Puerto Rico Windsurfing Slalom Series

Last time I had been in Puerto Rico for a competition was back in 2001, since then, hardly any other windsurfing competition had been done in this great venue.

This year, however, some sailors from Puerto Rico decided to make it happen and a combined Slalom, Kite racing and SUP races took places on the beautiful waters of Puerto Rico.

Jose Garcia, Arturo Gallardo (Tito) and Karla Barrera, organized what we can only call it, “one incredible awesome event”.

Puerto Rico is a great place, just a few kilometers from the airport and in San Juan, we had the race venue in the white sandy beach of Ocean Park Beach which receives perfect side shore winds ranging from 12 to 25 knots everyday. The reef that runs parallel to the island, about 2 kilometers away, makes the natural clear water lagoon perfect for sailing. You can also sail over the reef which provides some nice ramps to practice your jumps.

The event ran from the 9^th to the 11^th and more than 100 racers showed up for the slalom, kiteracing and SUP races. Thousands of people came to watch the action, since the jibe marks where set a few meters of the beach and all the emotion was close to shore.

There was also free windsurfing, standup paddle & kitesurfing clinics and Mike Gebhardt’s advance windsurfing technique clinic.

On the water, Race director Rick Randall, set a 4 jibe downwind slalom course, which was longer on the first day and shorter on the second and third day making it exciting for both the sailors and spectators.

We ran a total of 12 slalom finals during the 3 days for the Pro division and about the same for the weekend worries which had a big fleet.

On the Pro division, ARG3 Gonzalo Costa was sailing flawless and took the top honors; I BRA999 Wilhelm Schurmann took the second place spot followed closely by TUR2 Enes Yelmazer in third.

In fourth Place was US22 Tyson Poor, followed by USA5 Diego Domenianni in fifth, V103 Juan Marino in sixt, V11 Felix Martins in seventh. Full results on event report bellow.

On the Weekend Worries division, the action was spectacular, with lots of actions on the jibes.

The first place went to Albir Agresar followed by Jose Pla in second and Raul Gallardo in third.

The future of the sport category (Junior Division) had some impressive talent, with the top spot going to Gabriel Gallardo, in second place Sebastian Garcia followed by Alejandro Mounllor in third (note… Alejandro Mounllor and Tihno Dornellas raced in the PRO Division the first 2 days, Alejandro then joined the WW Division later on).

The organizer did a fantastic job.

Everything from the tents and structure on the beach, food and drinks, dinner parties, and local hospitality was great.

Next year we will be back for sure and bring many more friends to the race and Puerto Rico.

Thanks for the Sponsors that made it possible:

Puerto Rico Department of Sports and Recreation, the City of San Juan, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Windsurfingtour.com, Neil Pryde, JC Remodeling, Maui Sails, Hot Potato & Reggios Pizza restaurants, Adventure Sports, Target Rent a Car, COSTCO Wholesales, Automeca, Velauno, infopaginas.com, El Nuevo Dia, Monte Piedad and KitesurfPR

A special thanks to Jose Garcia and family, Arturo Gallardo (Tito) and family, and Karla Barrera, for everything.

Photo cortesy of : Miguel Qkito Rodriguez

Event website: http://prwindkite.org/wp/

Bellow is a daily report from the races done by Arturo Gallardo.

DAY One:

At the PR Windsurfing Slalom Series we had back to back races in slalom windsurfing, both in Pro and Weekend Warriors Divisions

CLose to 30 racers showed up for a great day of windsurfing in San Juan, PR

The Pros raced 6 heats in 18 to 25 knots winds with small chop creating for exciting action for all beach goers at Ocean Park Beach in San Juan.

The following are the standings for the Pro Division after 6 races:

1. Gonzalo Costa Hoevel

2. Wilhelm Schurmann

3. Enes Yilmazer

4. Tyson Poor

5. Juan Marino

6. Diego Domenianni

7. Felix Martins

8. tie Tihno Dornellas

8. Alejandro Mounllor

The Weekend Warriors had 5 Races in the same conditions as the Pro division which made for very wild action at the buoy marks ,including one crash that took down 7 boards when a wind gust hit the racers as they were jibbing.

The following are the standings in Weekend Warrior Division after five races:

1. Albir Agresar

2. Jose Pla

3. Ivan Rodriguez

4. Raul Gallardo

5. Gilbert Lopez

We expect similar conditions for tom. and more racers joining the Weekend Warrior Division in windsurfing and the start of the Stand-up paddle races and weekend warriors in kitesurfing.

