FUERTE TRAINING DIARIES WITH GEORGE GRISLEYFUERTE TRAINING DIARIES WITH GEORGE GRISLEYFollowing in the footsteps of Ben Proffitts infamous Pozo training diaries which are compulsive viewingGeorge Grisley George Grisley has been lurking around the freestyle sailors with his camera as the countdown to the Fuerteventura World Cup heats up. This is episode 1 so we expect more updates as sailors rock up and start hitting the water.The countdown to the PWA World Cup in Fuerteventura is ON. Whos been here early, whos been pushing hard and who is not coming this year. Tune in to find out all the behind the scenes for the warm up to the biggest freestyle event of the year.The post FUERTE TRAINING DIARIES WITH GEORGE GRISLEY appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

ANDREA CUCCHI ON THE VALUE OF A RIDER!ANDREA CUCCHI ON THE VALUE OF A RIDER!In modern windsurfing, sponsorship is no longer just about podium finishes. With social media and constant digital storytelling reshaping the sport, the role of a professional rider has evolved far beyond simply winning races. Few people understand this shift better than Andrea Cucchi, founder of Point-7 and a man that has sponsored world champions, as well as lower ranked riders that put in the grind.Having worked with world champions, rising talents and some of the sports biggest personalities, Cucchi has spent decades deciding who earns a place on the teamand why. In this conversation, he shares his honest perspective on what brands truly look for in sponsored riders today, why passion still matters more than statistics and how the balance between results, visibility and value for customers has changed. From letting top riders go, to building long-term partnerships and developing sails with the worlds best, Cucchi gives a candid look at the realities of sponsorship in modern windsurfing.Photos: Inna Bru / Point 7 / PWA CarterWINDSURF: When you sponsor a rider what do you look out for when picking a sailor to join the team?ANDREA CUCCHI: Effort, results and media used to be our focus. At least two of these three points had to be fulfilled. Today it is even harder for riders.Now the real question is: why should a client be interested in following this rider? What will he give to our clients? With all the channels available today, whether you finish first or last you can still produce your own content and be visible. The rider who can tell his story better and create more interesting content for the clients will be more valuable for the brand.Why do we sponsor? To sell more, to give extra service to our clients and to bring value to the brand. If you win but remain invisible, give nothing back to our clients and do not put the same energy into the project as the rest of the team, then it is far from the mentality required to be part of the project.WINDSURF: You seem to have a knack for spotting potential of future top-level ridershow do you get to spot the potential of a new rider?ANDREA CUCCHI: It is quite simple. You need to see that he truly enjoys windsurfing. I love windsurfing, if it is windy I cannot work. I need to go on the water to test, train, feel the sport. Its still part of my job, but of my fun too. 10 minutes can be even enough if I really have no time. Then later Im happy to work even till 3am to recover time spent on the water. Often in my session, I saw kids who stayed till last gust, or like the parents angry with them as they cannot get off the water in the darkthey come out from the water with fire in their eyes these are the right guys.If someone starts talking about how many sessions he did in one day, how many hours he spent on the water, or how tired he is after the gym, usually it means he did not enjoy it. No fun means no success. Some athletes do sports because they love the competition or the idea to be a pro, but they might not actually enjoy the sport itself. That is the wrong mindset if you want to become strong, either on YouTube or on the racecourse.WINDSURF: What do you expect a rider to do for the brand and what will you do to help them?ANDREA CUCCHI:If I do not see effort, I completely lose interest and I would not give one minute of my time. That rider will not stay longer than one year on the team does not matter if they are champions or not. My team in the office and behind the scenes works without looking at the hours they do. They feel they are part of the brand and part of the project to make Point-7 the best. This is how we all work. I cannot have a team rider who gets paid and does not respect their work. The rider has to feel the same. If their priority is to do four PWA events and then disappear for the rest of the year, we have no interest. The rider should be excited to do as many events as possible because he enjoys them. He should want to promote the sport, bring fans closer to windsurfing, motivate them