Gaastra Event News

Kevin Pritchard chooses Gaastra Sails

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:09:13 GMT

January 21, 2008 Six time world champion, Kevin Pritchard has signed a multi year deal to ride for Gaastra Sails. Kevin has history with Gaastra sails and looks to continue where he left off by bringing them back the PWA World Championship Title.

Gaastra/Tabou’s Robert Sand, 5 X Danish Wave Champion

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:14:04 GMT

The Danish Championships were held from Thursday to Sunday last week and we had a great finish to the season.
Over 60 competitors had turned up for the comp, of which many were juniors.
Competition was completed in freestyle and wave for some of the categories, but it was not suitable for wave for the A-class. Having won the two wave events earlier in the year, I then finished the Danish tour in waves in 1st and remain Danish Champion in waves for the 5th consecutive year.

Taranaki Wave Classic 07

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:21:45 GMT

20-22 October 2007

http://www.taranakiwaveclassic.com

OK, this is it.
Its the final few days before the event so we hope you're all packed and ready to go.
The conditions for this years comp are looking great with some nice wind and swell predicted over the weekend.
We've heard from a few keen sailors who are heading to the 'naki early, hoping to hook into some late-week wave action before the event starts.
Good luck to them and to everyone else, and lets hope we all score it this weekend!

World Cup ’07 – Event Summary

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 03:29:26 GMT

The PWA tour visited Scotland to settle the 2007 wave sailing world title and conclude an astonishing season of competition. After an anxious week Brazilian Kauli Seadi lifted the trophy ahead of Victor Fernandez and Josh Angulo.

World Cup ’07 – Final Day

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 03:27:32 GMT

Kauli Seadi’s crowned 2007 world wave sailing champion in Scotland after a frantic final day’s action to round-off an all-time PWA season.

World Cup ’07 – Day Six

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 03:24:55 GMT

It’s all down to the wire in Scotland as the 2007 world wave sailing title hangs in the balance on eve of the final day of the season.

World Cup ’07 – Day Five

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 03:23:27 GMT

The mystery as to who’ll take the 2007 title in Scotland stays shrouded in the misty beaches of Tiree

World Cup ’07 – Day Four

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:04:28 GMT

Tension builds in Scotland as the elite of the PWA world tour’s patience is tested on the Hebridean Island of Tiree.

The weather men called it wrong today as a high pressure system blocked the breeze from Scotland’s windsurfing Mecca.
After being scrambled to The Maze this morning and sent on a scratch relocation to Balevullin, a few hardy souls ventured out in small clean surf, but the fluky breeze once again prevented official competition .
In a cruel twist of fate the wind arrived just as daylight faded after a long day at the beach.

World Cup ’07 – Day Three

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:02:58 GMT

Scotland’s sunny skies shine bright but the wind fails to join the party on the scenic isle of Tiree.

A new swell and soaring temperatures meant a day enjoying the beautiful Hebridean beaches was on the cards.
As predicted a fresh pulse of surf started to show late in the afternoon and many of the top names of windsurfing paddled out on surfboards to sharpen their wave riding skills.
The arrival of the clean groundswell has everyone’s hopes high of competition tomorrow with forecasts indicating that the afternoon may see strong enough breeze to compete.
Tonight the rider’s will have a dilemma to face. To celebrate the PWA coming to Scotland, Mitchell’s distillery have created a unique blend of whisky for the competitors to test.

World Cup ’07 – Day Two

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:01:30 GMT

Tiree springs into action with a super-charged Go Fast Energy Drinks Super Session clinched by Spanish aerial whiz Victor Fernandez

Dawn beach checks reported ample wind but small surf around the Island this morning.
As the swell was too small and the wind really onshore for running official competition, the pro’s spent a relaxing morning hanging-out on standby, watching DVD’s, playing table tennis, and shooting pool.
Not wanting to waste decent breeze, event sponsor Go Fast Energy Drinks decided to kick everyone into life again by throwing down $750 for a full-on Super Session to give the afternoon an extra boost.
Two 15 minute heats containing 15 men were subsequently sent out to impress the judges with their best jumping moves for the free form all-or-bust format.

