El Cabezo Beach hosted more than eight hours of action as the men’s and women’s trials were completed and the Junior categories got underway following a windless weekend
After two days marked by a lack of wind, the Wind&Waves Festival returned to full competition mode this Monday. The weather conditions allowed for a long day of action at El Cabezo Beach, with more than eight hours of heats completing the men’s and women’s trials, crowning the winner of the Sub-15 Boys category and getting the Junior Boys competition underway.
The morning was dominated by the Pro Junior Girls and Sub-15 Boys categories. Among the girls, Belgian rider Sol Degrieck, one of the brightest young talents in international windsurfing, once again stood out. Meanwhile, Spain’s Dennis Kolb González claimed victory in the Sub-15 category after a commanding performance in the final, scoring 19.62 points. Great Britain’s Mikey Maclean finished second (12.14), followed by Belgium’s Jeff Francois (8.55) and Germany’s Anton Gobisch (7.02).
As the wind strengthened throughout the afternoon, it was time for the eagerly anticipated men’s trials. After progressing through four demanding qualifying heats, Spaniards Josep Pons, Noah Vocker and Javier Escribano, together with Italy’s Samuele Ferraro, secured the coveted spots in the main draw of the World Championship event. If conditions allow on Tuesday, all four will have the opportunity to go head-to-head with the best riders on the planet.
The women’s qualifying heats were also completed. The Netherlands’ Bobby-Lynn De Jong, Japan’s Natsuki Wakasa, and Germany’s Milanka Linde and Trine Gobisch secured their places in the main draw after an intense battle for the final spots. Among those eliminated was Seville-born Blanca Alabau, who is based in Tenerife and is a World Slalom Champion, but was unable to make it through the qualifying round.
The day concluded with the opening round of the Junior Boys category, where Germany’s Peter Gobisch, Japan’s Ryoma Sugi, and Spaniards Yannik Kolb González and Javier Escribano secured direct passage to the semifinals. The remaining riders will have another opportunity through the repechage.
With the trials now completed and several Junior categories underway, all eyes are now on Tuesday’s action. If the wind continues to cooperate, the leading contenders on the world circuit will take to the water, marking the beginning of the battle for victory at one of the most prestigious events on the international windsurfing calendar.
The El Médano Wind&Waves Festival is organized by Blue Light Events and supported by institutions including the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Islas Canarias Latitud de Vida brand; the Tenerife Island Council, through its Tenerife Despierta Emociones brand; and the Granadilla de Abona Town Council. The festival is also sponsored by brands including Playa Surf CBbC Hotel, Balearia, Veinte 04, Future Fly Boards and Foil Drive.