to improve and spend more time on the water, not just promote his own ego. If their effort is there, we are the first to give more budget, gear, technical support, more development to their feedback. In the past, personally, I gave up my racing at the event and started caddying as they deserved the extra help to go get that title they worked for. I jumped in the car and drove 2400 km to give them the chance to test the latest prototype to have them feel safe with the changes. Its give and take. No first ladies.WINDSURF: How important is it that they are a solid ambassador for the brand on social media etc?ANDREA CUCCHI:It is about one third of their job, but what matters most is what you post. Of course we are happy to see riders windsurfing, but we can also see that from our friend next door. A photo of the gear on the beach is something anyone can post. The content needs to bring something more to the community.WINDSURF: Would you rather have a champion like Johan Soe or an exceptional social media / You Tuber like Nico Prien promoting the brand on the team?ANDREA CUCCHI:When we had Johan Soe on the team, he was the young talent who surprised everyone by beating champions in the events he entered. This created a lot of noise and great visibility for the brand. Later he decided to focus on IQ and his Olympic campaign and roads were not the same anymore. For our brand this made him less visible to our audience, because of course he had other priorities. So we stopped sponsoring him, even though we knew that if he showed up at an event he could beat almost anyone we might sponsor. For brand to sponsor such a champion is a high responsibility and hard work, as the gear performance needs to support his level.Nico Prien, on the other hand, constantly creates value. He shows new spots, promotes his gear daily, gives tips, organizes clinics and takes clients behind the scenes at events. All these projects create continuous engagement. His great skills, make his videos, tips and communication very reliable to clients, and a brand has a high responsibility to take advantage of his great work.Winning events is great. But at the end of the day we have to ask who gives more value to the clients and fans of the brand. Johan can make users proud to use the product. Nico gives useful content that enriches windsurfing knowledge.WINDSURF: How much do you rely on your team riders to help develop new sails?ANDREA CUCCHI:It is very important to have their feedback. They are the ones pushing the sails to the extreme and they can explain what could be improved. Then its in my case my responsibility to test the product myself, understand what they mean, and transfer this feeling into the change to be done in one exact point in the sail on the cad files. But the feedback needs to be precise. If they say, that they need a faster sail, thank you, who would not want it that is useless feedback. If they explain what disturbs them or what they feel while sailing, then I can work on improving the sail and make them more comfortable, which ultimately makes them faster. Very few riders can give really good feedback. Sometimes less talented riders have a better feeling for their equipment because they rely more on it to improve their performance.WINDSURF: Has the whole business of sponsorship changed recently now there is a bit less money involved in the sport?ANDREA CUCCHI:It depends on what the rider offers. As I said before, you can win, but if your victories do not increase sales, it becomes difficult to justify paying good money. The same applies if your media presence does not generate sales. If your results excite customers, if your videos attract people who want to buy the product, if your clinics or YouTube content convert views into participation and sales, then you become more valuable. The riders business, its now working for the brand to generate sales. I once had sponsors outside windsurfing who told me clearly: you want 10,000 euros free tickets, help us sell 20,000 euros tickets to your community. Very far from getting up, 6 hours on the water 2 in the gym and racing. It is give and take. Today sponsorship is not only about image. It has to convert into sales.WINDSURF: How does it feel when one of your riders wins a race or a world title?ANDREA CUCCHI: The first time a rider wins with your sails it is an amazing feeling. It means you found the right synergy, the right harmony and both sides respected the work that was done. Winning a second title is even harder. Everyone who came close wants revenge. They will study your equipment and your moves, so you need to raise your level even higher. But success is not only about titles. Sometimes finishing tenth with a lot of effort can be more meaningful than finishing second without pushing hard, especially if the rider was twentieth the year before.WINDSURF: How tough was