IWT X PWA World Cup Puerto Rico: Maria Andrés and Bernd Roediger triumph in the Caribbean

The 4-star event of the combined IWT / PWA Wave Tour came to an end last weekend with a spectacular finale. With light winds and perfect waves over the flat reef, the athletes delivered challenging wave riding at the highest level.

The performance of Hawaiian Bernd Roediger was particularly impressive. After a setback in round four, he fought his way back through the losers' bracket and ultimately secured victory in the Pro Men's Division. In the final, Roediger came out on top with 16.03 points against Takara Ishii (14.67), Vincent Beauvarlet (13.43) and Federico Morisio (6.93).

"That was definitely a rollercoaster ride of emotions," commented Roediger on his victory. "After the setback in round four, I had to refocus mentally. In the final, everything just fell into place - the wave choice, the timing, the manoeuvres. I'm over the moon that I managed to turn it around."

Roediger's comeback once again emphasises his exceptional skills in wave riding. The 28-year-old Hawaiian is regarded as one of the most complete wave riders on the scene, able to shine in both onshore and offshore conditions. His victory in Puerto Rico should earn him important points for the overall ranking of the PWA World Tour. However, it is unclear whether he will compete in enough events this year to have a chance of winning the title.

Dominant performance among the women

Spain's Maria Andrés came out on top in the Pro Women's Division. With 10.63 points, she clearly stood out from the competition and emphasised her current top form. Andrés impressed above all with her precise wave selection and clean execution of her manoeuvres.

"The conditions weren't easy, but I improved from heat to heat," explained Andrés. "I was able to call up my best wave riding in the final. Puerto Rico is simply a magical place for our sport."

In the other categories, Vincent Beauvarlet (Master's Division) and Nelson Perez (Grand Master's Division) secured the victories. Beauvarlet came out on top with 14.94 points against Charlie Rovira (11.27), Nelson Perez (8.30) and Jose Pla (7.24). In the Grand Master's division, local hero Nelson Perez triumphed with 7.30 points ahead of Michael Friedl (5.60) and Francisco Jaume.

World Cup premiere in Puerto Rico

The combination of reliable winds, perfect waves and Caribbean flair makes Puerto Rico a dream destination for many windsurfers.

"We are proud to welcome the best wavesailors in the world here in Puerto Rico," said event director Nelson Perez. "The conditions weren't easy this week, but the athletes still put on an incredible show. This once again emphasises the quality of our spot."

The Puerto Rico Windsurf World Cup is part of the newly formed PWA X IWT World Wave Tour, which includes over 55 events on six continents this year. The tour combines the best elements of the previous PWA World Tour and the International Windsurfing Tour (IWT), ushering in a new era of professional wavesailing.

"With the unified tour, we are experiencing something of a new golden age of windsurfing," explained PWA CEO Jimmy Diaz. "The combination of top events like here in Puerto Rico, the best athletes in the world and a growing global fan base is creating incredible momentum for our sport."

Outlook for upcoming Wave events

After the kick-off in Puerto Rico, the scene is now focussing on the next stops on the World Wave Tour. The next highlight on the calendar is the 5-star World Cup in Chile from 24 March to 6 April. The Matanzas and Pichilemu spots are regarded as absolute wave riding meccas and promise top-class action.

For the athletes, it's not just about glory and honour, but also important points for the overall ranking. After the dramatic final in Puerto Rico, Bernd Roediger in particular is likely to go into the upcoming events with plenty of tailwind. But local hero Matias Cosculluela is also likely to want to deliver again in front of his home crowd and build on his strong performances from last year. The windsurfing scene can therefore look forward to more exciting competitions in the waves this year.

Results Puerto Rico Windsurf World Cup 2025:

Pro Men's:

1. Bernd Roediger (HAW)
2. Takara Ishii (JPN)
3. Vincent Beauvarlet (FRA)
4. Federico Morisio (ITA)

Pro Women's:

1. Maria Andrés (ESP) - 10.63 points
2. Coco Foveau (GP)
3. Kaelyn Holmes
4. Denise Blondet

Master's:

1. Vincent Beauvarlet (FRA)
2. Charlie Rovira (PUR)
3. Nelson Perez (PUR)
4. Jose Pla (PUR)

Grand Master's:

1. Nelson Perez (PUR)
2. Michael Friedl (AUT)
3. Francisco Jaume (PUR)