Podium of the simple final of the Gran Canaria Wind & Waves Festival.

After eleven months since his knee injury, Philip Köster (G44) reappeared today, Monday, July 10, on the beach of Pozo Izquierdo with his best repertoire of leaps and maneuvers on the waves, winning the victory at the end of the Simple Eliminatory of the Gran Canaria Wind and Waves Festival 2017 before the current world champion in Olas, the almerian Victor Fernández (E42). In the female category, Daida Ruano (E64) achieved victory after imposing on his sister Iballa (E63), who with this result regained his position at the end of Pozo Izquierdo after last year the arubense Sarah- Quita Offringa (ARU91) managed to unblock it. The Ruano sisters, in view of the harsh wind conditions that were recorded today on the beach of the Arenal, demonstrated their high level in a female category that has become very competitive, due to the number and quality of the competitors.

After an intense morning of elimination, both the male and the female picture was completed until the finals were configured. In the male final Philip Köster and Victor Fernández were planted after getting rid of the great rivals. Köster eliminated the local Alessio Stillrich and Omar Sánchez, before facing in the semifinal with the French Thomas Traversa, at the third time classified from the Simple Eliminatory. For his part, Victor had a little more complicated his way in the male picture, eliminating the Tinerfeño Daniel Bruch and the Venezuelan Ricardo Campello.

The final raised great expectations to see if Köster was able to endure after a whole morning of competition, as he showed some pain in his knee. But it made it clear just to get into the water, marking a double forward that was scored with a 10 by the PWA judges. Victor reached the highest score in one wave and Philip finished with another 10 in a push-up forward. The final difference between the two was only 1.63 points, winning Philip in jumps and Victor in surfing.

As for the female category, the final regained the confrontation between the Ruano sisters. A very equal ending that reflects the marker, with 28 points for Daida and 24.38 points for Ibala. The best surfing of Daida was imposed on Iballa, while in jumps they were more equal. The surprise of the day jumped at the final of the losers, where the German Lina Erpenstein managed to impose Sarah- Quita Offringa, Freestyle World Champion and the 2016 World Cup of Well Left. Erpenstein showed a high level throughout the day and clearly overtook his rival.