it to let a top rider like Johan Soe leave the team?ANDREA CUCCHI:Personally, I had tears.When you work together with a rider for years, checking every detail and putting a lot of time into the project with the same passion, it is very hard to let them go. You become friends and spend a lot of time together on the beach and on the water. You both give everything to make success possible. Often this success also involves other people behind the scenes and the support of the rest of the team. But eventually you need to be realistic and ask if the collaboration still transfers into sales and value for the brand.WINDSURF: For Point 7 how many riders do you ideally like to have on the team?ANDREA CUCCHI:We can have many riders. It really depends on what they bring to the brand and to our clients. Some riders help our clients improve their fitness. Some coach clients to improve their technical level. Some create YouTube content. Others mainly focus on product development. In recent years there were not many events for pure competition, so having one rider per discipline worked well. But if racing grows again we would be happy to bring more riders per discipline on board.WINDSURF: Do you feel like many sailors can make a career out of being a pro windsurfer these days?ANDREA CUCCHI:Yes, but they need to diversify what they do. Results and prize money are not where the money is anymore. Counting only on prize money actually blocks the possibility of becoming a professional windsurfer. There are still a few riders with strong support from brands, but that will probably become even rarer. That does not mean riders cannot earn a living. They just need to build income through coaching, media, events and other activities around the sport.WINDSURF: Do you expect your team riders to all the events on the PWA tour or can local events or events like the Defi work just as well?ANDREA CUCCHI: The PWA season starts at the end of July, when the sales season is almost finished. From a sales point of view, it has limited value today, which is a pity. I really hope things will change. Events like the Defi are fantastic. They connect fun racing, professional riders and our clients. You have exhibitions, parties and the whole windsurfing lifestyle around it. This kind of event is what keeps the sport alive and helps it grow. Wasnt this what windsurfing was about. I remember when I started PWA in the 90s, each rider was very special. They all had their strong crazy looks, style, imageit all kind of died and become flat. Yes, also party animals, and the next day I could not believe how fit and focused they were. I dont make names, but Im sure we can all think of many names.WINDSURF: Are sailors getting paid as much these days as the old days?ANDREA CUCCHI:The platforms that used to promote racing results are not as strong as they used to be. Because of that it is harder for riders to earn good money purely from competition. Some youtubers get more than those making results. So the few who do both are those who make still ok money. I understand the frustration, because in the past winning events could bring strong financial support with only one focus. Unfortunately, things have changed.WINDSURF: What advice would you give an up and coming rider who is looking to approach a brand for sponsorship?ANDREA CUCCHI:When I was twenty, I was sponsored by ONeill and they gave me a book on how to be a good promoter for the brand. At that time, I had to send weekly reports with photos, stories and results. I fought to be on the magazines, tried to give back what was given to me. Many of those things seemed normal, but today they often do not happen anymore. Contracts are hardly respected, in my times we had big fines in the contracts.Nowadays some riders almost feel offended if the brand does not ask how things are going. The mindset should be the opposite. Be proactive. Be part of the brand. Bring ideas, feedback and opportunities to your sponsors. The brand should not have doubts why the sponsor you.WINDSURF: Describe the perfect team rider?ANDREA CUCCHI:Taty Frans. He loves windsurfing. He is smiling all the time. He is having fun on the water. He cares that the gear work and is good for his clients, followers, his racing and to feel proud that his sponsors offer the best gear. Available to travel, test and race any events because he loves the windsurfing vibe and challenges no matter the level. He does not post his energy and love for the sport that gives motivation to go on the water and jibe like he does. He has his centre, he has his clients test our gear and pushes client to discover the brand.Riders need to love windsurfing and share that passion with the windsurf community through content that people find useful, motivating and inspiring. We have a lot of riders like this. Josep Pons, Sasha, Cookie, Bob, Matteo, Arxon, Tycho, Temu, Jimmy, Eric