Wednesday September 3, 2003
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Racing to go ahead at the Labello Sylt 2003 PWA Grand Slam, as part of a new 3-year deal.
The PWA, together with event Organizers MNP, are pleased to announce that Racing will go ahead at the Labello Sylt 2003 PWA Grand Slam alongside the Wave discipline. The 2003 event will form the basis for a 3-year deal, which will safeguard the Sylt event, and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, as one of the biggest events on tour.
Over the last 20 years, Sylt has provided some incredible conditions, with some of the biggest names in the history of windsurfing taking the battling for honor in Slalom, Wave Performance, Course Racing and now Formula Racing. Names such as Robby Naish, Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Neil Pryde), Jason Polakow (JP, Neil Pryde) and Kevin Pritchard (Gaastra, Starboard) have all staked their claim on the turbulent North Sea island and 2003 promises to be one of the biggest shows yet, as the best of the best congregate in Northern Germany to do battle for the 20th anniversary title.
The wave discipline will see former world champions such as Dunkerbeck, Polakow and Pritchard pit their wits against hopefuls like Ricardo Campello (JP, Neil Pryde) and Kauli Seadi (AHD, Naish) as well as Pozo local and current numbers 2 in the PWA wave ranking, Jonas Ceballos (Fanatic, Gaastra), who are all out to prove that the time has come for a new generation to take their place at the top of the pile. Current PWA number 1 Vidar Jensen (North) will also be looking to retain his place after his recent victory on home waters in Gran Canaria.
Racing will see Micah Buzianis (Mistral, North), who leads the PWA Race ranking after the recent PWA World Cup in Poland and looking to take his first PWA Championship title, do battle with last years PWA Racing Champion Steve Allen (Fanatic, Neil Pryde) and last years Sylt race winner Kevin Pritchard.
The 3-year Sylt deal reflects the growing confidence in Windsurfing and the PWA as a promotional tool. Two, three and four-year agreements are now in place with some of the biggest events on tour including the Canaries and Sylt, and other long-term contracts are in negotiation. These contracts will ensure the survival and growth of the PWA tour well into 2005.