World Cup ’07 – Day One

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:00:10 GMT

The raw Atlantic coastline of Tiree, Scotland, lies dormant and calm as the world’s best wave sailors wait for an incoming onslaught of wind and surf.

Early morning beach checks revealed the accuracy of the forecasts. The ocean lay calm and the fresh still air was accompanied by the dramatic light and stunning vistas these remote Islands enjoy.
Last night the riders were given a traditional Scottish welcome at the event HQ hosted by the local community and the sponsors as they celebrate the 2007 year of Culture for the Scottish Highlands.
After the competitors familiarised themselves with the various beaches this mobile event covers they were treated to an afternoon of coastal orienteering along the rugged cliffs and beaches of the Island.
With activities like this laid on, Event Scotland, who’ve supported this contest so heavily, are proud to demonstrate how much potential this beautiful country has for outdoor sports and the vast resources available for tourists with a taste for adventure.

Registration Day

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:58:51 GMT

Scotland’s stunning wave magnet, the rugged Isle of Tiree hosts a spectacular gathering of international windsurfing talent for a skirmish to settle the 2007 wave sailing world title.

From four corners of the earth, the world’s biggest names in windsurfing have arrived in the Hebrides by plane, train, boat and automobile for the final showdown in the 2007 wave sailing series.
The contest runs from October 6th through 13th when the 2007 world champion will be crowned after a landmark season of epic conditions and stunning new tour stops.
To celebrate the Highland Year of Culture, Event Scotland and Corona Extra have thrown an event to remember with a unique mobile format against the the wild backdrops of Scotland’s remote coastline.

Corona Extra PWA World Cup ’07 –Event Preview

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:56:43 GMT

The all-time 2007 wave sailing season takes in yet another new tour stop in Scotland from 6th through 13th October. As the finale to the wave sailing series the battle is bound to be bloody as the championship crown is settled.

48 of the world’s premium wave riders will be hosted by the unique Hebridean Island community of Tiree as Corona Extra and Event Scotland celebrate The Highland Year of Culture.
Tiree’s hosted a British open contest for over 20 years, and now, proudly boasts full PWA World Cup Status and a prize purse of €30,000 to lure the sports elite.
The island enjoys a mild climate and claims the most sunshine hours in the entire British Isles, as well as the highest average wind speed.
Exposed to raw Atlantic swell, and violent winter storms, Tiree can switch from sunshine to showers in seconds.
The Islands breathtaking white sand beaches and variety of beaches offer this mobile event a vast combination of conditions to fully test the top names.

Tiree Triple XL Challenge

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:51:34 GMT

Awesome Online Mag Boardseeker.com are convinced one of the PWA’s aerial hell-men are capable of a triple forward loop, or even a double pushloop sooner rather than later.
So, with a big juicy rack of back-to-back PWA wave events coming up they’ve decided to chuck in some cash as extra motivation at the upcoming Corona Extra PWA World Cup.
Yep. For the Boardseeker Tiree Challenge Super Session, they’re throwing-down £1000 Great British Pounds - that’s around 1500 Euros or 2000 mighty greenbacks to you and I - just to see who’s got the nerve to do it first.
You can read all about it and all the likely contenders in the mini-features section at Boardseekermag.com
The event on the remote wave and storm exposed Scottish Island runs from October 6th through 13th.
You’ll be able to follow the event’s progress with our excellent news service at pwaworldtour.com and of course at Boardseekermag.com.
There’s also a dedicated event website at Tireewaveclassic.com
For more information please contact the PWA.
© PWA / Brian McDowell

Corona Extra

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:49:53 GMT

The 2007 season goes from strength to strength with the confirmation of another first-class Wave event on the Hebridean island of Tiree, Scotland.

