finished the day with an excellent second place to cap a great day on the water and she is now firmly back in the hunt for the podium.

With Gibson flying up the ladder, Blanca Alabau (WeOne / Severne Sails) and Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) both slip one place to fifth and sixth respectively and those two are locked in a tight duel with just a point separating the.

Men’s

Maciek Rutkowski (JP / NeilPryde) continues to build on his bright start from yesterday and the Pole currently leads the event after the opening five eliminations by 2.3 points. Rutkowski has raced brilliantly thus far and started the day by securing his second bullet in three races before claiming another solid second place in Elimination 4. Rutkowski then finished outside of the top two for the first time this week in Elimination 5, but he currently discards that result such has been his level of consistency.

Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing) remains right in the thick of the action in second place, but loses a little bit of ground on Rutkowski after today’s three eliminations. The reigning Foil Slalom and Slalom X world champion is yet to finish outside the top three and would probably normally be leading the ranking with his current performance, but for an on-song Rutkowski and the remaining three days are shaping up to be thrillers with a great battle on our hands.

After finishing sixth in the opening elimination of the day, Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails) knew it was absolutely imperative that he claim a bullet within the next race or two if he wanted to stay in contention and that’s exactly what the Italian managed to do as he claimed a clearcut victory in Elimination 4, but he still loses an extra point from the overnight rankings - now 4.3 points off the top compared to 3.3 points at the start of the day. The defending event champion currently discards the sixth place from Elimination 4, but will need to crack the recipe for more bullets over the next three days as it doesn’t look the top two are going to put a foot wrong at the moment.

Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) enjoyed a great day on the water as he secured his first elimination victory since Gran Canaria last year, while incidentally this is the first time the Flying Dutchman has managed to win an elimination in Fuerte. Vonk enjoyed a phenomenal battle with Mortefon in the last elimination of the day, but laid the pedal to the metal heading into the final gybe to power past his French rival to secure the bullet, which he was understandably delighted with. Vonk now has his sights set on more bullets and trying to force his way into the podium positions - currently 4 points off of Iachino in third. As well as his victory, Vonk earned an excellent second place in Elimination 3, while he currently discards his seventh place from the fourth elimination.

Elsewhere, Taty Frans (Point-7) gains five places from the overnight rankings which sees the Bonairean rise from tenth into fifth place. After a shock quarterfinal exit in yesterday’s second race, Frans was able to discard that today as he qualified for all three Winners’ Finals where he finished fourth, fifth and seventh to cap a fine day.

Fellow Bonairean, Amado Vrieswijk (Futue Fly / Point-7), slips one place to sixth after missing out on the Winners’ Finals for the first time this week in Eliminations 3 and 4. Vrieswijk was able to win both b-finals for maximum damage limitation before ending the day with a sixth place as he pipped Frans on the finish line.

Nico Prien (JP / NeilPryde) also slips one place to seventh after a slightly mixed bag of results, which started with a 15th, but then got progressively better with a tenth before signing off day two with a fifth place.

Benoit Merceur (Starboard / Severne Sails) started the day in seventh place and the 23-year-old made a bright start to proceedings as he booked his secured his place in the top eight of the two opening eliminations, but unfortunately, during Elimination 4 the Frenchman suffered a significant cut on his arm, which required stitches and a trip to the hospital, which sadly rules him out for the remainder of the event and he now faces a race to be fit in time for Tenerife.

The top ten is completed by Jimmy Thieme (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) - 9th - with the Frenchman earning one of his best finishes to date on the World Tour in Elimination 4 - 4th - while Ingmar Daldorf (Tabou / GA Sails) - 10th - will be ruing his luck that the Elimination 3 b-final had to be cancelled at the death due to the fourth mark drifting when he was winning the heat.

Bruno Martini (I-99 / S2Maui) breaks into he top 16 - 11th - after getting things together in Eliminations 4 and 6 - where he finished 6th and 9th.

