The third day of action at the Pozo Izquierdo beach proved to be highly competitive in both the men’s and women’s categories. The men’s final saw Canary Islander Marino Gil emerge victorious against German Julian Salmonn, securing the 2024 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup in its 36th edition. On the other hand, in the women’s final, Aruban Sarah-Quita Offringa defeated German Lina Erpenstein, meeting the expectations placed on her following the absence of the Ruano Moreno sisters.
Marino Gil, who fulfilled his dream of clinching the world champion title at home, secured his first victory in the PWA World Tour, after a spectacular final against German Julian Salmonn. The Canary Islander, with a score of 28.43 points, emerged victorious with a perfect Pushloop Forward that sealed the win. Meanwhile, the German resident in Tenerife attempted a one-footed Backloop and a front 360 to surpass Gil, but the latter’s narrow lead ultimately secured him the crown. “It has always been my dream since I was little to win here, I am very happy and grateful to everyone for making this event a reality,” stated Marino Gil, who also highlighted the excellent conditions that favoured the classic “Pozo style”. Gil is now focused on further improving to vie for the world championship title at the end of the season.
In the women’s category, Sarah-Quita Offringa claimed the Pozo Izquierdo crown for the first time after a close final where she showcased a 6.8-point Backloop and a 5.3-point Forward, maneuvers that allowed her to outperform German Lina Erpenstein, who kept the excitement high until the final moments with a near-title-winning Forward move. “I am thrilled to have finally won here. I have been training in Pozo for many years, and it is always challenging, whether due to the conditions or Daida Moreno always winning,” expressed the elated Aruban, recalling her last-place finish on her first visit to Pozo Izquierdo in 2013, making this triumph the perfect way to “close the circle.”
Rounding up the men’s podium was the Spanish-German Philip Köster, who, after narrowly missing out on the grand final, entertained spectators with an impressive performance, even daring to attempt a triple Forward, a move he had never successfully executed, not even in practice. Competing against him was the Belgian based in Tenerife, Dieter Van der Eyken, who exceeded expectations with a performance that saw him finish in a commendable fourth position.
Canary Islander Alexia Kiefer claimed the third spot on the podium with a dominant display in the consolation final, surpassing Tenerife’s María Morales by executing a 5.3-point Backloop and riding a 6.6-point wave as her top maneuvers. However, Morales couldn’t replicate her strong performances from the Sub21 final and absolute semifinals, settling for fourth place.
Meanwhile, Liam Dunkerbeck continues to make significant strides in his skill level, falling just short of making it to the final by less than a point. With a score of 23.24, he missed out by 0.56 points to Salmonn and by less than two tenths to the consolation final. Dunkerbeck will now focus on defending his title as the Sub21 category champion, where he is the top contender.
It is worth noting that the top 5 in the men’s category were dominated by riders from the Canary Islands, with Gil, Köster, and Dunkerbeck hailing from Gran Canaria, while Salmonn and Van der Eyken honed their skills in Tenerife, underscoring the excellent period the Canarian windsurfing scene is going through, justifying the presence of three official events this year in the PWA World Tour (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Fuerteventura).
Stillrich’s dream cut short by injury
Canary Islander Alessio Stillrich, who had been one of the standout riders of the championship, suffered a serious injury in the quarter-finals while attempting a spectacular Double Forward, requiring assistance to exit the water. Unable to walk on his own, he was taken by ambulance to the San Roque University Hospital in Maspalomas, where the necessary tests were conducted. Although official confirmation is pending, all signs point to a fracture in his left ankle. An injury that dashed his hopes of continuing to showcase his amazing progress in the championship.
On the other hand, Venezuelan Ricardo Campello, the 2019 champion here, clearly felt the lack of competition (having not competed for six months) and failed to advance in any of his day’s heats, falling short in both the quarter-finals and the repechage round.
Following the awards ceremony, the documentary ‘Daida Back to the Ocean’ about Daida Ruano was screened, nominated for the 2024 Goya Awards for its quality and production, narrating the story of Daida Ruano Moreno, an eighteen-time windsurfing world champion and a true trailblazer on the international circuit alongside her twin sister Iballa Ruano. A survival documentary where the world champion recounts her battle against ovarian cancer in her own words.
