PWA WC Sylt 2022 Tag 3

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Der dritte Tag des Mercedes-Benz Windsurf World Cup Sylt entwickelte sich zu einem absoluten Klassiker: Rund 11 Stunden Wettkampf wurden am Ende des Tages absolviert. Die Wettkämpfer trafen sich bei Dunkelheit und strömendem Regen am Strand, bevor pünktlich um 7:15 Uhr die Freestyle Single Elimination der Herren begann. Nachdem ein Ergebnis im Freestyle erzielt worden war, wurde kaum Zeit verschwendet, um mit den Wave-Wettbewerben der Männer und Frauen zu beginnen. Die Bedingungen verbesserten sich mit zunehmender Tide weiter und für einige Stunden herrschten außergewöhnliche Bedingungen mit starkem Wind und exzellenten Wellen, die reichlich Torchancen boten, während der berüchtigte, schwere und dichte Sylter Shorebreak mehr als nur seinen gerechten Anteil an Opfern forderte. Women’s Wave Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) moved a step closer to defending her event and wave world title after the Aruban claimed a convincing victory in the Single Elimination. Offringa can still be denied, but in order for that to happen either Justyna Sniady (North Sails / Maui Ultra Fins) or Lina Erpenstein (Severne / Severne Sails) must now defeat Offringa twice in the Double Elimination. Put simply, whoever wins the event from here will become the 2022 Women’s PWA Wave World Champion. Sniady currently occupies second place after battling her way into the Winners’ Final. The Pole left it late in the semifinals to overturn the deficit against Steffi Wahl (Windflüchter Surfboards / Sailloft Hamburg), but pulled it out of the bag by landing a backloop in the dying minutes. Sniady must now try and muster up a performance to take down Offringa as she goes in search of a first world title. Lina Erpenstein faced Steffi Wahl in the battle for third and fourth and the world title hopeful was able to come out on top - inflicting most of the damage with her jumping, which included a 6.12 point pushloop. Wahl, whose strength has always been her wave riding, didn’t disappoint in that department as she dropped the highest individual wave score of the day - 7.38 points - but it wasn’t enough to deny Erpenstein, who will now look to gather momentum in the double as she too bids for a maiden world title. Men’s Wave Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing) came into Sylt requiring a top 4 finish in the Single Elimination to guarantee himself a second wave world title. The Brazilian, who last won the wave world title in 2013, has been in title contention several times since then, but a third world crown - Browne also won the Freestyle world title in 2007 - had remained elusive until now.  Having had so many close calls in the past, the Brazilian would’ve been forgiven for showing signs of cracking under the pressure due to nerves, but that was not the case at all as he cruised through his first round heat before really turning on the style as he posted the highest heat totals back-to-back in the second and third round. Against Takuma Sugi (Tabou / GA Sails / Black Project Fins), Browne posted a total score of 30.37 points, before bettering that against - Ricardo Campello (Naish / Naish Sails) - who still harboured faint world title hopes of his own - with Browne earning 31.74 points, which included the highest single jump score - 9.62 points for an insane tabletop double forward. Browne clearly had no idea of the title race implications at the beginning of the day as he was left speechless upon hearing the news that he had just become world champion for a third time. Later on had this to say: “It’s one of the best days of my life. If you’d have told me that when I was 11 years old would win 3 world titles I wouldn’t have believed it. It’s more than anything I could’ve dreamed of. I’m beyond words… it’s a dream come true.” The home crowd were desperate to see Philip Köster (Severne / Severne Sails / Black Project Fins) come out on top and the 5-time world champion did not disappoint as he claimed a hard fought victory against - Marc Paré (Fanatic / Duotone) - who was making his first appearance in the finals. Köster kicked things off with another perfect double forward, whilst he used a variety of turns and aerials to edge out Paré by a couple of points.  