The top 16 is completed by Scotty Stallman (Tabou / GA Sails), Cedric Bordes (Tabou / GA Sails), Lohan Jules (I-99 / S2Maui), Alexandre Cousin (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) and Pierre Macquaert (JP / NeilPryde), who qualified for his first Winners’ Final of the event in the last elimination.

With another solid forecast to come the skippers’ meeting has been called for 11:30am (GMT+1) with the action commencing from 12pm onwards - once the wind has properly filled in.

Current Ranking 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Women’s Slalom X *After 8 Eliminations (2 Discards)

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Femke van der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)
3rd Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails)
4th Jenna Gibson (GBR | Duotone Windsurfing)
5th Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)


Current Ranking 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Men’s Slalom X *After 5 Eliminations (1 Discard)

1st Maciek Rutkowski (POL | JP / NeilPryde)
2nd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | FMX Racing)
3rd Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
4th Jordy Vonk (NED | Duotone Windsurfing)
5th Taty Frans (NB | Point-7)
6th Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / Point-7)
7th Nico Prien (GER | JP / NeilPryde)
8th Benoit Merceur (FRA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
9th Jimmy Thieme (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails)
10th Ingmar Daldorf (NED | Tabou / GA Sails)

Sotavento, Fuerteventura, hat sich im Laufe der Jahre den Ruf erworben, die weltbesten Windsurfer auf die Probe zu stellen, und genau das hat es am ersten Tag des Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam 2025 getan, um sie mit einer Feuertaufe zu konfrontieren - bestehend aus Winden von mehr als 40 Knoten und einigen unglaublich kabbeligen Gewässern, die es mit Höchstgeschwindigkeit zu durchqueren galt, und man kann mit Sicherheit sagen, dass der „Death Chop“ mehr als nur ein paar Opfer forderte. Slalom X
Women’s

Up until today, Femke van der Veen (Starboard / Severne Sails) had only won one elimination on the World Tour (Gran Canaria 2024), however, by the end of the opening day here the 25-year-old has now tripled that tally to three after enjoying by far her best day on tour to date. Van der Veen started the day off with a solid second place and then reeled off back-to-back bullets in the howling winds to deservedly head up the event rankings at the close of play on a total of just 3.4 points. This is uncharted water for van der Veen, but based on today’s performance she’s a genuine threat.

Defending event champion, Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins), is currently just 1.3 points off the lead after a solid enough first day, which saw her record a bullet in the opener and two solid second places in the second and fourth races and she’s now perfectly poised to pounce in the coming days. What was quite surprising to see though was both Offringa and Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing), who are two of the fastest sailors in a straight-line, both jump the gun in the third elimination, which featured a speed leg and will leave both of them probably questioning why they chose to push the start quite so hard, when they had so much course to make up water over.

Current vice-world champion, Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails), enjoyed a solid start to proceedings and is now the only sailor in the fleet to have finished in the top three in every elimination thus far, though she rode her luck at times as she struggled to negotiate the corners, as did many of the world’s best racers, in the unbelievably treacherous water conditions. However, you have to capitalise on your luck and that’s what the 22-year-old did as she recorded a second place together with three thirds to lay herself a sturdy foundation on which to now build upon.

The top five is currently completed by Blanca Alabau (WeOne / Severne Sails), who recorded a third and two fourths, while she discards a seventh from the fourth elimination, and Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde), who is yet to finish outside the top five.

Jenna Gibson was probably left questioning why she’d even bothered entering here after a disastrous start to the opening three eliminations (11th, 11th, 10th), but the Brit dug deep to end the day on a high as she sealed her first bullet of the event in Elimination 4. Now, it’s obviously a long way back, but if she can start to build a bit of momentum she may still be able to salvage a podium, however, she’ll also be more than aware that there’s no more margin for error. Gibson sits in eighth after the opening day.

