Tenerife Windsurf Solution has to suspend its renowned TWS Pro Slalom training for the coming winter season from January to March 2026. The reason for this are newly introduced environmental regulations in the training area of El Médano on Tenerife. The new regulations prohibit the use of anchored buoys, which makes it impossible to set up the traditional slalom course, which is essential for training. This restriction not only affects the TWS training programme, but has already had an impact on the PWA World Cup in El Médano, which took place earlier this year and where the organisers had to resort to GPS-based buoys instead of fixed moorings.
Alternative solutions
Although the GPS-based marking systems used at the PWA offer a potential alternative to conventional buoys, they are not a practical solution for regular training operations. The buoy is held precisely at a predetermined position using a small electric drive and GPS sensor. On Lake Garda, for example, where it is almost impossible to deploy buoys in water depths of several hundred metres, these buoys have given the regatta scene a huge boost in recent years.
However, these systems are associated with significant costs and also require considerable technical maintenance and additional personnel. According to the operators, this technology is currently not economically viable for the operation of Tenerife Windsurf Solution. The decision to suspend Pro Slalom training was therefore taken after careful consideration of the options. However, TWS stresses that this is a temporary measure and is already working on long-term solutions to be able to offer the full programme again in the future.
Continued offers despite restrictions
Despite the suspension of pro slalom training, Tenerife Windsurf Solution will continue to offer high-quality slalom equipment from leading brands for hire. The planned slalom clinics with professionals such as Jordy Vonk and Antoine Albeau will also take place as planned. The expertise of world-class riders will therefore remain a central component of the TWS offering, even if structured training on the race course is temporarily not possible.
"We understand how important the TWS Pro Slalom training programme has become for the global slalom community," explains Harco-Jan Folkerts, founder of Tenerife Windsurf Solution. The company is already actively working on long-term solutions and hopes to be able to offer the full Pro Slalom training programme in El Médano again by winter 2027.
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