and many more.WINDSURF: Do you think the money you pay for sponsored riders actually comes back in sale or is it all about brand awareness?ANDREA CUCCHI:Depends on the riders and on the discipline. Now that PWA needs to restructure, for sure we prefer to focus on riders who are able to bring back in sales, as they offer the information and support the clients need.WINDSURF: Have you ever seen a correlation between having a world champion and an increase in sales / new customers or a drop in sales after a rider has left the brand? ANDREA CUCCHI:Not at all in both cases. There are a lot of ingredients which build a brand. We had Matteo Iachino who won the world championship, but at that time we were not able to grow our brand due to other structural organization points we had to be ready with, so we could not take advantage of the situation. We took out Johan Soe as he decided to share his time also with IQ racing, and due to innovations and services we were able to offer, we increased sales even if he left. Sometimes you align many points and you have an increase of sales. Most important is to stay sharp on the product you offer and services to make your clients feel supported and loved. Credibility is important and this is why we focus only on windsurfing rigs, without losing focus. For our brand is also a bit different as Im a super active windsurfer with a strong team on top of the riders, I stand behind the development myself in and out of the water, so we have a very steady and strong brand, which is not depending purely from riders.WINDSURF: Can a brand survive without sponsoring any riders or without a flagship big name on the team?ANDREA CUCCHI:Today there are many more marketing options than in the past. But a sport without competition, without riders and without racing becomes much less interesting and exciting.You need competitions and you need riders to keep the sport alive. They create motivation for people to follow the sport, get on the water and try to improve.We have also seen brands disappear when they stopped supporting riders. And honestly, it would also make our work a lot more boring.WINDSURF: How come you did not continue with Amado Vrieswijk this season?ANDREA CUCCHI: We decided not to continue the sponsorship with Amado, as logistics and objectives were no longer aligned with both our needs and his. At the moment, the PWA is going through a transitional phase and will likely need a couple of years to confirm stable growth in terms of events.For this reason, sponsoring established top 5 riders whose main focus is competing in the PWA to secure podium results is not a priority for us right now. The uncertainty around the calendar and organization makes it difficult to justify that type of investment.Instead, we are shifting our marketing budget towards riders who are more actively involved in supporting product development and working closely with us to improve what we offer to our customers.This direction is clearly reflected in our recent developments. We have introduced a full range of Qbond body seamless production sails, the first of this kind on the market, along with a completely new construction also applied to our stitched sails. We have also launched new models such as the Rush-1 and the 9+ and implemented many practical improvements across our rig components.This approach allows us to focus on innovation and deliver real value to our clients.At the same time, we remain open to supporting young talents who are willing to work hard, as we have always done over the years. Looking at todays top 10 riders, many of them have grown within our program from a young age.We currently have a strong group of young riders who are also contributing significantly to product development, such as Bob and Matteo, among others. The selection of young talents happens naturally: those who are committed and willing to put in the work grow within the team, and their results follow accordingly.WINDSURF: Would you rather have one big hitter like Kai Lenny on the brand or a team of solid workhorses with mediocre results?ANDREA CUCCHI: We always go back to the same question: how much does the flagship rider engage with the clients? How visible are they and what activities do they do to promote the products?The difference between a top rider who might achieve top results at four events a year and solid workhorses who work every day for the brand makes the choice quite clear. If a big name does not only focus on racing but also supports the brand through other activities, then that can be gold.However, if the riders name becomes stronger than the brand itself, it can sometimes take over the spotlight and that can become a disadvantage.For clients, having a top rider using a brand used to be like a stamp of approval that the product works. But over the years we have also seen top riders switching brands more for financial reasons, so this has lost a bit of credibility. Often this is even the first comment you hear on the beach.In the end, I think the best solution is a combination. It also depends on what the brand needs at that moment, how many events are on the tour and how good the top rider is at multitasking beyond competition.POINT-7 | The Darkside of WindsurfThe post ANDREA CUCCHI ON THE VALUE OF A RIDER! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

