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World Cup Summer Summary
With summer coming to an end and three amazing World Cups taking place back-to-back, let’s take one more look at everything that happened!
It has become a tradition by now: every summer, the Canary Islands in Spain deliver a spectacular show with three World Cups in a row, Gran Canaria for Wave, Fuerteventura for Freestyle and SlalomX, followed by Tenerife once again hosting Wave.
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Gran Canaria Also Works Without 50 Knots
Looking back, Gran Canaria got the “unlucky one” when it came to conditions. Pozo is usually the place where sail sizes come out that you simply won’t see anywhere else on tour, with the wind regularly blowing above 50 knots. This time, sadly, that wasn’t the case. The wind showed up almost every day, but it was significantly lighter than usual, and the waves were also a little smaller.
Did this give the locals an advantage? Maybe! In any case, Liam Dunkerbeck was super excited to make his first final in Pozo, Maria Behrens left the event leading the World Ranking, and in the Masters and Youth categories, Team Duotone also picked up several wins.
So maybe no nuclear winds, but a strong performance!
Freestyle Taken to the Next Level
Next up? Freestyle in Fuerteventura! Strong winds and perfect ramps created the ideal conditions for an incredible show. Even though the action has been great in recent years, the conditions this time took things to a whole new level, pushing the riders to show just how far Freestyle has come.
With the wind firing and ramps lining up, the riders had everything they needed to go bigger, higher and more technical than ever. Heat after heat, the level kept rising, with huge combinations, powerful landings and plenty of surprises along the way.
One of the highlights for the team was George Grisley making his way into the Top 10 after causing several upsets in the Double Elimination. Taking down some strong competition along the way, George kept his cool and delivered when it mattered most. Also finishing 9th with a super steady performance was Bodhi Kempen, who once again showed his consistency at the highest level.
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»Absolutely buzzing to make it into the Top 10 in a World Cup event for the very first time! All the training is finally starting to payoff… A great result and still not fully satisfied with my sailing, especially on port tack, but that’s only made me hungrier to push harder for future competitions«
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SlalomX turns up the heat even more
Did the conditions slow down once Freestyle was done? No, quite the opposite! The wind and waves picked up, adding another dimension to the SlalomX discipline and making for an incredible show to watch.
With stronger wind and challenging waves on the course, the racing became even more intense. Every start, gybe and mistake could make the difference, with riders battling not only each other but also the conditions. It was fast, physical and unpredictable from start to finish, delivering exactly the kind of action SlalomX is all about.
Jenna Gibson was fighting until the very last moment for the World Title, but sadly, not feeling 100%, she couldn’t quite pull it her way this time. Despite that, she showed some incredible board speed on the race course and proved once again that she is right up there with the very best!
In the men’s fleet, Jordy Vonk and Sacha Fortune perhaps wished they could have finished a little higher up the rankings, knowing the potential they both have. And we’re sure they will bounce back from this stronger.
The results may not have gone exactly as hoped, but the action was undeniable, and we’re already looking forward to seeing what comes next.
Tenerife gives full gas
Did the wind stop there? Not even a little bit! When even the big guys are reaching for their 3.7s, you know it’s serious business. Combine that with proper waves, and this edition of the Tenerife World Cup was easily one of the best in recent years when it comes to conditions.
While all the big names were out there ripping, two of the Team Duotone highlights came from the Junior fleet, with Peter Gobisch and Trine Gobisch taking the wins in the Junior Boys and Girls categories.
And what about the World Rankings? Liam Dunkerbeck is still going strong in 6th place, while Victor Fernandez is holding solid in the Top 10. In the women’s fleet, Maria Behrens still has everything to play for, currently sitting in an incredible 2nd, while Lisa Wermeister is also looking strong in 7th.
With the season still unfolding, there’s plenty left to fight for!
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And that’s how the World Cup summer looked! Three events, three islands, and plenty of wind, waves and action along the way.
But while we’ve been following the riders around the Canary Islands, we hope you’ve had an amazing summer too, with plenty of time on the water, good wind, great waves and hopefully a few unforgettable sessions of your own!
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