The PWA World Cup Tour splashes down on Lanzarote next week from June 30th. This feast of high adrenaline action will be taking place at Playa Las Cucharas in Costa Teguise. And as in previous years the event extends over five days, culminating in a beach based music festival on Saturday 4th July.
In the windsurfing world this is regarded as a six star event and has World Qualifying status for those taking part. So spectators can expect to see some of the leading sailors in the windsurfing world, manoeuvring their boards through some spectacular forward and backward loops, cheese rolls and donkey kicks.
Participants will include the locally born Ruano sisters, Antxon Otaegui who is also Canarian, Sarah-Quita Offringa, from Aruba and José ‘Gollito’ Estredo, female and male world champions respectively and Marcilio Brawzinho, fourth ranked on the PWA’s (Professional Windsfuring Association) Wave Men 2009 list.
The event has become an established part of the PWA’s world tour thanks to the excellent conditions for practising windsurfing that exist in Costa Teguise. The bay at Las Cucharas not only ensures easy access to and from the water, but the prevailing wind that blows from the north-east provides just the right aerial lift for the amazing acrobatics that are part of the sport’s repertoire.
In previous years, an incredible range of photos has been taken of the competitors as they perform railrides, riding the board on its side or a double forward, where the sailor performs two 360º rotations of board and sail. The freestyle category allows the full gamut of experimental moves to be explored. Many of these pictures can be seen at the PWA’s website along with details of all the participants in this year’s Lanzarote leg of the World Cup Tour.
Support for the competition comes from a variety of sources, including a combination of local and regional governmental involvement, with not only the Ayuntamiento of Teguise, but also the Government of Lanzarote and the Tourist Board for the Canary Islands officially backing the event. With expert assistance and participation also coming from the La Santa Surf team.
Whilst the main focus of interest is very much on the water-based manoeuvres, there will be a raft of associated workshops and activities in and around the beach. Including wind toy workshops, windsurfing classes, artisan craft lessons, massage and Tai Chi.
The closing day of the competition will be celebrated in style, with a music festival going under the name of ‘Wind and Music’. The aim this year is to bring a diverse range of musicians who are currently at the cutting edge of new soul, but also bridging jazz, funk and electronic sounds.
Featured artists will include London based group, The Knot, Ale Acosta, a Spanish artist based in Madrid and local Lanzarote bands Juan Fierro, deLaFUNK and Ivam.
The music festival, now in its sixth year of presentation, will be staged right next to the beach, making the most of the great location the event enjoys. This free live show is open to all-comers and will no doubt be attended by many of the sportsmen and women who have been taking part in the World Cup Tour throughout the week.
In their role as event organisers, La Santa Surf have also joined forces with the travel group TUI to offer specific deals to anyone interested in attending, both participants and spectators alike. This includes offers on accommodation either in Costa Teguise itself or in the rural areas surrounding the resort. There are also discounts for windsurfing and surfing classes, if booked as part of the package, with additional savings to be had on equipment hire as well.