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POZO PRESSURE: KSTER AND PARE: SURVIVING POZO'S TOUGHEST TEST!POZO PRESSURE: KSTER AND PAR SURVIVING POZOS TOUGHEST TEST!Marginal wind, almost no waves and a final decided by a buzzer beater. At this years Gran Canaria World Cup, the conditions were a long way from classic Pozo, but that only made the battle more intense. We caught up with Philip Kster and runner up Marc Par to find out how they adapted, stayed patient and found a way to deliver when the conditions were tough to deliver their complete repertoire.PHILIP KSTER: You can really show whos done their homeworkWINDSURF: The forecast didnt look great before the event. What were you expecting?PHILIP KSTER: The forecast wasnt amazing, but with such a long waiting period you hoped theyd find the best days. I wasnt expecting huge wind, but considering what was forecast, I think we actually got decent conditions. We had enough windwe just missed the waves.WINDSURF: Do you train in conditions like that?PHILIP KSTER: Yes, quite a lot actually. It wasnt a surprise for me. Gran Canaria doesnt always have amazing waves anyway. Usually its better than what we had during the contest, but these are still conditions I know well.WINDSURF: What equipment were you using?PHILIP KSTER: I switched between 4.2m, 4.5 and 4.7 sails, but the 4.5 was the main choice. I also used a bigger 93L board instead of my usual 87L because it helped through the gusty wind and the big lulls while still giving me enough speed to jump.WINDSURF: Do difficult conditions level the playing field?PHILIP KSTER: In these conditions you cant always show everything youve trained. Instead, you show whether youve really done the work over the years.If you can still land good doubles in bad conditions, thats when your preparation shows. You could see it during the eventthe riders who really have those moves dialled could still pull them off.The conditions were still windy enough to make it a proper contest. It wasnt like Chile, where sometimes theres barely enough wind to get back out to the line up.WINDSURF: The final looked even harder.PHILIP KSTER: A double was still essential. Without one, you werent going to score enough. I landed my double quite early, but I needed another score. Right at the end I managed to land a one-footed back loop, and that ended up making the difference. Without it, I wouldnt have won. Everyone in the final could land doubles. It all came down to finding that extra score.WINDSURF: Was there some luck involved?PHILIP KSTER: Of course. You still need to find the right ramp at exactly the right moment. Maybe I got a little lucky, but thats part of the game.WINDSURF: Your side of the draw looked particularly stacked.PHILIP KSTER: It was definitely the stronger half. Sometimes you get lucky with the draw, sometimes you dont. This time it looked tough, but in the end you still have to sail your best whoever youre against.WINDSURF: Your beach crew was signalling throughout the final. What were they telling you?PHILIP KSTER: They were basically telling me I needed another back loop. I already knew I had my double, but I still needed a backup score.Finding a back loop is not normally difficult, but I actually crashed two during the final, which almost never happens. I saw other riders doing the same. The conditions were really strange because we were all forcing the moves off tiny bits of chop.WINDSURF: It looked like a special finish with your family waiting on the beach.PHILIP KSTER: That was really nice. Its always great having the family there and seeing how happy they were when I came in. That made the win even more special.WINDSURF: Another Pozo victory to add to the collection.PHILIP KSTER: Apparently, its my ninth, although I havent been countingI just read it somewhere. If its true, thats pretty cool.I also saw someone saying before the event that I wasnt one of the favourites because Id been carrying a small injury. I did have a bit of an injury, but nothing serious and I was also really happy with how my new production board performed throughout the event.MARC PAR: Sometimes the worse it gets, the more I like itWINDSURF: The conditions this year werent exactly classic Pozo. What was your mindset going into the event?MARC PAR: I was prepared for anything. I always train in all kinds of conditions because thats what you need