Day 4, 22.06.11:

The fourth day in Aruba marked the final day of competition for the PWA freestyle elite. Having completed the single elimination yesterday, the ensuing double elimination would determine the event standings, and crown the competition winners.
With the warm Caribbean trades blowing twenty knots plus, the crew took to the turquoise water at the first opportunity and informed the sailors so take sails around 4.7 – 5.1m to power them through their routines. Head Judge Duncan Coombs announced the heat times would be reduced to eight minutes and the best three out of six moves would count in either direction.

Kiri Thode was against four times world champion Jose Estredo (Fanatic / North). This one was to be an absolute treat for those lucky enough to watch it, yet posed an almost impossible task for the judges to separate the pair. Following much deliberation, Thode was ultimately awarded the victory, in what was dubbed the closest heat of the event. So Gollito finished 3rd now!

Women’s Fleet: Anayama went on to face Xenia Kessler (JP / NeilPryde), Kessler sailed the day like her life depended on it, landing clean forward loops, fast flakas and perfect grubbys in front of the judges. Kessler went on to work her way through two more heats, defeating Anayama and Yoli De Brendt (Fanatic / North) raising her result from 4th to 3rd. Kessler’s next opposition was Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North) with the prize at stake, a coveted place in the final. Kessler fought hard throwing down every move in her armory, however Treboux’s powerful Swiss style swayed the judges and saw her take her familiar place in the final. The women’s final witnessed Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic) and Treboux take to the water for the sixth time on the 2011 world freestyle tour. Lighter winds meant both parties had to work particularly hard to land their moves in the allocated time. Treboux went big attempting her shove-it spock and switch kono but the risk didn’t pay off and she crashed hard, putting her on the back foot for the remainder of the heat. Offringa took advantage and sailed the perfect heat on her home ground, even managing to blow a kiss at the judges mid maneuver. Offringa landed every move in quick succession and went onto to claim her crown at the 2011 Aruba Hi Winds Grand Slam.

The 2011 Aruba Hi Winds Gland Slam Freestyle Results/Men’s:
1st Steven Van Broeckhoven (F2 / Gaastra)
2nd Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra)
3rd Jose Estredo (Fanatic / North)
4th Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic)
5th Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra)

The 2011 Aruba Hi Winds Gland Slam Freestyle Results/Women’s:
1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)
2nd Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North)
3rd Xenia Kessler (JP / NeilPryde)
4th Yoli De Brent (Fanatic / North)
5th Mio Anayama (NeilPryde)

More info:
www.pwaworldtour.com

Day 3, 21.06.11:

Gollito Estredo & Laure Treboux in 2nd, Yoli de Brendt in 3rd!!!

Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North) faced the style master Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra). Frans fought hard, having just taken down his brother Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic) in the previous heat he was firing on all cylinders unleashing his biggest moves. It did little to phase the four times world champion Estredo as he sailed a well-planned out heat granting his pass into the winner’s final.

Winner’s Final: Van Broeckhoven and Estredo entered the final both hungry for victory. Van Broeckhoven opened with a funnel, which was upstaged by Estredo’s double. The sailors then embarked on a game of one up man-ship as the opening minutes of the heat flew by. Van Broeckhoven separated the pair with an enormous kono, Estredo took that as his cue to unleash his more ferocious moves, landing an incredible spock culo and a burner 900 in quick succession. Both sailors fought tooth and nail, busting out everything in their armor of tricks but ultimately a 3-2 decision from the judges crowned Van Broeckhoven as the winner.

Women’s Fleet: Opening up the women’s heat’s experienced competitors Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North) and Yoli De Brendt (Fanatic / North) pushed ahead of Mio Anayama (NeilPryde) and Maxime Van Gent with their display of consistent switch stance maneuvers, seeing them make their way quickly into the semi-finals.

Winner’s Final: The final once again came down to the duo of Treboux and Offringa, with both sailors well aware of each other’s tactics and trade mark moves. Opening up the heat both women struggled to land their initial moves, however as the minutes passed by Offringa relaxed and flew through her routine taking advantage of her home knowledge to land her tricks to perfection. Stylish Treboux fought back with her one handed e-slider and switch kono, but it was too little too late.

Events Results:
Men’s Freestyle single elimination:
1st Steven Van Broeckhoven (Gaastra / F2)
2nd Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North)
3rd Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra)
4th Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra)

Women’s Freestyle single elimination:
1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)
2nd Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North)
3rd Yoli De Brendt (Fanatic / North)
4th Xenia Kessler (JP / NeilPryde)

Day 2, 20.06.2011:

Scorching sun, torrential rain, raging thunder and bolts of lightning continue to play havoc with the Caribbean trade winds haunting the second day of competition in Aruba. A challenging day for the sailors and judges alike saw weather of all varieties plough through the competition area. As the riders arrived for the skippers meeting they were greeted with wall-to-wall sunshine and a gentle but building offshore wind; however the atmosphere at Fisherman’s Huts quickly changed as a thick blanket of cloud rolled across Aruba.

Several weather systems passed over Palm Beach bringing with it squalls lasting long enough to raise the hopes of the race crew, followed by large patches of virtually no wind at all. In an attempt to complete the opening heats of the competition, the judges headed out to sea to their floating platform. Heats 1 and 2 were started twice however the wind dropped within the opening minutes, leaving the sailors to wallow around on the crystal clear waters with barely a breath of wind in their sails.

As midday approached a particularly ominous cloud entered the competition arena stirring up a frenzy between the local organizers and the PWA judges. It was believed the cloud would bring with it winds of hurricane strength and forks of lighting. In order to make use of the wind the PWA crew were insistent on staying out to sea, however it was ultimately decided for the safety of all involved to head back to shore and place the competition on standby.

Day 1, 20.06.2011:

A tropical thunderstorm puts a pause on the Caribbean trade winds leaving the sailors waiting anxiously on standby in Aruba’s blazing sun.
Competitions opening day in Aruba was greeted with overcast skies and a gentle offshore breeze, putting a relaxed feel to the registration and skippers’ meeting. As the morning progressed the 42 men and 8 women sailors waited patiently as the clouds burnt away and the breeze increased. In an attempt to kick start proceedings the PWA crew headed out to sea to their floating judge’s platform, however the building wind still remained insufficient to run any heats. Teased by the occasional gust the sailors worked their way onto the plane in order to iron out any faults in their armor of tricks, whilst the crowds on the beach enjoyed the afternoon sun and some relaxing tunes from the main competition tent.

Freestyle magician Max Rowe (Fanatic / North) currently sits in 12th place on the 2011 world tour, he has provided the PWA with his overall impression on Aruba’s competition area:
“It is an amazing location and a really beautiful island, the event is really impressive with a huge tent on the beach filled with a big crowd ready to see the action. On the water the conditions really contrast Bonaire, the wind blows offshore so it will always be gusty and it seems quite choppy too. However I don’t think this will have an effect on the sailor’s performance, and we can expect to see a really exciting competition this week. Fingers crossed for more wind tomorrow!”