Marking the start of the 2010 PWA wave world tour, this hugely anticipated event in Pozo, Gran Canaria delivered 30-40 knot winds and head high waves over the four day period, allowing the world's best wave sailors to bust out their most impressive moves in front of the international judging panel, and world media.
A break from the crazy winds on the first day of competition saw increasing amounts of tension between the sailors as they were forced to wait for a further twenty-four hours before the wave tour could finally commence. On day two, the winds began to build from first light, but weren't reaching full strength, allowing just the first round of the men's single elimination, which meant many of the top seeds were kept onshore yet again. Day three saw a return to what Pozo has become renowned for - strong winds and super high jumps. Small sails were rigged and ready for battle, and both the men's and women's fleets were able to complete their single eliminations. The men's fleet also got through two rounds of the double, which enabled the competition to be completed with ease on the fourth and final day in spectacular style.
Men
Single Elimination Victor-y
Three times Pozo champion, Victor Fernandez (Fanatic, North, MFC) sailed a faultless single elimination, taking down former world champions, event champions, and port tack legends, to take the single elimination convincingly. Even in the winner's final, the 2009 Pozo champion, Philip Koster (Starboard, NeilPryde, Dakine) couldn't stop the Spaniard from storming his way to victory. Koster had been wowing the crowds with his insane stalled double forwards throughout the day, but failed to pull them off to his usual impeccable standard in the final. And, to make matters worse for the 2009 champ, Fernandez was boosting faultless, ankle dry, doubles of his own, and was riding with a much more fluid style, which won over the judges.
Single Life - Highs and Lows
Day two belonged almost entirely to the new breed of Pozo locals that were taking the scalp of many a world tour hero. Just as Kid Koster stormed through his first heats the previous year, a whole crew of locals followed suit in this contest. Amongst those tearing their home spot to pieces were Jose Romero (JP, NeilPryde), Alessio Stillrich (Fanatic, North), Josep Pons Casasnovas, Eleazar Alonso (Naish, Naish), and Francisco Casas Garcia (Starboard, Severne). Watch out for all of these guys in the future.
Britain's Ben Proffitt (Simmer) stood out beyond all recognition on day three for not only sailing to a world-class standard, but for taking down former world champion, and 2010 title favourite, Kauli Seadi (JP, NeilPryde, MFC). It was the Brazilian's first heat of the day, and left him with a huge amount of work to do in the double in order to redeem himself. Following that heat, the port tack prince, Proffitt, narrowly missed out on advancing into the top 8. Proffitt was up against local champ, Koster who only just beat the Brit on a 2-1 decision. With plenty of port tack events this year, Proffitt is now a serious fright for anyone going up against him on the world tour!