2011 Aruba Hi Winds Grand Slam � Event Preview by the PWA
The dazzling island of Aruba has a rich tapestry of windsurfing history, having previously hosted PBA (then PWA) events for ten consecutive years. After a 13-year break the PWA will be making its return to the island for some exhilarating action. From the 19th untill 26th June the world's most outstanding freestyle and slalom sailors will take to the crystal clear water, to fight it out for all important ranking points.
Due to its tantalizing trade winds and relaxed Caribbean culture, Aruba has established itself as one of the most idyllic windsurfing locations in the world, and therefore the perfect spot to host the next stop on the world tour.
Due to its tantalizing trade winds and relaxed Caribbean culture, Aruba has established itself as one of the most idyllic windsurfing locations in the world, and therefore the perfect spot to host the next stop on the world tour.
The moment you step out of the airport you will slip into the relaxed, laid-back atmosphere of the island. Competition will take place at the Fisherman's Huts, where the water is shallow, blue and perfect for freestyle. As you go out a little deeper into the slalom area it gets a bit choppy, but not too much because the surrounding reef keeps it relatively flat. The trade winds blow from the north east usually between 15-25 knots but it can get up to 30 when it's really going for it. Aruba is an amazing place and there are loads of things to keep you entertained.
TThe Aruba poster (Source: PWA 2011).
Day 1- Today was registration day foor the slalom racers, the freestylers still need to finish there double elimination so we got told our races are starting tommorrow. So annoteer day to test, to meet people, to chill on the beach.
Day 2- Finaly the slalom was going to start. At 10.00 o'clock it was skippers meeting. They put a 4 jibe course wit the start towards the hotels. It was strong wind up to 28 knots buut also very gusty, not easy to chose sail. I went all day on my 97 liter Starboard I- sonic Carbon wood and Maui Sails 6.6.
I was in Heat nummer 1 of the wonen and was 7th in this heat after faling two times. In the loser final I startend very god and was easy in first place at the first mark there I had noot so mug wind and was hard to egt way so Alice F111 past me on this mark. Then untill the 4th mark I was in 2nd positron and was hoping to keep this place buut suddenly I faal at the last mark so two others could pass me. My result after almost a perfect race 4th in the losers.
The seconde ellimination of this day was great. We had a recall and after that I started noot so good, but was in 5th positron and managend to keep this place till the finish line so avance to the winners final. There I made a very bad start as could egt in planning on time so everyone in front of me. I did pass 3 people because they fell in at the seconde mark but I did so on the third, so at the end 10th in thewinner, not a great race but happy wit my results for today. As I know I do sail stronger then before.
I was in Heat nummer 1 of the wonen and was 7th in this heat after faling two times. In the loser final I startend very god and was easy in first place at the first mark there I had noot so mug wind and was hard to egt way so Alice F111 past me on this mark. Then untill the 4th mark I was in 2nd positron and was hoping to keep this place buut suddenly I faal at the last mark so two others could pass me. My result after almost a perfect race 4th in the losers.
The seconde ellimination of this day was great. We had a recall and after that I started noot so good, but was in 5th positron and managend to keep this place till the finish line so avance to the winners final. There I made a very bad start as could egt in planning on time so everyone in front of me. I did pass 3 people because they fell in at the seconde mark but I did so on the third, so at the end 10th in thewinner, not a great race but happy wit my results for today. As I know I do sail stronger then before.
Day 3- The men's startend at heat 9 as we stoppend there yesterday. That meant not much waiting before my round started. I was in the first heat again of the women and just finsihed 6th, just one place away from advancing into the winner. In the looser I had a great race but becasue of my bad start I couldn't make it better then 4th. I didn't fall at this two race, so jibes going better today.
Ellimination 4 was crazy. I was in the strongest heat ever. With names like Karin Jaggi, Sarah- Quita en more. Karin even said that before we went on the water. I was thinking. It doesn't realy matter all te girls are pretty high level here. In the years I do PWA it's only be going up.
Anyway I went to the start and my start wasn't full speed. Was about place 7. I managed to pass at the first mark 3 as it was big chaos there and I just went on the inside, what was just great. Then full speed 2nd mark, 3rd mark still in 5th place. Just before 4th mark I heard a sound and looked what happend. I broke my harnes. I was hooking out carfeull not to get stuck in the lines, and heard already another sailor getting close, then I was carefully hooking in not to fall down but was already loosing one two seconds, I need to sail to the finsih on my arms and lost my 5th position to Karin Jaggi who was able to pass me now. I was bit disapointed as witout the material failor I might have been again in the final and keeping some very good sailors behind me.
Quite a few sailors told me back at the start that I had an amazing run, just for me not enough. I need to focus quick again on the losser final, after boring Amado his harnes. Here I made so many mistakes I lost a lot of spaces and finshed 8 so hope i can discard this one soon.