Paré will be absolutely delighted with his efforts today as the Spaniard moves into uncharted territory - advancing not only into the top 4, but also the top 2. Paré just missed out on the top 4 of the Single Elimination in Gran Canaria, but didn’t have to contend with that disappointment again today. The 24-year-old produced a brilliant display to down the newly crowned world champion - Browne, who out jumped his rival, but Paré responded by posting the highest single wave score of the day - 9.38 points - to deservedly advance. As well as being guaranteed his first PWA podium, Paré also picked up the sailor of the day award. Browne, still riding the high from becoming world champion, would go on to secure third place ahead of Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / Duotone / SWOX), who currently sits in 4th. Ricardo Campello, Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails), Antoine Martin (Starboard / North Sails) and Leon Jamaer (Flikka / NeilPryde) all currently share 5th place at the close of play. Freestyle Adrien Bosson (Fanatic / Duotone / Maui Ultra Fins) has fallen one hurdle short of becoming Freestyle World Champion on two occasions thus far (2018 and ’21), but the Frenchman took a big step towards going one better this time around with a terrific victory in the Single Elimination earlier today. The current vice-world champion tamed Sylt’s typically tricky freestyle conditions throughout, whilst he saved his best performance until the Winners’ Final against - Steven Van Broeckhoven (Starboard / GUNSAILS) - where he posted a total heat score of 164.1 points, which was the second highest score of the day.  Van Broeckhoven still has an excellent chance at the title in the Double Elimination, but unfortunately for the Belgian, the final didn’t go quite his way as he failed to complete his scoresheet for the first time in the day. Van Broeckhoven last won the world title in 2011, but still has every chance. Jacopo Testa (AV Boards / Point-7 / AL360) posted the highest heat score of the day in the b-final - 165.1 points - to prove that he remains a serious threat for the title. If anyone wants to overhaul Bosson, then they will have to beat the Frenchman twice, but that remains a real possibility. Testa showed he possesses all the moves required to come out on top and it’ll be interesting to see if he can mount a comeback.  2019 World Champion - Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde) - was uncharacteristically out of sorts in the b-final, but still remains very much in the world title picture. The Belgian failed to complete his scoresheet in Heat 16, but if he can start to gain a bit of momentum in the double then anything can happen. Slightly further back are Sam Esteve (JP / NeilPryde), Dieter Van der Eyken (Severne / Severne Sails), Youp Schmit (Tabou / GA Sails) and reigning world champion Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / Severne Sails), all of whom occupy equal 5th place.  With the possibility of a long period 16 second swell @ 1.9 metre waves and 13-20 knot north-north-west winds predicted for the morning, the wave fleets will meet again at 8:30am (GMT+2) for their skippers’ meeting with the action commencing from 9am onwards - if conditions are suitable. Meanwhile, the Slalom and Freestyle fleets will meet at 10am.  You can stay up to date with all the latest developments from Sylt— including elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker simply by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom of the page. Result 2022 Mercedes-Benz Windsurf World Cup Sylt - Women’s Wave ?
*Single Elimination 1st Sarah-Quita Offringa | ARU (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Justyna Sniady | POL (North Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Lina Erpenstein | GER (Severne / Severne Sails)
4th Steffi Wahl | GER (Windflüchter Surfboards / Sailloft Hamburg)
5th Maria Morales | ESP (Goya Windsurfing)
5th Maaike Huvermann | NED (Severne / Severne Sails)
5th Marine Hunter | FRA (KA Sail)
5th Isabel Trivino Delgado | ESP (Severne / Severne Sails) Result 2022 Mercedes-Benz Windsurf World Cup Sylt - Men’s Wave ?
*Single Elimination 1st Philip Köster | GER (Severne / Severne Sails / Black Project Fins)
2nd Marc Paré | ESP (Fanatic / Duotone)
3rd Marcilio Browne | BRA (Goya Windsurfing)
4th Victor Fernandez | ESP (Fanatic / Duotone / SWOX)
5th Ricardo Campello | VEN/BRA (Naish / Naish Sails)
5th Thomas Traversa | FRA (Tabou / GA Sails)
5th Antoine Martin | FRA (Starboard / North Sails)
5th Leon Jamaer | GER (Flikka / NeilPryde)  Result 2022 Mercedes-Benz Windsurf World Cup Sylt - Men’s Freestyle 
*Single Elimination 1st Adrien Bosson | FRA (Fanatic / Duotone / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Steven Van Broeckhoven | BEL (Starboard / GUNSAILS)
3rd Jacopo Testa | ITA (AV Boards / Point-7 / AL360)
4th Yentel Caers | BEL (JP / NeilPryde)
5th Sam Esteve | FRA (JP / NeilPryde)
5th Dieter Van der Eyken | BEL (Severne / Severne Sails)
5th Youp Schmit | NB (Tabou / GA Sails)
5th Amado Vrieswijk | NB (Future Fly / Severne Sails)

Current Ranking 2022 Mercedes-Benz Windsurf World Cup Sylt - Men’s Slalom
*After 4 Eliminations  1st Maciek Rutkowski (POL | FMX Racing / Challenger Sails)
2nd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone / Chopper Fins / Phantom Foils)
3rd Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil)
4th Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / Severne Sails)
5th Mateus Isaac (BRA | Severne / Severne Sails)
6th Sebastian Kördel (GER | Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil)
7th Johan Soe (DEN | FMX Racing / Point-7)
8th Luuc Van Opzeeland (NED | Severne / Severne Sails)
9th Enrico Marotti (CRO | JP / NeilPryde)
10th Sebastian Kornum (DEN | JP / NeilPryde)