Sailor: Marcilio Browne
Kit Sponsors: Mistral/Gaastra
Age: 18yrs
Result: 1st

Marcilio ‘I must live up to the hype’ Browne, finally did that with his first ‘outdoor’ PWA event win. To be honest, it’s us in the media that are hyping him up. His sponsors know they are onto a good thing and there is a lot less pressure on the guy to bring in the titles than us in the media would like to think. He has only just turned eighteen but he showed great maturity during the final where after a disastrous heat against Kiri Thode, he calmed down, forgot that Kiri had just beaten the entire fleet to get to Browne and sailed his own heat to victory. He is a very powerful sailor and excels in all the air moves. He has also mastered the ‘Burner’, Gollito’s signature move, as well as stylish no-handed flakas. A much deserved victory after his stunning performance in the single elimination.

Sailor: Kiri Thode
Kit Sponsors: Starboard/Gaastra
Age: 17yrs
Result: 2nd

With the biggest comeback of the event, Kiri really deserved to beat Marcilio in that second final, but the guy must have been knackered. After losing to Anthony Ruenes in the last 8 of the single elimination, Kiri beat in this order: Gollito, Ricardo Campello, Anthony Ruenes, Tonky Frans and Thomas Traversa to meet Marcilio in the final. In the PWA rules, Kiri has to beat Marcilio twice to win overall. He won the first final quite convincingly but then Marcilio, who had been sitting on the beach all day waiting to see who would face him in the final, woke up and put together a stunning routine of Gozzado's and Cana Brabu’s and plenty of other tricky stuff. Kiri had nothing left to give and the pint size Bonaire local crashed out. However, a second place is enough to put Kiri into the lead of the World freestyle rankings going into the last event this September.

Sailor: Thomas Traversa
Kit Sponsors: Tabou/Gaastra
Age: 21yrs
Result: 3rd

Slight, fast and fearless is how we would describe Thomas Traversa! He is an awesome wave sailor with results to match (5th in Gunicho) but still concentrates on his freestyle. His signature move is the one-handed double spock as well as clew first air flakas. He also likes it really windy and is always super quick on the water, darting around looking for gusts and ramps. He now lies in third place in the overall freestyle rankings which is very impressive for this ‘wave sailor’.

Sailor: Tonky Frans
Kit Sponsors: F2/Gaastra
Age: 24yrs
Result: 4th

On leaving Lanzarote, where Tonky had a poor result, he said to our cameraman that he would be going ‘full power’ in Fuerte. He was not wrong! Tonky is a showman and boy does windsurfing need men like this. Even during his heats, he was playing up to the crowds; pointing at them during his one-handed moves, doing shuv-it spocks virtually on the wet sand and smiling his brilliant smile throughout it all. He takes standard moves and makes them look so stylish, hence the high point score to see him through to fourth. He got beaten by Kiri Thode which must have hurt as he chaperoned Kiri during his first years on the Tour. Then again, we can’t see Tonky getting wound up about anything! Now in seventh overall, he has the chance in Sylt to pull up into the top5 where he deserves to be.

Sailor: Anthony Ruenes
Kit Sponsors:Tabou/Gaastra
Age: 18yrs
Result: 5th

Everyone fears getting Anthony in their heat. He is a very intelligent sailor and has a consistent repertoire with lots of one-handed moves. He had a cracking first day in the single elimination beating Ricardo Campello and Kiri Thode to make the last four. On the second day in the double elimination Anthony had to wait for most of the day to see who he would come up against to hold onto his fourth place. Being tired from the previous day, what he didn’t need was a sailor on a roll, heat fresh and ready for another scalp. He got Kiri Thode – game over!!

Champion: Daida Moreno

With the sunshine gleaming off the flat Sotavento waters, Sarah & Laure must have been thinking this is their chance to kick some Moreno butt! No ramps, no fancy jumping manoeuvres, just pure freestyle sliding. The pressure was on for Daida to show herself as a pure freestyler at the very highest level. But we all know what Daida does with pressure – she chews it up, spits it out and out sails every chick on the water. Single elimination final against Sarah – won. Double final again versus Sarah – won. Number five PWA Freestyle Title thank you very much – job done!

Runner Up: Sarah Quita Offringa

Sarah: Please learn to stay within the sailing area. You’re not a shy girl and sailing downwind wind away from the judges does not get you any brownie points. Do this and get some jumping moves under your belt and next year, the title is yours for the taking.

Third: Laure Treboux

Laure: The same goes for you, Laure, with the jumping moves. Learn a few more of your awesome tricks on both tacks and get ponching. Finishing third should now give you the confidence to step it up even more and let’s see all three of you really vying for that top spot next year.

Fourth: Nayra Alonso

Now, Ms.Alonso, you have clearly been spending far too much time practising your freestyle. We like your grubbies, we are impressed with your forwards – much better. We didn’t realise you had the passion for the old popping & sliding. You’re fourth in the freestyle rankings, fifth in the waves. You’ve now got to work on breaking into that top three. We know you have it in you, lets see you there next year!!