A gentle start to the 2011 Fuerteventura Grand Slam allowed the spectators to flock to the beach, the sailors to focus their minds on the battle ahead and the atmosphere to intensify as the morning progressed.

By midday the wind was blowing around 15-20 knots and the sun was shining, providing the perfect start to the competition. Head judge Duncan Coombs wasted no time in unleashing the freestyle fleet onto the water at 12:30pm, announcing the best three out of six moves would count towards the sailor's scores.

Men's Fleet

A smooth set of heats saw many of the tour regulars slip seamlessly passed their opponent's in the opening round of competition. Youp Schmit (JP / NeilPryde) dominated in the first heat of the day taking down new boy to the tour Tony Mottus (JP / NeilPryde). Bryan Metcalf-Perez (JP / NeilPryde / Dakine) quickly disposed of Ezri Heymaus with his perfect ponch and forward loop combination. Brit Max Rowe (Fanatic / North) slayed Sten Aava, planing out of the majority of his maneuvers, and Slovakia's Andraz Zan (F2 / Hot Sails) came out all guns blazing to beat Mauricio Alvarez (Patrik / Gaastra).

Schmit continued with has path of destruction, working his way passed the super technical Nicolas Akgazciyan (Starboard / Gun) and the double move master, Davy Scheffers (Tabou / Gaastra) in two incredible heats to earn him a position in the top eight. Schmit's superior consistency and explosive maneuvers in the complex conditions won him the all-important judge's votes.

The second round of competition witnessed the higher ranked sailors come out to play, bringing with them an armoury of mind-blowing maneuvers.

The highest scoring heat of the day was awarded to slick Belgian superstar, Steven Van Broeckhoven (F2 / Gaastra). Van Broeckhoven earned himself twenty-seven out of a possible thirty points in his heat against Christofer Kalk (Fanatic / Gaastra), landing monster shakas, ankle dry culos and enormous ponchs.

Bar Schmit, the only sailor to break through the barrier formed by the top seeded sailors and into the top sixteen was Brazilian Ian Mouro Lemos (JP / NeilPryde). Mouro Lemos stole the show with a well thought out routine of burners, air flakas and switch chachoo's to defeat his challenger Andy Chambers (JP / NeilPryde).

Down to the top sixteen and the conditions were becoming ever more complex as the rising tide bought with it larger chop for the sailors to contend with, as well as the judges announcing that the best four out of seven moves would count towards the sailor's scores.

Eager to put on a show and earn a position in the top eight, the sailors decided it was time to unleash their most daring maneuvres. Van Broeckhoven burst into a gravity defying culo to secure his victory passed Yegor Popretinskiy (JP / NeilPryde / MFC). Kiri Thode (Tabou / Gaastra) wowed the crowds with a super clean culo-spock and a double spock in the choppiest patch of water, and Jose Estredo (Fanatic /North) launched into a perfect air chachoo to defeat Leo Ray (Naish / Naish / MFC).