if you want to be competitive everywhere. It didnt really faze me that the conditions were bad. Its the same for everyone.WINDSURF: Were you nervous?MARC PAR: A little bit, like always. I actually try to make myself a bit nervous because it keeps me sharp. Its about finding the balancebeing switched on without getting overwhelmed. I felt like I managed that really well throughout the event.WINDSURF: You looked on fire in your opening heat.MARC PAR: That was a nice surprise because Im normally a slow starter. Usually my first heat isnt my best, so getting off to such a strong start really helped. I felt relaxed and found my rhythm straight away. The second heat was the oppositeI felt out of sync and had to work my way back, but overall I was feeling good.WINDSURF: The final was right on the limit. What separates the top guys in those conditions?MARC PAR: Being able to force doubles makes a huge difference. Apart from my first heat, where I actually had a proper ramp, every other double was launched off little chops out the back. Being able to reproduce those moves on demand is really important.Then its about patience and reading the water. There werent many real waves, so you had to spot little bumps that might stand up enough to link a couple of manoeuvres together instead of just getting one hit.You had to use your imagination. It almost felt like riding waves on flat wateryou were trying to predict what every little chop might do.At the end of the day, thats competition. You dont always get perfect conditions. In fact, its usually the opposite, so you have to be able to perform in everything.WINDSURF: The next day was firing, but I guess the event simply had to run?MARC PAR: Exactly. Its important for the organisers and for all the riders that travel here and train so hard to actually get a result. Sure, when the conditions were marginal theres a bit more luck involved and that isnt always ideal, but its still important that the competition happens.WINDSURF: Second place is still a great result for the title race.MARC PAR: Definitely. If someone had offered me second before the event, I would have taken it. My goal was to finish in the top three. Of course I wanted to win, but I also know how difficult that is. Im a little disappointed because I was leading for most of the final and lost it right at the end, but thats part of the game.Victor always tells me that sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesnt. The important thing is to keep putting yourself in that position and stay consistent. Last year I won the world title, but nobody guarantees you another one. I just have to keep working, keep improving and hopefully my time will come again. I have just got to keep on working and trying to do my best and hopefully it goes my way again! I just want to be there and sail as good as I can, this is my plan!The post POZO PRESSURE: KSTER AND PARE: SURVIVING POZOS TOUGHEST TEST! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

ALL THE ACTION FROM POZO FINALS DAY...NO SECOND CHANCES!ALL THE ACTION FROM POZO FINALS DAYNO SECOND CHANCES!No second chances. Philip Kster and Daida Moreno came out on top in the mens and womens single elimination in Pozo. If you missed the action, here are all the heats from the live stream. The conditions werent all-time, but Pozo still delivered enough wind and waves to put on an exciting show and crown worthy winners.DAY 5 OF ALL THE ACTION FROM POZO IZQUIERDO.PRO DAY R1 MEN heat1-8 R1 WOMEN heat 1-4 R2 MEN heat 1-4 (quarters) R2 WOMEN heat 1-2 (semis) R3 MEN heat 1-2 (semis) Final WOMEN Final MENThe post ALL THE ACTION FROM POZO FINALS DAYNO SECOND CHANCES! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

KSTER AND RUANO COME OUT ON TOP IN TRICKY POZO!KSTER AND RUANO COME OUT ON TOP IN TRICKY POZO!Never underestimate Pozo Izquierdo as Windsurf predictions fall apart!The forecast may have looked shaky all week, but when it mattered most, the famous Gran Canaria wind machine switched on just enough to crown two deserving champions at the 2026 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup.Competition got underway at 9:30 am and the action rolled relentlessly through until 5:00 pm , with riders making the most of every gust. Early in the day there was enough wind for some quality ramps, but as the afternoon wore on, conditions became increasingly marginal. By the time the finals hit the water, Pozo looked more like a lake than the world-famous high-wind arena its known for. On any other day the final may have been sacked off but the judges had little choice but to push it through with no certainty in the forecast. But in the end the crme rose to the top anyways!Instead of the usual tiny 3.3 to 3.7m sails, competitors were rigging surprisingly large 4.5 to 4.7sa clear sign that this was going to be a battle of precision and experience rather