Der Weltcup auf Teneriffa fand in den 5-STAR-Klassen einen spektakulären Abschluss, als zwei Legenden des Windsurfens am letzten Wettkampftag des „5-STAR WORLD CUP Playa Surf CBBC Hotel Tenerife Wind & Waves Festival“ den Sieg errangen.
Vor einem internationalen Publikum in der legendären Wellenarena El Cabezo verließ der bei den Fans beliebte Brite Ben Proffitt – weltweit besser bekannt als „Mr Windsurfing TV“ – die Kommentatorenkabine und kehrte in den Wettkampf zurück, um sich auf unvergessliche Weise den Masters-Weltcup-Titel zu sichern.
Unterdessen sicherte sich der Spanier Mike Friedl den G.Masters-Weltcup-Titel und vollendete damit ein beeindruckendes Doppel auf den Kanarischen Inseln, nachdem er bereits beim Weltcup auf Gran Canaria die Grand-Masters-Klasse gewonnen hatte.
BEN PROFFITT RETURNS FROM COMMENTARY BOX TO CLAIM MASTERS TITLE
A familiar voice of windsurfing worldwide, Ben Proffitt traded his microphone for a harness and delivered a performance worthy of a champion. Facing a highly competitive Masters field, Proffitt immediately announced his intentions, scoring an outstanding 23.35-point opening heat score, nearly doubling the score of his closest rival. But the road to victory was far from easy.
Local Tenerife standout Jochen Stolz, alongside two time Masters World Champion Mike Friedl, pushed Proffitt throughout the elimination. The trio produced some of the highest quality wave sailing of the event, with Stolz delivering a standout semifinal performance featuring critical wave riding and a spectacular pocket 360 to secure his place in the final.
In the final, Proffitt showed exactly the approach he often describes in commentary: “building the house.”
Riding seven waves and improving throughout the heat, Proffitt saved his best performance for last, landing a massive 9.62-point wave featuring a huge projecting 360 off a critical section, followed by two beautifully linked turns down the open face.
He sealed the victory with a spectacular aerial combination, finishing the heat with a one-footed backloop and a clean forward loop.
Stolz fought hard but could not match Proffitt’s final performance, finishing runner-up. Guillermo Barriero Melgarejo claimed third place, with Sandro D’Alessio finishing fourth.
MIKE FRIEDL COMPLETES CANARY ISLANDS DOUBLE
The G.Masters division belonged to Tenerife local hero Mike Friedl, who continued his remarkable run of form by winning back-to-back victories in the Canary Islands. After claiming the Gran Canaria World Cup G.Masters title, Friedl returned home to El Cabezo and once again proved his class against a world-class field.
The battle for second place came down to two Tenerife locals and close friends, Sandro D’Alessio and Alessandro “Derox” Mazzetti. This time it was D’Alessio who took the honours, finishing second, with Mazzetti securing third and Per Schmitz rounding out the podium in fourth.
A NEW ERA FOR WINDSURFING
The Tenerife World Cup marked another major milestone for the newly unified 5 Star World Wave Tour, bringing together the world’s best athletes, iconic venues, and multiple generations of windsurfing talent under one global championship structure. From junior competitors to legends of the sport, Tenerife showcased the depth, progression and international appeal of wave windsurfing.
The Playa Surf CBBC Hotel Tenerife Wind & Waves Festival was held from 31 July – 9 August at El Cabezo, Tenerife, and was organised by the World Wave Tour, sanctioned by the PWA with World Sailing.
The event was supported by the Government of the Canary Islands, Tenerife Tourism, Granadilla de Abona, and local partners, celebrating Tenerife’s position as one of the world’s premier windsurfing destinations.
RESULTS – MASTERS WORLD CUP
1st – Ben Proffitt
2nd – Jochen Stolz
3rd – Guillermo Barriero Melgarejo
4th – Sandro D’Alessio
RESULTS – G.MASTERS WORLD CUP
1st – Mike Friedl
2nd – Sandro D’Alessio
3rd – Alessandro “Derox” Mazzetti
4th – Per Schmitz
The Tenerife World Cup once again proved that the future of windsurfing is built on its legends, its champions, and a unified global stage.