Ellimination 4 was crazy. I was in the strongest heat ever. With names like Karin Jaggi, Sarah- Quita en more. Karin even said that before we went on the water. I was thinking. It doesn't realy matter all te girls are pretty high level here. In the years I do PWA it's only be going up.
Anyway I went to the start and my start wasn't full speed. Was about place 7. I managed to pass at the first mark 3 as it was big chaos there and I just went on the inside, what was just great. Then full speed 2nd mark, 3rd mark still in 5th place. Just before 4th mark I heard a sound and looked what happend. I broke my harnes. I was hooking out carfeull not to get stuck in the lines, and heard already another sailor getting close, then I was carefully hooking in not to fall down but was already loosing one two seconds, I need to sail to the finsih on my arms and lost my 5th position to Karin Jaggi who was able to pass me now. I was bit disapointed as witout the material failor I might have been again in the final and keeping some very good sailors behind me.
Quite a few sailors told me back at the start that I had an amazing run, just for me not enough. I need to focus quick again on the losser final, after boring Amado his harnes. Here I made so many mistakes I lost a lot of spaces and finshed 8 so hope i can discard this one soon.
Tommorrow again a new day and just thinking to the good races I did and hopefully I make it agian in the final.
Day 4- Yes I did it again. I had a very nice first round. I finished 2nd. My best result in PWA ever. I had a good start, not perfect but good enough to have women like Valerie behind me at the first mark and now i could feel how it is to sail in front and not go around people. Free way is much easier. Behind me was a big chaos and so was for me perfect to sail all the way in 2nd to the finsh. The final I had a very very bad start was way far in the back as could catsh the wind quick enough but was catshng up, even past some at a crash but they got me agian. at the last mark I passed Greta who wasn't happy about that but my speed was just much more then her's, so a 9th place.
……………It was already late in afternoon and we had they where trying to finsh the Elimination #7 but the wind was playing with us. We where on prospone for a while and then we had to try to start. My heat two times in a row, then the other women fleet but non was rea;y able to plane so we where sent bck to the beach to stay standby. And yes I was afraid for that, as it's weekend and a lot of crowed on the beach they sent us out again, but after anotehr try they saw it was not going to be sutibable wind anymore for this day. So we where ready for the day.
Day 5- As we didn't started yesterday we had to be the first once on the water to start. It was light wind so Juan decided to waite a bit longer for the wind. At 11.00 o clock he made us start. The wind was lighter then the other days, so for me perfect. I wasn't very good starting again, but was catching up again. I was passing a few at the frist mark and was in 6th position trying to beat Lena and I almost did was so much faster but see managed to block me from passing her on the outside towards the finsh line. I knew I did all i could and made her nervous, so at least know I have the capacity to sail with the top this year.
In the looser I didn't do so well. I got 6th place.
After that we had a lunch break and it seems the wind was picking up. Amado came back to teh beach and told me it wasn't that strong so I went out again with the 6.6 but already going to the start I was thinking if I did the right thing. The count down came and I had no chose. Here we go flying over the water without any controle. I fell in at the last mark and wasn't able to ift the sail quick out the water and as I was in heat #3 I decided to sail back to the start with a DNF behind my name as was much more important to make my start in losser on time. So i did, again no time to change as had only 3 minutes on the watch when I passed the startboat. I was way overpowered, but knew everypoint was going to count and i wanted to keep my overall place, so that was the goal. I fighted hard. Fell in again at one of teh marks buut managed to finsh 4th what wsn't bad at all with some other liek Lena and Cagla in my heat who had an over ealrie.
In the looser I didn't do so well. I got 6th place.
After that we had a lunch break and it seems the wind was picking up. Amado came back to teh beach and told me it wasn't that strong so I went out again with the 6.6 but already going to the start I was thinking if I did the right thing. The count down came and I had no chose. Here we go flying over the water without any controle. I fell in at the last mark and wasn't able to ift the sail quick out the water and as I was in heat #3 I decided to sail back to the start with a DNF behind my name as was much more important to make my start in losser on time. So i did, again no time to change as had only 3 minutes on the watch when I passed the startboat. I was way overpowered, but knew everypoint was going to count and i wanted to keep my overall place, so that was the goal. I fighted hard. Fell in again at one of teh marks buut managed to finsh 4th what wsn't bad at all with some other liek Lena and Cagla in my heat who had an over ealrie.
Back to the beach I was happy. I had a good event. I finsihed overall 14th. I did not reach my goal top 10 but was very close to it. I sailed stronger then i ever did. I took sometimes risks to get in to the finals. If I look back to my results I made out of 8 two times the final. I had 3 times at place 6 in the first round so just missed the final (top 5) in a few meters to another windsurfer. My best result was a place 2nd in firs round and a 9th in a final what is very good.
I had a few times troubles with my gear what is disapointing but part of the game.
Hope to see you all back next week for the Aruba Hi winds 2011, now i take some days rest 
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