than survival.And thats exactly what unfolded.From the opening rounds, Marc Par (ESP) looked unstoppable. After his first heat we were gob smacked at the way he was bashing out every trick in the book with clinical precision. The reining world champion was firing out flawless double forwards and linking together stylish wave rides, looking every bit like a title contender. But when the pressure reached its peak in the final, Philip Kster (GER) unleashed a trademark double forward and perfect back loop to claim yet another Gran Canaria crown. We believe that his his ninth victory in POzo!The mens podium finished:2026 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Mens Wave1st Philip Kster (GER | Severne Windsurfing)2nd Marc Par (ESP | Simmer / Simmer Sails / MFC)3rd Miguel Chapuis (ESP | Flikka / North Sails)4th Liam Dunkerbeck (ESP | Duotone Windsurfing)The draw was packed with talent from top to bottom. Marion Gil impressed throughout the day, stomping a spectacular Clay (frontside 360 with a reverse spin at the endland sliding backwards) alongside huge doubles and towering back loops. But that was not enough to pull him through a loaded heat in the quarters with Liam Dunkerbeck and Kster edging him out.One of the biggest stories belonged to Miguel Chapuis who was on the bottom side of the draw. Returning from injury, the Spaniard sailed with confidence all day and was rewarded with an emotional third-place finish after eliminating one of the event favourites on his way through.Liam Dunkerbeck, son of legendary windsurfing icon and event organiser Bjrn Dunkerbeck continued to prove hes forging his own path. The young Spaniard produced the upset of the day by knocking out former world champion Marcilio Browne in the semi before advancing to the final, where he eventually finished fourth.With both windsurf prediction picks Marcilio Browne and Marino Gil falling in the stacked top half of the draw was blown wide open, creating an exciting finish to the competition. Our predictions were already toast aside from the favouritesDisaster!Alessio Stillrich was also a standout performer and was unlucky not to make the final as was Victor Fernandez, Takuma Sugi and Marino Gil.The womens competition produced another feel-good story.Making her first appearance for Goya Windsurfing, Daida Ruano looked completely at home on her new equipment. The Pozo legend combined trademark aggressive wave riding with powerful jumps throughout the day and even threw a bold double forward attempt in the final despite the fading breeze.As conditions deteriorated, Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU) found it increasingly difficult to showcase her full repertoire of moves, but still sailed brilliantly to secure second place.Local girl alexia Kiefer was solid as was Sol Degriek who managed to land some decent push loops to make the top fourOther stand out were Lisa Wermiester, Justyna Sniady and Pauline Katz.The womens podium finished:2026 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Womens Wave1st Daida Ruano (ESP | Goya Windsurfing)2nd Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)3rd Alexia Kiefer (ESP | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails)4th Sol Degrieck (BEL | Severne Windsurfing)It wont go down as one of the classic nuclear Pozo events, but the 2026 edition still achieved what mattered mostit got every wave category completed. Speaking during the prize-giving, event organiser Bjrn Dunkerbeck summed it up perfectly, noting that the best sailors still came out on top, just as they did last year when Pozo delivered its trademark extreme winds and solid waves. Whether its survival conditions or marginal breezes, champions find a way.Windsurf Predictions: Not a Bad Day at the OfficeBut not a good one!The ever-popular Windsurf Predictions also came away reasonably happy with their crystal ball. Correctly picking both eventual winnersPhilip Kster and Daida Ruanowas perhaps the safest call of the weekend, but getting the champions right is never guaranteed.Marc Par was tipped for third but exceeded expectations after an outstanding days sailing to finish runner-up, while the womens predictions proved even closer, with Daida and Sarah-Quita correctly forecast to finish first and second. Third pick Sol Degrieck narrowly missed out on the podium, eventually taking fourth behind the impressive Alexia Kiefer.Overall, it was a respectable scorecardbut there is always room for improvement. The prediction team will now head back to the drawing board ahead of the racing and freestyle events in Fuerteventura, where another set of tricky calls awaits.The post KSTER AND RUANO COME OUT ON TOP IN TRICKY POZO! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

