Sotavento, 11.03.2004 Turquoise sea. White sandy beach. A magic 100% chance of windy conditions. The wind

powered acrobats will encounter perfect conditions for their yearly world Championships on Fuerteventura.

René Egli – organizer & funding sponsor: "I am especially happy that the event will happen 2004 even bigger and

better. Besides the brand new Windsurfing Discipline "SuperX", that had its phenomenal world premiere on last year’s

Fuerteventura event, we bring back Speed Surfing to our island. Both – windsurfers and kiters will chase the current

world speed records. But it will not only be a chase for records. It is going to be a fight of David against Goliath as

amateurs can enter the professional competition through daily qualifications. For sure the world‘s best surfers will

provide a spectacular show in all disciplines."

The event’s main spot is located directly in front of the famous windsurf and kiteboard center Pro Center René Egli. A

3600m² marquee will be set up right on the beach and will be a hot spot with bars, restaurants, a funfair and the

famous fiestas that attract thousands of party goers.

A team of 120 persons will make sure that the following events run smoothly:

17.7.-25.7. >>>WINDSURFING SWA Speed World Championship

Will they break the world record of 85,64 km/h ? Besides the chase for records on the 250 and 500 meters courses it

will be a fight of David against Goliath. Through daily qualifications amateurs can qualify to compete against the

worlds best professional sailors. Fuerteventura has a broad history in Speed Surfing. The legendary world speed

record of Pascal Maka had been set in Sotavento in 1986, when the windsurfers became the world’s fastest wind

driven watercraft. Now, Speed Surfing comes back to its roots and the winners will be rewarded with 25.000€ prize

money.

17.7.-21.7. >>>WINDSURFING PWA Freestyle Grand Slam

The entire freestyle world elite will perform at Sotavento. It will be really exciting to watch the wild young challengers

take over the lead in the battle for the 65,000€ prize money. Freestyle was held for the first time during the 1997

World Cup in Fuerteventura. This discipline is the windsurfers' free program. Judges awards points for the craziest

maneuvers, jumps and wave rides in a knock-out competition. The windsurfers will start in groups of four. The two

best advance to the next round.

22.7.-25.7. >>>WINDSURFING PWA SuperX Grand Slam

Eight windsurfers of a total of 32 competitors compete per heat in an attempt to get through a slalom course as fast as

possible. The competitors have to jump over obstacles and perform compulsory freestyle moves. SuperX is a

combination of slalom and freestyle and the riders battle for 25.000€ prize money.

26.7.-1.8. >>>KITEBOARDING PKRA World Speed Challenge

For the first time in Kiteboarding history a Kiteboarding Speed Challenge will be hold. The current record is hold by

legendary Robby Naish who achieved a speed of 71,25 km/h. The chase for this record is open for pros and

amateurs. Each day Amateurs can go through qualifications and enter the pros competition. The winners will be

rewarded with 5.000€ prize money.

28.7.-1.8. >>>KITEBOARDING PKRA Freestyle Grand Prix

The tops stars of the kitesurfing scene use wind power to make jumps up to 15 m high and 70 m long. Just as in

windsurfing, the craziest moves, jumps and wave rides are judged. Groups of four kitesurfers compete in a knockout

competition. The best two advance to the next round. 36.000 € prize money await the winners.

>>>

Event History

• In 1985, the Swiss surfing school owner René Egli brought the excellent windsurfing conditions off of Sotavento

to the attention of the PBA (Professional Board sailors Association) and WMI (Management Board for

Speedsurfers).

• This led to the first speed event on Fuerteventura in 1986. René Egli acted as the local organizer. Thanks to

René Egli's meticulous organization and the excellent wind conditions, it quickly became an established event

and was supported until 1993 by a number of sponsors (Nabisco, Planters, New West and Peter Stuyvesant

Travel). The slalom event was also held at the time in addition to the speed event.

• Starting in 1993, the government of the Canaries islands acted as cosponsors on the World Cup in

Fuerteventura along side René Egli.

• In 1997, the Super Grand Slam was held in Fuerteventura. The Production Speed World Championships, the

Speed World Championships and the racing and freestyle events were held within the space of three weeks. In

the same year, freestyle was introduced as a new discipline at Fuerteventura.

• In 2001, a kiteboarding event was hold for the first time in addition to the Freestyle Grand Prix in windsurfing. The

freestyle, hang time and best trick disciplines were judged as part of the Kiteboarding World Championship Tour.

The previous world record holder Sebastien Cattelan improved his hang time world record to an unbelievable

8.87 seconds at wind force 9.

• In 2004, this traditional event will be held for the 19th time in a row. There are about 120 persons on the

organizing team including representatives of the Pájara local council, councilors from the Regional Council and

the government of the Canary Islands.