Team Pryde’s Sarah-Quita Offringa proved again over the last 5 days why she is the undisputed Queen of Freestyle as she produced another imperious display to extend her unbeaten run to 9 years. The 25 year old won every heat she sailed this week with a combination of the latest power moves and also sliding combos. Offringa had this to day after capturing a 9th freestyle world crown — 11th overall: “I feel like I had a good event and it was fun to sail in a different range of conditions — varying in wind strength and waves or waves, which gave everyone a chance to show their level. The thing that I personally enjoyed the most is that everyone was trying to push the level with Maaike and Oda going for the power moves, while Arrianne and Maxime are also pushing. Overall its nice to see the level go up.”

Maaike Huvermann grew in confidence throughout the event and she ends 2016 as the vice-world champion, which is her best result so far. Huvermann was able to show her true talent after a disappointing single elimination and by the end of the week she was even beginning to give Offringa a run for her money. 

Oda Johanne sailed well once again and the Norwegian secured her place on the podium for the 3rd consecutive year. Johanne earned 2nd place in the opening single elimination, but slips back one place to 3rd with Huvermann gaining the upper-hand in their next two battles. 

Meanwhile, Arrianne Aukes rises to 4th in the overall rankings this year, while Team Pryde’s Maxime van Gent (JP / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) and Olya Raskina (JP / NeilPryde) complete the top 6.

Team Pryde’s Alexa Escherich made her debut this week and she walks away as the 2016 PWA Youth World Champion. 

Men’s Freestyle

Amado Vrieswijk clinches a maiden event victory after fighting back through the double elimination and defeating Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde) twice to overturn the result. Vrieswijk now assumes control of the title race as he leap frogs Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / NorthSails / MFC) into 1st place in the current overall world rankings. Vrieswijk added: “I’m super stoked to win my first world cup event. We had some amazing conditions. Thanks to everyone for being here and congratulations to Yentel and Gollito as well. I look forward to coming back next year.” 

Yentel Caers has been threatening to produce a big performance recently and this week everything clicked into place as the Belgian stomped his mark on the world tour by winning the single elimination — guaranteeing himself his best ever result — 2nd here. Caers has now broken through and established himself as a world title contender for 2016 and years to come. 

6-time freestyle world champion — Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / NorthSails / MFC) — sits in 2nd place overall after the event. Gollito sailed well throughout the event, but uncharacteristically made a few errors in his heat against Vrieswijk in the double elimination. Gollito is usually clinical in the competition arena but crashed a couple of times, before running out of moves on port tack, which proved critical with his shifty in Heat 50 not counting. However, Gollito, still occupies 2nd place in the overall rankings and will enter the final event of the year in Sylt with an excellent shot at a 7th world title. 

Overall Ranking 2016 PWA Women’s Freestyle World Tour:

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Maaike Huvermann (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Oda Johanne (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)
4th Arrianne Aukes (Fanatic / NorthSails / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Maxime van Gent (JP / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)

Overall Ranking 2016 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam: Men’s Freestyle:

1st Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne)
2nd Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde)
3rd Gollito Estredo (Fanatic / NorthSails / MFC)
4th Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne)
5th Phil Soltysiak (Starboard / Sailworks)
6th Nico Akgazciyan (99NoveNove / Challenger Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
7th Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic)
7th Kiri Thode (Starboard / GA Sails)
9th Jacopo Testa (RRD / RRD / AL360)
9th Tonky Frans (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg / AL360)
9th Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Shamal Sunglasses)
9th Balz Müller (Patrik / Severne)

Text adapted from PWA