At the beginning of March Alex Mussolini, Thomas Traversa and Jonas Ceballos went to Fuerteventura for the Fuerte Wave Classic. A small impression of the event through the eyes of team umi.
Thomas, how was the event for you?
‘It was a nice event for me, very relaxing. We could surf or windsurf almost every day, we got two days of nice conditions to compete and we had other fun sessions, in all kinds of conditions. I think everyone was happy, even if we didn’t get it really big like last year.’
What was your favourite spot?
‘The best spot where we sailed was La Caleta, on the north shore of the island. It’ s a long and pretty soft left hander, wrapping around a point. You can go full power in this place, the rocks are pretty far, big moves are not risky. The two days of competition happened there, with a light cross off port tack wind, the best for this spot.’
What was the session you remember best?
‘The best session for me was the second day of competition in La Caleta. We didn’t expect wind on this day, and not much swell, but in the end we got nice conditions, with glassy logo high sets and fifteen knots of south west wind, perfectly side-off. It was our second day there, so everybody was more confident and sailing better. The kind of cool and easy conditions, perfect to compete!’
Who do you think was the best rider of the event?
‘From all I saw, I think Alex was probably riding better than the rest of the guys. But Dario had some really good rides too, Jules as well, nice style, full power… Fabrice as well, he is always on the good spot and very fluid. I was also surprised to see how Eleazar’s wave riding had improved! And I have to say that the girls impressed me too, I think the light and clean conditions fitted them really well: Iballa and Nayra were really nice to watch, and Nicole was on fire as well, they kicked asses!’
How was this winter for you? What else did you do?
‘This winter has been really good for me! Canaries in early December, Christmas and new year in Europe with my friends and family, and then all January on the road, through Tunisia and Sicily, with some good windsurfing once in a while. Then one week in Cape Verde for a big swell, which was sick, one week in Dakhla in the south of Morocco for a festival with good surf every day, a few days of windsurfing and sun-burns and finally Fuerte for the Wave Classic!’
How do you see the new PWA year?
‘I don’t really see it, because it’s still very far!’
What’s up next?
‘I don’t know, for now I enjoy the time with my girlfriend Sophia, we’ll probably go to Corsica or Sardinia for a bit, then I think I will go to Maui for the photo shoots. And then we will see!’
How was the event for you Jonas?
‘For me the event was great, we didn’t score as big as it was last year but still had a lot of fun. I think events like this help the sport a lot and besides that they help us to be in good shape for the coming world cup season as well.’
What was the session you remember best?
‘We just competed for two days, for me the best session was also in La Caleta on the first and second day of competition. The wind was very light but enough to get into the wave, we had perfect down-the-line port tack with logo high waves, a lot of fun. I really didn’t pull any sick moves because wind was too light but it was very nice down-the-line wave riding.’
Who do you think was the best rider of the event?
‘For me I was impressed by all the guys really. I saw Alex and Tomas ripping, JB Caste was sailing good, Jules Denel… Martin ten Hoeve from Holland was good as well, I saw him do a couple of nice air taka’s in critical sections.’
How was this winter for you? What else did you do?
‘Winter was very quiet, we have had lots of good swells for surfing but wind has been very light. I have been windsurfing when it was windy and surfing when there was good swell, I also went to Andorra this winter for some snowboarding and I scored it just perfect.’
How do you see the new PWA year?
‘What can I say, we are going to have three events this year and we will start in July! It is going to be difficult this year, with only three events there is no room for mistakes.’
What’s up next?
‘I’m off to Fuerteventura again now for a photo shoot with my new board sponsor Mistral. After that I will keep most of the time training at home in Pozo for the first world cup of the year, I want to do well there!
Alex, how was the event for you?
‘Very nice, a nice trip to one of the best islands for windsurfing in the world!’
What was your favourite spot?
‘La Caleta, but I am sure it was for everyone. A very nice wave, perfect for ripping it up, i wasn’t so lucky on the second day, but anyways I had a lot of fun and that is what matters.’
What was the session you remember best?
‘Nothing was really special, just the spot is perfect for down-the-line wave riding: logo to mast high waves, 4.8 Riot with my 70 Da Curve, what more can you ask for?’
Who do you think was the best rider of the event?
‘Everyone was sailing very well, I can’t really tell who was the best, the umi riders where the best hahaha!’
How was this winter for you? What else did you do?
‘I sailed a lot in down-the-line conditions at home in Tenerife and I got some sick side on conditions in Las Americas!’
How do you see the new PWA year?
‘Like always I am really motivated to do my best, I just wish we had some starboard tack sailing, but actually, if we have wind and waves, I don’t care where the wind comes from!’
What’s up next?
‘First I will go to the photo shoot on Maui, and hopefully by the time I return the trade winds will be back to train for the new PWA season.’
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© all photos by J. Pina/FWC. Thanks to Pierre Bracar and Orlando Lavandera from the 7th-wave Center Fuerteventura. umi 2010
