After two days of waiting for sufficient wind, the first competition could finally take place on the third day of the Playa Surf CBbC Hotel Tenerife El Médano Windsurf Grand Slam. With 15-18 knots of wind, the first elimination in the Slalom X Slalom X started in the early evening. The conditions at the lower end of the wind spectrum required the largest registered equipment - a significantly different challenge to the storm event on Fuerteventura. There was only enough time for one run, but the usual favourites were already dominating the action. With only 20 starters, each elimination starts directly with the two semi-finals with ten men each, followed by the A and B finals - so an elimination on Tenerife only consists of four heats.
As if nothing had happened - No sponsor drama, no forced change to other sails - Pierre Mortefon won the first elimination. His second gybe was particularly impressive, in which he skilfully used the waves to overtake Matteo Iachino on the inside and take the lead. Once in front, Mortefon never relinquished the lead and confidently secured his first victory of the event.
Iachino and Rutkowski complete the podium
Matteo Iachino finished in a solid second place, but missed the chance to win the opening race. The Italian showed an excellent first gybe, where he rode a little further out and came out with more power, which allowed him to work his way up from around fifth to first place. On the second gybe, however, he missed the optimum moment to jibe on the same wave that Mortefon used. This small mistake cost him momentum and valuable ground, which he was unable to make up.
After the first race, the top three is identical to the one from Fuerteventura, with Maciek Rutkowski, who was still leading on the first beat, in third place. Remarkably, the current top ten consists of exactly the same names that made up the top ten in Fuerteventura - albeit in a slightly different order. After the first race, Amado Vrieswijk is in fourth place, followed by Ingmar Daldorf in fifth place, Jordy Vonk in sixth place, Nico Prien in seventh place, Taty Frans in eighth place, Jimmy Thieme in ninth place and Bruno Martini in tenth place.
Is the wind picking up today?
The forecast for Monday points to slightly stronger winds than yesterday, with 16-20 knots expected in the afternoon. It should also be a little clearer, which should favour the local thermals The skippers' meeting for both the Wave and Slalom X fleets is scheduled for 13:00 Central European Time, and the action can continue on the water from 14:00!
