16.03.2007

Toro Andaluz 2007 Preview

In only few days the 24. edition of the Toro Andaluz Windsurf event will start in Tarifa at the Camping Torre de la Peña from the 22nd to 25th march.

Like last year the Toro will be the first event of the European Freestyle Pro Tour (EFPT), where the best european freestyle windsurfers will compete. Until now the bests inscripted and want to fight for the 15000€. If you want to see, what happened last year, take a look here.

After a two-year recess during which it could not be celebrated for lack of sponsoring, the Tarifa windsurfing race par excellence could once again be held. The event was made possible with the support of local institutions from the Tarifa Town Hall and the Association of Gibraltar Municipal Councils to the Junta de Andalucía autonomous community government, all of which had decided that the Toro Andaluz had to be maintained as an effective instrument of local promotion.

In its 22 previous editions, the Toro witnessed all the technical modalities of contemporary competition windsurf. This year ins and outs, slalom, racing, formula, and freestyle were all on the programme so that the event could best integrate into the European Freestyle Pro Tour. This race series is achieving a great degree of recognition for the seriousness of the organisation, the level of competitors, and the coverage received in the specialised press in Europe. With races taking place all over the continent, the event includes about 100 competitors representing 14 countries. The Tarifa race, which opened the 2006 season, saw the 32 highest-ranked windsurfers participate with the objective of discovering a spot still unknown to many and to compete for the €15,000 in prizes offered by the organisation.

Participants represented 12 countries, meaning that this new edition of the Toro Andaluz was the most international one to date. The headquarters, as had been the case in past editions, was established at Camping Torre de la Peña I, the perfect solution for the logistical aspect given that all competitors stayed here and enjoyed the facilities. All preparations in place, the competition began.

One surprise was the general lack of national and, especially, local windsurfers in the race. Now that a sufficiently consistent national circuit and Secretary are in place, it is a shame that so few of these athletes could be present. A special mention, however, should go to the local Silvia Alba for being the only woman in attendance.

For its part, the wind was on cue, although somewhat weak. A Levante of 12/14 knots, fully side-shore, gave a good push to the squad leading up to the semi-final. A good swell put in evidence the extremely high level of these top racers and the way they work the water for endless figures in quick succession as well as in every direction. Spocks, flakas, puñetas single and repeated from both left and right resolved any doubts on why this Tour is receiving so much attention and that EFPT is, right now, one of the references as concerns Fun competitions.

The following days were typical of Tarifa summer, with alternating “white” calm with weak Poniente which made impossible further sailing to complete the classification which, although valid for the Tour, did not produce an absolute winner. Eight racers had to share the first-place podium. But to be sure the pros, many of whom discovered Tarifa with this event, enjoyed the feeling and sights of the Strait in a state of calm, as well as the nightlife in the wind capital. All decided to return. Of course, the following day, with all gear packed away, a 30-knot the Levante shook things up again… It wouldn’t be a race otherwise!

RESULTS:
1 Remko de Weerd (H-23/Fanatic, Gaastra).
1 Matteo Guazzoni (I-711/RRD, Simmer).
1 Normen Günzlein (G-186/, JP, Neil Pryde).
1 Jakub Kosmowski (POL-288/Tabou, Gaastra).
1 Andreas Olandersson (S-66/JP, Neil Pryde).
1 Antxon Otaegui (E-169/JP, Neil Pryde).
1 André Paskowski (G-2/F2, North).
1 Andrea Rosati (I-0/RRD, Neil Pryde)...
17 Silvia Alba (E-67/Tabou, Gaastra).
17 Salvador Martínez Boro (E-18/Tabou, Gaastra).
17 Aleix Sanllehy (CAT-555/F2)

MORE INFOS:

Homepage EFPT (Event infos and inscription)

Homepage Camping Torre de la Pena (Event location and accodomation)