Riding the wind to world championship heights:

24th Windsurfing & Kiteboarding World Cup on Fuerteventura.

Fuerteventura, 23.06.2009 - For windsurfers and kiteboarders, Fuerteventura is the Hawaii of Europe. As well as
white sand beaches, blue skies and summer temperatures, the island also has all the wind a windsurfer or kiteboarder
could wish for. The wind-powered acrobats fly distances of up to 70 metres, reaching heights of up to 15 metres.
From 17th July to 1st August 2009, windsurfing and kiteboarding world championship events will be held on
Fuerteventura. The windsurfing programme includes slalom and freestyle disciplines. The kiteboarders will compete in
the freestyle discipline and there also will be a kiteloop competition.

Slalom is the Formula 1 of windsurfing. The event consists of a high-speed race around a course marked by buoys,
with tense tussles for position and spectacular overtaking manoeuvres. Both windsurfers and kiteboarders will
compete in freestyle events in which a jury of judges awards points for spectacular leaps and breathtaking
manoeuvres.

With no exhaust fumes or engine noise, the competition for world championship points shows just how congenial and
in harmony with nature top level sport can be. Once they’re out on the water, the competitors really give it some juice
– using the latest equipment, they utilise the wind so effectively that they can accelerate faster than the faster sports
car.

The competitions are held at a spectator and camera-friendly proximity to the beach. Direct contact between
competitors and spectators is encouraged. The extreme sportsmen and women are more than happy to have
spectators looking over their shoulders whilst preparing for the off.

There is also a wide-ranging programme of events and plenty to help you keep body and soul together. Spectators
can chill on the beach with drinks, snacks and music whilst watching the events in the 1,000 m² lounge area. At night,
thousands of visitors and locals groove together at the legendary World Cup Parties in the 2,000 m² party tent. At the
award ceremony, the competitors will also join the fans in painting the town red.

Organiser information: The world cup on Fuerteventura is sponsored by the town of Pájara (Fuerteventura) and the
Spanish Government. The event will, as it has for the last 24 years, once again be organised by René Egli and his
team.

Fuerteventura has a very special relationship with the wind. The island is in the vanguard of wind energy. The town of
Pájara (pop: 20,000) has been home to 45 wind turbines generating more than 10 MW of electricity since 1996.

By Emma Smith