DAY Two:

The day started just like day one with steady winds (though not as strong) clocking at 18 to 21 knots from the East (side shore). We completed 3 races for the Pro Division and started 3 heats for the weekend warriors. Unfortunately, during the second heat in the weekend warriors division, winds shifted from east to the southeast and then died out.

Pro Division having completed 10 races during the first two days were given the afternoon off.

Weekend Warriors were put on a holding pattern which provided the perfect opportunity for two time Olympic medalist, Mike Gebhardt, to offer the first of two advance windsurfing technique clinics. Fortunately, the wind picked up from the Northeast, (15-18 knots) and three more races were completed for the weekend warriors giving them a total of 9 races for the first two days of racing.

Our race announcer, a Prof. Surfing Association announcer, kept the spectators on their feet watching all the slalom action.

Tomorrow’s action:

More racing , free windsurfing, standup paddle & kitesurfing clinics and Mike Gebhardt’s advance windsurfing technique clinic. We hope to end the Event with a windsurfing-standup paddle-kitesurfing relay!

the standings after two days of racing are:

Pro Division

1. Wilhelm Schurmann-BRA-999 tie

1.Gonzalo Costa Hoevel-ARG3-tie

3. Enes Yilmazer- Tur-2

4. Tyson Poor-US22

Weekend Warrior:

1. Jose Pla- PUR-112

2. Albie Agresar- PUR-121

3. Gabriel Gallardo- PUR-124

Total fleet 33 racers

Puerto Rico Slalom Series 2010 final Day

DAY Three at the Puerto Rico Windsurfing Slalom Series

After two awesome days that saw back to back racing in winds in the range of 16 to 25 + knots we decided to end the last day with three slalom heats for the Pro Division and three heats for the Weekend Warriors. Winds for the last day ranged between 12 to 19 knots, with a couple of brief rain squalls.

The first two races in the Pro Division saw Gonzalo Costa Hoevel in full control with Wilhelm Schurmann, Enes Yilmazer and Hood River Freestyle champion Tyson Poor in hot pursuit. On race number three the last jibbing buoy’s line snapped causing a recall for the last race. Wilhelm Schurmann changed sails in the break and flew to a victory in the last race ( afterwards a couple of Pros went out to the reefs to do some wave jumping on slalom equipment…we will not mention their names but we have the photos). The high intensity tight quarters racing had the fans on the beach going wild! Diego Domenianni, Juan Marino & Felix Martins were right behind the top four not giving an inch. A great show for the spectators. A total of 13 races.

Final Results Pro Division:

1. Gonzalo Costa Hoevel-ARG 3

2. Wilhelm Schurmann-BRA 999

3. Enes Yilmazer-TUR 2

4. Tyson Poor US 22

Weekend Warriors:

In the weekend warrior division we had three races in 14 to 19 knots of wind. In a great show of class, the PROS joined the WW fleet for the first race!

The whole weekend warrior’s fleet plus the Pros went out thus making for a huge exhibition of sails flying down the course. After three races, it was clear that Albir Agresar, Jose Pla and our representative at the upcoming 2010 Central American & Caribbean Regional Games, Alejandro Mounllor, were untouchable.

After three days of great racing we decided to give the fleets the rest of the day off and start the party.

Final Results Weekend Warriors Division:

1. Albir Agresar

2. Jose Pla

3. Raul Gallardo

Our sponsor, JC Remodeling, gave the the top two finishers in the WW Division round trip tickets to the 2010 Miami Windsurfing Slalom Series at Virginia Key!

We will see you in Miami!

Junior Division:

1. Gabriel Gallardo

2. Sebastian Garcia

3. Alejandro Mounllor (note… Alejandro Mounllor and Tihno Dornellas raced in the PRO Division the first 2 days, Alejandro then joined the WW Division later on)

Many thanks to Rick Randall our Race Director, great job!

On a final note, the City of San Juan, the Puerto Rico Sports & Recreation Dept. and The Puerto Rico Tourism Company have requested that we make this regatta a yearly event. So call your travel agent and start booking your tickets for the 2011 Puerto Rico Windsurfing & Kitesurfing Slalom Series!

Our Thanks to the Sponsors that made this Event possible:

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Wilhelm Schurmann
bra999@gmail.com
cel +55-48-99259999
Skype: bra999