35th Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup Pozo Izquierdo - Overall
by Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup 10 Jul 2023 05:57 BST
1-9 July 2023
All Waves Podium together - 35th Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup Pozo Izquierdo © Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup
Pozo Izquierdo certainly saved the spectacle for the final day of the Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup 2023, slightly improving wind and wave conditions, allowing the world's best to compete for the wave throne in both the men's and women's double elimination. This second round filled the stands of Pozo Izquierdo in support of Daida Ruano, the queen of Pozo Izquierdo who extends her reign for another year, and the new local hero, Marino Gil, who came close to claiming the title that was ultimately retained by Brazilian Marcilio Browne.
"I'm super proud to be from here, from Gran Canaria, and I'm leaving happy after winning the second elimination, especially because this will be my last event," declared the windsurfer from Pozo Izquierdo from the top of the podium.
During this final day, Daida left the audience breathless in Pozo Izquierdo after winning a final with half the time after breaking her mast on the first jump. After a few minutes of concern that was noticeable in the stands, Daida managed to get a second set of equipment and returned to action. Fortunately, during that time, Sarah-Quita Offringa did not score many points.
Despite the small waves, Daida pulled off jumps seemingly out of nowhere, as always. Initially, only a back loop gave her the advantage until she landed an incredible stall forward right after the Aruban attempted it, narrowing the score difference to less than a point. Then, the local rider focused on wave riding, impressing the audience with a frontside 360 and securing the definitive lead with a final back loop (scored 8.25 points).
"I'm very happy to have achieved this victory, my 22nd here at home. The truth is that I started a bit rough since I broke my mast in the first run. I had to wait for my equipment to be brought to me, and when I looked at the clock, I only had 8 minutes left against Sarah-Quita, the current world champion. Winning a heat with half the time was a huge joy for me; I enjoyed it a lot in the water," expressed the queen of Pozo. Daida Ruano dedicated this "great triumph" to her entire family, her son, her partner, and all her friends, who "are always cheering me on and are the only reason why I keep competing."
Although Daida Ruano and Sarah-Quita Offringa retained first and second place, respectively, the women's double elimination reshuffled the podium even before it began, as Iballa Ruano lost third place due to a previous injury and couldn't compete. In her place, German Lina Erpenstein took her spot after advancing through the qualifiers to challenge Polish Justyna Sniady and directly face the second-place holder, Aruban Sarah-Quita Offringa, without success (due to Iballa Ruano's absence, who automatically placed fourth).
After the women's final, all eyes were on the promise of Canary Islands surfing, the original Agüimes rider, Marino Gil, who once again impressed during the small final, defeating the three-time world champion, Brazilian Marcilio Browne. However, winning this heat was not easy for Marino, as he struggled to find ramps due to the small waves. Nonetheless, the Gran Canarian windsurfer launched a double forward in the last seconds alongside the Brazilian (scored 7.57 points), which was applauded from the stands. Thanks to this final jump, Gil surpassed Browne, albeit by only 0.86 points.
Despite defeating Browne, one peculiarity of the double elimination is that Marino had to defeat the Brazilian twice in the now true super final. Unfortunately for the local athlete, Browne won the second heat by 4.19 points, thanks to the scores of his two best jumps and his best wave ride.
From the podium, Marcilio congratulated Marino Gil and Catalan Marc Paré and stated he was "very happy" to finally triumph in Pozo after "many years coming here and never having won." Meanwhile, for the Canary Islands athlete, it was "impressive" to share his first podium with them, while Paré looks forward to "sharing more moments here," where it all began.
Philip Köster steals the show in the qualifiers
Gran Canarian Philip Köster (competing for Germany) was the rider who provided the most excitement during the men's double elimination qualifiers, despite being injured. In fact, since his first heat against American Jake Schettewi, he surpassed British Robby Swift, Spaniards Víctor Fernández and Alessio Stillrich, and German Leon Jamaer. According to commentators, "Köster seemed to dance on the waves."
However, after many victories and applause from the stands, it was the prince of the waves, Catalan Marc Paré, who stopped Köster just before he could challenge the third-place holder, Venezuelan Ricardo Campello, the current leader of the world rankings (Wave). In the end, Paré secured the third spot on the podium after defeating Campello in both jumps and wave rides.
Daida Ruano and Marino Gil soar highest in Red Bull Rockets
Simultaneously with the Windsurf World Cup, Pozo Izquierdo once again hosted the Red Bull Rockets competition, where riders compete for the highest jumps using a specialized app. During this parallel high jump competition, local riders Daida Ruano and Marino Gil were the windsurfers who soared highest, reaching 7.4 and 11.6 meters respectively.
Additionally, after the double elimination finals, the Red Bull expression session took place, a special heat won by Daida Ruano with a double forward and Frenchman Antoine Martin with a one-handed forward.
The PWA Windsurfing World Championship is sponsored by the Gran Canaria Island Council, through the Sports and Tourism departments, the Tourism Area of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Santa Lucía de Tirajana City Council, as well as private companies such as Red Bull, Windsurf Journal, DailyDose.de, Jaklar, Poema del Mar, Loro Parque Foundation, Seven Island Film, Surf Magazine, Volkswagen, WS, WIND, SURF, Waterspeed, AS Acción, among others.
Final ranking of the Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup in Waves
Women's Wave Category (after double elimination)
1st Daida Moreno (ESP | Bruch Boards / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Lina Erpenstein (GER | Severne / Severne Sails)
4th Iballa Moreno (ESP | Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Justyna Sniady (POL | NorthSails / Maui Ultra Fins)
Men's Wave Category (after double elimination)
1st Marcilio Browne (BRA | Goya Windsurf)
2nd Marino Gil (ESP | Goya Windsurf)
3rd Marc Paré (ESP | Fanatic / Duotone)
4th Ricardo Campello (VEN / BRA | Naish / Naish Sails)
5th Philip Köster (GER | Starboard / Severne Sails / Black Project Fins)