Nachdem die Formalitäten rund um die Anmeldung, das Aufriggen und das offizielle Gruppenfoto erledigt waren, richtete sich die Aufmerksamkeit bald auf die Single Elimination im Freestyle. Dank einer soliden Wettervorhersage bot der Eröffnungstag einen explosiven Start in den 2026 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam. Am Ende des Eröffnungstages waren die ersten beiden Runden der Single Elimination der Herren bei starkem Wind abgeschlossen, sodass die meisten Teilnehmer zu ihren 4,4er- oder 4,0er-Segeln griffen, während die Top-Gesetzten alle ein ungewolltes vorzeitiges Ausscheiden vermeiden konnten. Die Damen hingegen werden voraussichtlich am Samstag ins Geschehen eingreifen, nachdem sie heute noch an der Seitenlinie bleiben mussten.
A Change to the Scoring
For years the Freestyle has been judged on an equal number of moves being landed on each tack, but that changed today with a slight alteration being introduced. Instead of each sailor needing to land three moves on each tack for example, now they must land at least two moves on each tack, but then depending on their scores they can count up to their best four scoring moves on each tack.
Freestyle
Men's
Sailor of the Day
Lennart Neubauer (Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) was the clear standout sailor on the opening day as the Greek set the two highest scoring heats of the day. Firstly, Neubauer burst into action in the opening round as he posted a heat total of 41.78 points against Primus Sorling (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins) as he earned eight points for a radical skopu and 7.86 points for a shifty to set the tone.
The 2024 Freestyle world champion then beat his previous high score in round two as he racked up 42.30 points against an unfortunate Davy Scheffers (Tabou / GA Sails), who actually sailed a solid heat - 36.70 points - which would have been good enough to progress from round two in all but one other heat and the Dutchman will be one to watch in the Double Elimination. Neubauer, meanwhile, sent out a warning to his rivals as he looked clinical, stylish and extremely powerful on the water. The 22-year-old was the only sailor to break the 40-point barrier today and based on today’s showing he may break it in each heat he sails.
After receiving a bye through the opening round, reigning world champion Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde) had to wait patiently on the sidelines until 18:15 to finally get his campaign underway, which perhaps wasn’t conducive for him to come flying out of the starting blocks with all cylinders firing. The Belgian made several uncharacteristic mistakes to begin with on starboard tack, which is normally his stronger tack here, but still eventually posted a heat total of 39.85 points to bring George Grisley’s (Duotone Windsurfing) Single Elimination to an end. On port tack though Caers was outstanding with a shifty shaka, shifty, pasko and air chachoo doing much of the heavy work he needed.
This was a rare occurrence where Caers wasn’t on song throughout, but if you are a fan, there is nothing to worry about with this likely to be nothing but a minor blip and you can expect to see him back to his brilliant best tomorrow. And he’ll need to be as he’ll face Bodhi Kempen (Duotone Windsurfing) after the Dutchman dispatched of Youp Schmit (Flikka / HeyYou Sails) in Heat 23.
Elsewhere, Dieter Van der Eyken (Severne Windsurfing) is safely through to the quarterfinals after negotiating his way past Maarten Molenaar (WeOne / GUNSAILS) firstly before doing well to see off a tricky opponent in Sam Esteve (JP / NeilPryde) in round two, the Belgian will now face Neubauer next.
Balz Müller (Severne Windsurfing) was his usual entertaining and innovative self as the Swiss landed a new combination in his opening heat - a toad into kono - to defeat Björn Saragoza (HeyYou Sails), who was making his return to the tour. After defeating the Bonairean, Müller then faced a tough duel against Takuma Sugi (Tabou / GA Sails) in round two, but pulled it out of the bag as he landed the highest scoring move of the day for a massive shifty - 8.40 points - as well as a trademark chebongka (cheeseroll into flaka).
Müller will face Jacopo Testa (WeOne / GUNSAILS / AL360) in the quarters. The Italian wasn’t always at his best today, but managed to find enough moments of magic to power past Sebastian Gux (Tabou / GA Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) and Tim Gerdes (Tabou / GA Sails).
Takumi Moriya (Severne Windsurfing) was another sailor who needed a little bit of time to warm up. The 19-year-old finished fourth here last year, but narrowly avoided a first round exit after being pushed all the way by Eugenio Marconi (Severne Windsurfing) in Heat 9. Moriya was then involved in a tight duel with Tigo Kort (JP / NeilPryde) early on in Heat 21, but the Japanese ripper managed to assert late on to comfortably book his place in the quarters in the end.
Meanwhile, Steven Van Broeckhoven (WeOne / GUNSAILS) survived a scare against Nicolas Akgazciyan (Goya Windsurfing) in Heat 22 as by the end of the heat just 1.48 points separated the two of them. Unfortunately for Akgazciyan his shuvit spock came just after the buzzer, which may have been enough to reverse the tables, but was too late. Van Broeckhoven had earlier sailed a strong heat against debutant Pier Sergio Bongianni and will need to replicate that form in the quarterfinals as he will take on Moriya next.
The forecast for Saturday looks very similar to today with 19-24 knots currently predicted, so there should be another busy day of Freestyle ahead and if things run smoothly results should be gained in the Men’s and Women’s Single Eliminations. The sailors will meet again tomorrow morning at 10:30am (GMT+1) for their skippers’ meeting with the action commencing from 11am onwards.