The highly sought after PWA Constructors Championship title, which represents the pinnacle of windsurfing development and manufacture, is hotting up as the 2010 season unfolds. Currently the four times Constructors Champions (board brands), Starboard are out in front, leading both the slalom and freestyle categories. And, North are fighting hard to stay ahead of former Constructors Champions, NeilPryde. However, this could all change in a matter of days with the upcoming contest in Fuerteventura almost upon us.

Board Brands

Helping Starboard to rack up the points in the slalom discipline are sailors such as many times world champion, Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard, Severne), the PWA's president, Jimmy Diaz (Starboard, North), flying Frenchman, Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard, North), and the rising star, Alice Arutkin (Starboard, North).

In freestyle, three times world champion, Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard, Vandal) has been claiming plenty of points for the team, as have the Bonairean crew of Kiri Thode (Starboard, Gaastra) and Taty Frans (Starboard, MauiSails), along with the likes of Canadian Philip Soltysiak (Starboard, Dakine), and French styler, Nicolas Akgazciyan (Starboard, Gun).

At the recent wave contest in Pozo many times world champion, Daida Ruano Moreno (Starboard, Severne) and her twin sister Iballa (Starboard, Severne) helped the team to claim some much needed points. As did the 2009 Pozo Champion, Philip Koster (Starboard, NeilPryde, Dakine).

We took the opportunity to quiz Tiesda You (Starboard's brand manager) about their current position at the top.

PWA: How does it feel to be in the lead at this moment in time?

TY: "It's amazing news. The PWA is the most prestigious tour in Windsurfing and to be leading the constructors again at this stage of the year is fantastic. Behind Starboard, there are hundreds of windsurfers from around the world - people who race, who ride waves, who are constantly developing new shapes, new technologies, and testing them all year round, day in and day out - so the PWA's Constructors trophy is above everything the realisation of this joint effort."

PWA: After four years out in front, are you taking a back seat, or are you all still as fired up as ever to win the title again?

TY: "Always as fired up as ever! What is important, however, is not the winning in itself. We'll continue to stay focused on developing the best boards and have the best team possible, both to race and to develop the technology behind the boards. It's what we've always set out to do and that's what we're most fired up about. If we do that part well, the Constructor's title will take care of itself."

PWA: Who do you think your biggest assets to the team are for the title race this year?

TY: "A very good question. Taty, Kevin Pritchard (Starboard, Dakine, Gaastra), Philip K., the Moussilmani brothers, the Moreno sisters, Bjorn D. and Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard, HotSails), Kiri, Alice, Sarah-Quita, Steve Allen (Starboard, Severne), Morane Demont (Starboard, Severne), Nicolas, Philip S. - everyone is contributing valuable points so it's always a team effort. A point is a point. Last year's close race shows that everyone's efforts are critical to the title race.