Men’s

Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing) may have a lot going on at the moment away from the racecourse, but the reigning world champion managed to put all of that to the back of his mind to produce another world class display in the howling winds to lead the overnight rankings. The Frenchman said that he was fully overpowered on his 6.0m, but managed to blitz his way to the front of the pack in both Winners’ Finals. The 35-year-old led until the last buoy in the opener before having to settle for second place, but made no mistakes in the next race as he secured his first bullet of the week to lead on countback.

Maciek Rutkowski (JP / NeilPryde) is the sailor equal on 2.7 points with Mortefon after the opening two races. The Pole produced a great last gybe in Elimination 1 to snatch the victory from beneath Mortefon’s nose and strike first blood. Rutkowski also put up a good fight in the second elimination, but couldn’t reel Mortefon in for a second time, but he’ll be more than happy with his start to the event after producing a polished display of sailing.

Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails) is currently 3.3 points adrift of the top two in third, but remains firmly within striking distance. The Italian was always well placed in the opening final, but will perhaps be more pleased with his result in Elimination 2, as he managed to fight his way back from last place after the first gybe all the way back into third, which may yet still prove pivotal. Iachino remains very much in contention, but even at this early stage he’ll be more than aware that he can’t afford to let Mortefon and/or Rutkowski earn too many more bullets before claiming one himself, if he is to defend his event title.

Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) is then a further five points back from Iachino on 11 points. The flying Dutchman comfortably qualified for both Winners’ Finals, but couldn’t really land a telling blow in either as he starts the event with a solid fifth and sixth.

Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / Point-7) is the fifth and final sailor to have qualified for both Winners’ Finals at the close of the first day. The former Freestyle world champion kicked things off with an excellent fourth place in Elimination 1, but Vrieswijk isn’t one for holding back, and unfortunately, both he and Bruno Martini (I-99 / S2Maui) pushed a little too hard on the run up in the second Winners’ Final and both were disqualified for premature starts - finishing joint 8th respectively.

Meanwhile, Germany’s Nico Prien (JP / NeilPryde) is just a couple of points off in sixth after a fourth and tenth today, while Benoit Merceur (Starboard / Severne Sails) and Ingmar Daldorf (Tabou / GA Sails), 7th and 8th respectively, are currently tied on 17 points.

The top ten is completed by fin aficionados Jimmy Thieme (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails) and Taty Frans (Future Fly / Point-7). The latter will be gutted with his mistake at the third buoy in Elimination 2 as he dropped his gybe when in acres of space and ultimately went from leading Heat 1 to suffering a quarterfinal exit, which slightly undoes his sixth place finish in the opener. Thieme, meanwhile, was very consistent, winning the first b-final before securing eleventh in the next.

Things are then extremely close with only 2.5 points separating 10th-14th, while Takuma Sugi (Tabou / GA Sails), who you are probably more familiar with as a household name from Freestyle and Wave, is then only three points further back in 15th after he managed to qualify for both semifinals today.

The forecast for tomorrow looks slightly lighter than today, though still extremely windy with 19-23 knots predicted, which doesn’t take into account the local effect, so on paper it should be another adrenaline-fuelled day of racing. The sailors will meet again at 10:30am (GMT+1) on Saturday morning with the action commencing from 11am onwards.

Current Ranking 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Women’s Slalom X

1st Femke van der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)
2nd Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails)
4th Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)
5th Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (NB | Starboard / NeilPryde)


Current Ranking 2025 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam - Men’s Slalom X

1st Pierre Mortefon (FRA | FMX Racing)
2nd Maciek Rutkowski (POL | JP / NeilPryde)
3rd Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
4th Jordy Vonk (NED | Duotone Windsurfing)
5th Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / Point-7)
6th Nico Prien (GER | JP / NeilPryde)
7th Benoit Merceur (FRA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
8th Ingmar Daldorf (NED | Tabou / GA Sails)
9th Jimmy Thieme (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails)
10th Taty Frans (NB | Future Fly / Point-7)