Team Gaastra’s Marcilio “Brawzinho” Browne wins PWA Freestyle World Title!

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:22:15 GMT

Sylt, Germany-

Pouring rain along with freezing cold gusting winds greeted competitors for one of the worlds biggest windsurfing events in history. Over 200,000 spectators graced the beaches of the infamous island of Sylt.
Coming into the event, team Gaastra’s Kiri Thode was looking like the man who would take home the silverware but the intense pressure boiled over causing the young ripper to falter. Instead, it was the newcomer from Brasil, Marcilio Browne who took center stage, keeping his head cool and doing what needed to be done. Browne sailed consistently in some of the toughest freestyle conditions seen all year. “My toes have worn completely down to blood and I am in a lot of pain out there- the cold weather is not something that I’m used to so I’m having to really focus and keep myself in the zone” says Marcilio.

2007 Colgate World Cup Sylt – Final Day

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:21:41 GMT

Sylt goes out with a bang. Champagne corks pop and champions are crowned after a day rammed full of insane freestyle, wild surf slalom and an all-out wave sailing expression session.

Men’s Freestyle Double Elimination
The action-packed day kicked off with the completion of the men’s freestyle double elimination.
On Friday 18-yr old Brazilian star Marcilio Browne (Mistral / Gaastra) had already finished high enough in the rankings to seal the 2007 title, but the event crown was still to be decided.
Browne faced Bonaire trick specialist Tonky Frans (F2 / Gaastra) for a shot at the final against single elimination winner Jose Estredo (Fanatic / North).
In difficult choppy conditions Frans’ score sheets marked him down for repetition but his technical skill and style impressed the judges enough for him to defeat the new world champ.
Frans came out in the final super fired-up but the conditions limited both him and Estredo’s ability to pull off their top drawer tricks.
Eventually a stylish, one-handed regular stance chacho, right under the crowd’s noses gave the Caribbean stylist the win and so, under the double elimination format, a re-sail to settle the event title was necessary.
This time Estredo was not settling for second. Immediately the youngster floated an amazingly high and tweaked shaka in very marginal winds. ‘Gollito’ then killed off Frans’ hopes completely when he bust out his signature move, the ‘Burner’, and a perfect one-handed chacho of his own.
Freestyle Results after 1 Double Elimination:
1. Jose Estredo
2. Tonky Frans
3. Marcilio Browne

2007 Colgate World Cup Sylt – Day 8

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:12:49 GMT

The Sylt seafront swells with spectators as a lack of wind fails to spoil the Party

After the dramatic events of yesterday’s freestyle conclusion, massive Saturday crowds flocked to the Island of Westerland’s Brandenburger Strand at Sylt to mingle with windsurfing’s top names and biggest celebrities.
Sylt’s fine wine and quality seafood attract crowds regardless and the chance to get an autograph and meet and greet some of the best windsurfers on the planet is the icing on the cake.

2007 Colgate World Cup Sylt – Day 7

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:10:54 GMT

Marcilio Browne seizes the Freestyle world title as 2006 champ Jose Estredo and tour leader Kiri Thode’s hopes fade into the twilight. A long day of tension and drama also saw 2007 slalom champ Antoine Albeau demolish the opposition with a stunning hat of race wins.

An early meet for the freestylers came to no avail and the call was made to switch to slalom racing as soon as a few early heats of the double elimination were abandoned.

2007 Colgate World Cup Sylt – Day 6

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:09:08 GMT

Patience And Persistence Pay Dividends For The Race Crew And Loser’s Finalists After A Long And Testing Day At The Beach.

An early start to capitalize on an upbeat swell and wind forecast led to disappointment for the wave sailors today.
The predicted surf just didn’t show at all and a total lack of wind compounded the situation for the men waiting to progress in their single elimination.
A long day at the busy event site followed and it looked certain that there would be no competition at all.
But right at the last the race director decided to that there was enough wind to run the pending loser’s final from race 1.