Saturday sees the start of one of the highlights of the PWA Tour in Pozo. Tough conditions, nuclear wind and plenty of talent promise action without end - Pozo has almost never disappointed. Gran Canaria is the first European event for the waveriders and could really shake up the fields. The premiere of the new Slalom-X discipline also awaits. Chris Yates from the PWA has summarised everything you need to know about the Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup in his preview:
Waveriding ladies
For the first time in over two decades, neither of the Moreno twins will be at the top of the podium at the end of the event, as neither Daida nor Iballa Moreno will be there. Daida had her home event completely under control - she has won in Pozo every year but one since 1998, but announced her retirement after winning the final last season - so the race is truly wide open this year.
Reigning world champion Sarah-Quita Offringa has yet to make an appearance this season, but goes into the race on Gran Canaria as the favourite for this year's title after finishing second here last season and achieving numerous podium finishes over the years. Offringa will not have an easy time of it, however, with several rivals vying for the throne of the "Queen of Windsurfing". Lina Erpenstein comes to Pozo with her victory in Chile behind her and is highly motivated.
Strong offspring with Kiefer and Degrieck
Alexia Kiefer Quintana is also good for a podium finish at her home event. Kiefer Quintana burst onto the scene in 2019 when she made a name for herself as a 14-year-old with a fifth place in the main event. Alexia took her first podium in Chile and wants to continue working her way up.
The favourites should also keep an eye on Sol Degrieck. After her brilliant performance last year, the 14-year-old Belgian claimed her second podium finish on the tour at the start of this season in Chile. Degrieck may still lack experience, but she certainly doesn't lack talent and there won't be many who would like to compete against her.
Maria Behrens (see also our current interview here) and Maria Morales want to move up to the top of the world rankings, while Oda Johanne is competing in a wave riding event for the first time since 2019. Pauline Katz (Interview here) will be trying to build on her best result to date - 4th place in Chile - and Marine Hunter, who won on Sylt last season, could also be one of the favourites. Justyna Sniady, who recently injured her foot, will have to race against time to get fit for the event. She will probably only decide at the last minute. It is also worth mentioning that the current world number one and two - Sarah Hauser and María Andrés - are both not taking part.
Waveriding men
The standard in the men's event seems to be going through the roof just before the Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup 2024, with a firework display of jumps and wave rides that promises to be a spectacle.
After the first two events of the year, Morgan Noireaux finds himself in unfamiliar territory as he heads the world rankings for the first time in Pozo. Pozo will of course be a very different challenge to what his rivals have experienced so far this year, but Noireaux will still be looking to maximise his result to keep up with the race for the world title.
Just behind Noireaux is Victor Fernandez, who experienced something of a resurgence at the start of this season with two podium finishes in Japan and Chile after not finishing on the podium the season before. Of course, Fernandez has an excellent record here in the past, but the last few years have shown that without Pushloop Forward you probably won't be able to fight for the top two places. However, the former three-time world champion knows Pozo inside out and will still be hoping to fight for the top five and beyond.
Marino Gil wants to go all the way to the top, Köster is back in full swing
Last year there was a thrilling duel between the eventual world champion Marcilio Browne and local hero Marino Gil, and you never know if there will be a repeat of that battle at the end of the event. Browne has made a solid start to the year and heads to Gran Canaria in third place in the overall standings. The Brazilian will be hoping to defend his title. Gil is just a few places further back in fifth place, and the youngster is naturally aiming for the top step of the podium this time round
Of course, Philip Köster also has a phenomenal record in Pozo: the five-time world champion has recorded a total of seven victories here. Last year, the German "only" finished in 5th place, but when you consider that this was with a broken foot, that is actually incredible. As Köster is fully fit again this year, he will undoubtedly be very difficult to stop when he is in top form.
Ricardo Campello may not be competing on the entire tour this year, but the reigning runner-up couldn't resist competing in Pozo. Campello finished fourth here last year and will be a major threat again this time if he gets into shape in time. With star DJ Martin Garrix as a sponsor, he has already ensured the coup of the year!
Liam Dunkerbeck, Alessio Stillrich, who finished seventh here in 2023, and Josep Pons are hoping for a strong performance at their home spot, while Moritz Mauch is also always good for a top score in the wave. Leon Jamaer, Antoine Martin, Julian Salmonn, Robby Swift, Thomas Traversa and Arthur Arutkin will also be going full throttle. The Japanese team with Takuma Sugi, Takara Ishii and his brother Hayata Ishii should also not be underestimated. Dieter van der Eyken and Miguel Chapuis will also be hoping to make it into the top 10 and beyond. Dany Bruch also returns for the first time since 2019.
Slalom X
Slalom X will make its debut on the PWA World Tour in Pozo. In contrast to last year, the races are not limited to a certain number of days, so as many races as the regulations allow can be held when there is plenty of wind and few waves.
Slalom-X Ladies
Blanca Alabau goes into the first race of the season as the defending champion. The Spaniard, who won her first world title last year, spent most of last season on the foil, so it will be interesting to see how she adapts when she returns to the fin.
Sarah-Quita Offringa gave Alabau a run for her money last year with the fin and will probably be Alabau's biggest threat. The Aruban only finished outside the top three once in 15 eliminations last season and will be trying to achieve the double of wave and slalom victory.
Jenna Gibson undoubtedly has the speed to fight her way to the top, but ultimately it will come down to her consistency, as she definitely has the speed to upset herself. Justine Lemeteyer and former world champion Marion Mortefon are also sure to have a say in who wins. Just like Offringa, Oda Johanne will also be competing in both disciplines, while 14-year-old Bobbi-Lynn De Jong is ready to take on the best in the world. It will be interesting to see how she performs, having won both opening events of the PWA Youth Slalom World Tour.
Slalom-X Men
It's been a while since we've seen an all-Finn slalom, but the usual suspects are well known: Reigning world champion Matteo Iachino and Pierre Mortefon won their first titles on the fin, and both are well equipped for hardcore slalom conditions - in fact, they're probably their favourite conditions.
Last year's runner-up, Amado Vrieswijk, would probably favour the foil even in strong winds, but he will also be a big threat on the fin. Slalom X is designed to challenge the all-round qualities of the riders and he is undoubtedly one of the most talented all-rounders, if not the most talented all-rounder on the tour.
The 2022 PWA World Champion and last year's world number three Maciek Rutkowski will be keen to get the season off to a good start. The Pole led the race for the world title for most of last year before missing out by just 200 points. Jordy Vonk will probably be licking his fingers at the prospect of a pure high wind slalom with Fin. The flying Dutchman was the only man to win an elimination in Pozo on the Fin last season. Finn fans also include Taty Frans, Bruno Martini and Ingmar Daldorf, Jimmy Thieme and Malte Reuscher.
Unfortunately, last year's winner Enrico Marotti is out after breaking his arm. Other riders to watch out for are the very experienced Cedric Bordes, the Brit Scotty Stallman, the Frenchman Alexandre Cousin and the new PWA President Nico Prien.