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wWednesday, July 04, 2007 | |
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Costa Teguise Grand Slam, Lanzarote  Yoli versus Sarah-Quita, Daida Air Chachoo; all photos: PWA/Carter Day4: Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde) celebrates her sweet-16 by pulling level with Daida Moreno in the womens event after a second double elimination final. Double Elimination 2
It has 1-1 between Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde) and Daida Moreno (North). There are potentially 2 more double eliminations possible this event to help them break the tie. What a way to celebrate her birthday. Congratulations Sarah-Quita! Here the girls give you a picture of what the final stages were like for them. YouTube video "flower ceremony": www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZneqZV-6x0 Laure: "At this level I would have settled for podium beforehand anyway, but I am always pleased to be there. I am a bit disappointed that I could not make any of my tricks I have learnt prior to the comp, but in these heats its been gusty and hard work." Daida: "Its all or nothing against Sarah-Quita. Either you sail well and you can win convincingly, or else she really smashes you. I sailed better in the final than I did in my semi, and I was way more comfortable. Still, it was super-gusty and there are loads of holes in the wind. I completed some good tricks; A one-footed forward, and a clew-first spock, but I fell on my flaka. Thats the way it is sometimes!" Sarah-Quita: "Before my heats I really practised and all I was focusing on was not to fall and ruin my momentum when the pressure was on. I saw Daida land some cool stuff, like her one-footed forward which was pretty high and radical, and that pushed me to try a Goyta, but I crashed. But I made loads of other stuff on both tacks, like Punetas, Grubbies, and all I could think was that I wanted to avoid a re-sail with her as thats a major risk to take. I’s one apiece now so lets pray for wind and see what happens!"  DAY 2: Arubas Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde) steals a crucial victory over reigning title holder Daida Moreno (North) in the womens competition. Single Elimination 2 Nayra Alonso (Fanatic / Severne) consolidated her success from the first double elimination today by instantly beating Iballa Moreno (North). Nursing a damaged shoulder Moreno sailed bravely but just could not match the new and improved style of her Gran Canarian neighbor. Daida Moreno however had other ideas and spoiled Alonsos party to secure her spot in the final. Laure Treboux (Naish / Naish) was pipped to the post by Sarah-Quita Offringa in an action-packed semi final. Offringa was too technical for the Swiss girl, but Treboux let some steam off when she sealed third place in the losers final by punishing Alonso. Final In similar conditions to yesterdays final, Moreno predictably used the ramps to try and score extra points against Offringas inventory of switch stance and technical, sliding tricks. Moreno fell a few times too many however in the choppy sections and the teenager from Aruba sailed steady and even made some higher jump tricks that shes not usually renowned for. Ever enthusiastic the charismatic young Caribbean star reflected on the tie: "I really wanted this win. I did all the basics well and then worked my way to more technical stuff. I even made some big forwards, which I have never done in heats before. I saw Daida had fallen a few times so that took the pressure off and relaxed me into finishing the job."  Laure Treboux, Nayra Alonso DAY1: Daida Moreno (North) fends off the new-wave of ladies freestyle talent despite the standard rocketing in the off-season. Aruban Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard /NeilPryde) sealed second place after halting Laure Treboux (Naish / Naish) remarkable fight back in its tracks. Single Elimination There were some upsets in the womens fleet. Nayra Alonso (Fanatic / Severne) elbowed last years rookie star Laure Treboux out in the first round. "I cannot believe it all came together so well” said the over-the-moon Spaniard. "I landed everything I have learned in the winter which was really lucky considering the condition were often a bit tricky and gusty." Sarah-Quita Offringa spoilt Alonsos party in the semi-finals to set her up for the final clash, which Daida Moreno dominated. Moreno was predictably ice-cool after this vital win. "I came into this event fully expecting to have a hard time from the rest of the girls, especially the freestyle specialists, as the standard is just unreal. I think that relaxed me and took the pressure of which just helped me do what I had to do to win." Double Elimination The womens final was a cracker. Moreno was using the ramps on the reef, which probably made the difference for her as Offringa concentrated more on the sliding tricks. Daida was launching into massive back loops, pushloops, forwards and even threw two Air-Chachos for good measure. Of course she also busted-out a fairly comprehensive range of other moves like ponches, spocks and grubbies too. Offringa fought hard with switch-stance tricks and impressed the judges with her up to date repertoire. "Actually I sailed better and better throughout the day", she explained. "This morning I was a bit sketchy, I was lucky to make the single final really, and then I found my feet. This afternoons conditions were better too as the waves left really smooth spots in between them for tricks while the rest of the course was choppy. But, Daida was on-fire and I was just amped to make the final and especially because I landed a Funnel in competition too." (Source: PWA/McDowell) posted by editors at 7/04/2007 11:07:00 PM |
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