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Competition started here today at the $130,000 PWA 1999 Fuerteventura Grand Slam and Women's Freestyle World Championship, with two rounds of men's and a single round of women's exciting freeride action.

All attention this morning was turned to the new hairstyle of eleven times World Champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck. Two nights ago Bjorn and friends celebrated his 30th birthday at a restaurant near his home in Gran Canaria and following a week of intense competition at Pozo they were definitely in the mood to party and let there hair down.

After various food fights and lots of drinking games the night started to get wild and unbeknown to Bjorn his main surprise was still awaiting him. It turned out that a group of his friends, which included Finian Maynard and Vidar Jensen had planned a surprise haircut and before the unsuspecting World Champion realised what was happening, they first cut off his long blond hair and then shaved him bald! We are talking totally bald here, and it has not taken long before new nicknames for Dunkerbeck have come into circulation.

The best so far include Kojak and the Bald Eagle! Dunkerbeck, has taken the matter in good spirit, although it has been noted that he is wearing a cap on the beach more often than usual!

This morning the men's freeride contest stormed into action in strong cross-offshore winds blowing between 20 and 30 knots. A mixture of freeride tricks and big wave manoeuvres were the order of the day as sailors performed anything from spocks, willy skippers and 360's to push loops, wave 360's and double forward loops.

It was soon obvious that most of sailors have been doing plenty of secret practice for this event with vastly improved performances from most of the fleet compared to the freestyle here last year. The format of the competition were, four-man heat's with the best two sailors advancing.

Jason Polakow was particularly impressive in the first round as he advanced forward with a solid display of nifty tricks, which complemented his radical jumps and wave riding style. He then proceeded to take out Danish trick specialist, Lars Peterson in the second round. Also advancing with convincing style were Nik Baker, Robby Seeger, Josh Stone, Matt Pritchard, Bernd Flessner and Bjorn Dunkerbeck, whilst big name early exits came from Kevin Pritchard, Patrice Belbeoch and Robert Teriitehau.

By the quarterfinals of the 48-man fleet the action was really hotting up with some incredible high jumps and the first double forward loops of the day from the big German Robby Seeger. Seeger and Nik Baker were the first two to advance into the first semi. Baker was performing a vast array of tricks including the incredibly difficult spock, whilst Seeger, who has recently won the 'King of the Lake' contest, pulled some powerful one-handed three sixties before storming into a radical double forward attempt seconds from the close of the heat.

Josh Stone was equally impressive in the second quarter final, pulling some huge forward loops coming in towards the beach and also his trademark willy skippers which he actually landed at the feet of the cheering spectators. He advanced alongside Jason Polakow to complete the line up for the first semi.

In the third quarter final, Mr 'high forward' Bernd Flessner and Matt Pritchard advanced over the Norwegian, Vidar Jensen and Dutch sailor, Ramses Landmen, both producing solid performances in a closely contested heat. They were joined in the second semi by Orjan Jensen and Bjorn Dunkerbeck who both advanced over Antoine Albeau and Peter Voltwater.

In the first semi, Robby Seeger once again let of the fireworks and earned his ticket to the final with a radical performance including another big double forward attempt whilst Josh Stone willy skippered, spocked and forward looped numerous times and also advanced.

In the second semi last years winner Bjorn Dunkerbeck, with his bald head by now looking slightly sunburnt took a surprising early exit alongside Orjan Jensen, whilst Matt Pritchard and Bernd Flessner marched into the final.

The final was full of high jumps including back loops, push loops, high forwards and of course yet another double from Seeger. The double was not enough, this time to outscore Josh Stone who sailed brilliantly with a huge array of tricks to take first overall victory. Seeger was awarded second with Matt Pritchard third and Bernd Flessner fourth.

The women's first ever PWA freestyle event was held after the first single elimination of the men's and the action was equally impressive. The final eventually boiled down to a battle between Collette Guadagnino, Toni Frey, Lucerne Ernst and Karen Jaggi. Lucerne Earnst was impressive with one particular high table top although victory was given to Collette Guadagnino for her stylish wave riding and clean forward loops on the way in to the beach.

The second men's freestyle then followed and with the wind still blowing around 30 knots and waves up to three feet the action seemed to get better and better. The fleet eventually boiled down to a four man final between Josh Stone, Robby Seeger, Matt Pritchard and Orjan Jensen who had come through from the semi's over Jason Polakow, Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Bernd Flessner and Nik Baker.

This time round the big German Robby Seeger landed his trade mark double in waterstart position which was enough to earn him the vote of the judges ahead of another solid performance from Matt Pritchard in second, Stone in third and Jensen in fourth.

As it stands, Seeger with his first and second is in first, Josh Stone second, Matt Pritchard third and Orjan Jensen fourth although there are a possible five more rounds of freestyle which may be completed by the end of the week.

It is highly likely that race director Karim Goujon will switch over to racing tomorrow, since we at least have a result in freestyle for both men and women! Strong winds are predicted to continue so it looks like we are all set for yet another week of intense PWA action for the second leg of the Canaries tour!

Robby Seeger

"Yeah, I am stocked, but it ain't over yet! It was windy, choppy and there were surprisingly big ramps although it was getting gusty towards the end. It was 4.5m sail for me 'Balls to the wall' and the other guys were on 4.1' s. I am getting closer to land the doubles now and I am comfortable with them. I was falling on a lot of tricks but I guess the other guys were falling too. I was freaking out with some of the tricks, I swallowed water, hit my knee on the fin and hit my head on the water, It was good fun though! '

Josh Stone

" It was really good out there, the wind was very strong which made it super exciting, big jumps, big moves, everybody going off. I think tomorrow will be much the same. It was getting difficult towards the end when it started getting gusty but it was so much fun although I would of preferred to win the second final.

Orian Jensen

"I was stocked to get in the last final, I had a really good semi final. I did some good jumps and had some good wave rides and 360's. In the final I had a little bit too small sail and I did not get the ramps to jump off. I was so stocked to get in the final, I am really glad for that!"

Text:©SSM Freesports / Dan Atkins

Photos:Credit and copyright by SSM/CARTER