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NAVELA PROJECT: POZO EPISODE 4NAVELA PROJECT: POZO EPISODE 4Just in time before the 2026 womens competition gets underway in Gran Canaria, the final episode of the Navela Project from last years event has just dropped.If you havent seen it yet, this is your chance to go behind the scenes and experience the womens competition from a different perspective. From the highs and lows of the wave competition to the stories, personalities and moments that dont always make it into the results, this episode gives a unique insight to the women on tour and how they cope with the nuclear winds of Pozo!The Womens Wave Tour arrives at one of the most iconic and demanding windsurfing spots in the world: Pozo Izquierdo, Gran Canaria. This episode from the 2025 Pozo World Cup takes you behind the scenes of the event, following the worlds best female sailors as they prepare to compete in extreme conditions. Beyond the spectacular action on the water, discover the stories of fear, commitment, resilience, and the evolution of womens windsurfing through the voices of the athletes themselves. This is Part 4 of a four-part series following the Pozo World Cup 2025. Stay tuned for the next episodes as the competition unfolds and the battle for the podium intensifies.About NAVELA NAVELA is a documentary series following the Womens Wave Tour throughout the 2025 season. From Chile to Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Hawaii, the series captures not only world-class windsurfing, but also the inspiring stories, personalities, and journeys of the athletes behind the results. Whether youre passionate about windsurfing, sport, or powerful human stories, NAVELA offers an inside look at one of the worlds most spectacular sporting tours.CREDITS Edited by RafasoulartDirected & written by Sarah-Quita Offringa & Pauline Katz Voiceover by Sarah Jackson Footage by Rafasoulart / Alberto SorianoMusic by Epidemicsound / Artlist Sound Design by RafasoulartFEATURING, Cori McFarlane, Daida Ruano Moreno, Elena Dominik, Julia Meijer, Justyna Sniady, Line Bang Wittrup, Lisa Wermeister, Lisa Kloster, Lizzlotte Schilling Andrew, Maria Schlin, Maria Morales Navarro, Maria Behrens, Milanka Linde, Natsuki Wakasa, Pauline Katz, Sol Degrieck, Sybille Bode, Sarah-Quita Offringa, Fumi Akita, Trine Gobisch, Lale Helena Derya, Emma Miron, Frida Miron, Isabel Van Noesel, Marcilio Browne, Victor Fernandez, Robby Swift, Dieter Van der Eyken, Lennart Neubauer, Bjorn DunkerbeckSUPPORTED BY Severne Windsurfing Starboard Windsurfing MB Boards PozoWinds LPWSThe post NAVELA PROJECT: POZO EPISODE 4 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

NAVELA PROJECT: POZO EPISODE 3!NAVELA PROJECT: POZO EPISODE 3!If you have been following the Navela Project series from Gran Canaria then be sure not to miss episode 3 as the battle between the girls intensifies at the 2025 world cup in Pozo!The Womens Wave Tour arrives at one of the most iconic and demanding windsurfing spots in the world: Pozo Izquierdo, Gran Canaria. This episode from the 2025 Pozo World Cup takes you behind the scenes of the event, following the worlds best female sailors as they prepare to compete in extreme conditions. Beyond the spectacular action on the water, discover the stories of fear, commitment, resilience, and the evolution of womens windsurfing through the voices of the athletes themselves. This is Part 3 of a four-part series following the Pozo World Cup 2025. Stay tuned for the next episodes as the competition unfolds and the battle for the podium intensifies.About NAVELA NAVELA is a documentary series following the Womens Wave Tour throughout the 2025 season. From Chile to Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Hawaii, the series captures not only world-class windsurfing, but also the inspiring stories, personalities, and journeys of the athletes behind the results. Whether youre passionate about windsurfing, sport, or powerful human stories, NAVELA offers an inside look at one of the worlds most spectacular sporting tours.CREDITS Edited by Rafasoulart Directed & written by Sarah-Quita Offringa & Pauline Katz Voiceover by Sarah JacksonFootage by Rafasoulart / Alberto SorianoMusic by Epidemicsound / Artlist Sound Design by RafasoulartFEATURING Alexia Kiefer Quintana, Cori McFarlane, Daida Ruano Moreno, Elena Dominik, Julia Meijer, Justyna Sniady, Line Bang Wittrup, Lisa Wermeister, Lisa Kloster, Lizzlotte Schilling Andrew, Maria Schlin, Maria Morales Navarro, Maria Behrens, Milanka Linde, Natsuki Wakasa, Pauline Katz, Sol Degrieck, Sybille Bode, Sarah-Quita Offringa, Fumi Akita, Trine Gobisch, Lale Helena Derya, Emma Miron, Frida Miron, Isabel Van Noesel, Marcilio Browne, Victor Fernandez, Robby Swift, Dieter Van der Eyken, Lennart Neubauer, Bjorn DunkerbeckSUPPORTED BY Severne Windsurfing Starboard Windsurfing MB Boards Pozo Winds LPWSThe post NAVELA PROJECT: POZO EPISODE 3! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.