Sylt Grand Slam, 25th sept. to 3rd oct. 99

Northern (High) Light

In the wave competition heats progressed right through to the semi finals before it literally became too dark to continue competing. The Moreno twins were on form and both managed to progress into the semi final with Daida Moreno defeating Jutta Mueller and Iballa Moreno taking out Tony Frey in the last heat of the day.

"The twins will now have to sail against each other tomorrow if wave conditions continue. The other line up for the semi final is between World Champion, Karen Jaggi who faces Lucienne Ernst, which also promises to be a tough battle."

In the double elimination there were more brave displays from the Moreno twins who found themselves against each other for the second time of the competition. This time it was Daida coming out on top, wining a chance to challenge Karen Jaggi in the final. In the tough conditions, Daida Moreno gave it everything, attempting several extreme push loops and landing some radical forward loops to defeat Jaggi in the first of two finals. In the second final Jaggi managed to reply with one particular high push loop followed by a pole volt forward on the next wave of the set. Moreno then struggled after getting caught on the inside of the shorebreak following a frontside wave ride and Jaggi drilled home the advantage by clocking up several more wave scores. The judges gave the second final to Karen Jaggi who definitely deserved her victory. It will now be down to the last event in Maui to decide who will be woman's Wave Champion.

The woman's racing emerged as a battle between Karen Jaggi and Lucienne Ernst. Jaggi took victory in race number one and race number three, with Ernst winning the second race. In race number four Jaggi's rig exploded on the start line leaving the gateway open for Ernst and German Andrea Hoeppner (returning after an absence of several months on the tour) to fight it out for first. The race was closely contended until Lucienne Ernst crashed at the last mark allowing Hoeppner to register her first race victory of the contest.

After four races the Swiss World Champion, Karen Jaggi is in first position with Lucienne Ernst in second, Andrea Hoeppner third and Colette Guadagnino in fourth.

In round number five Karen Jaggi the 28-year old Swiss World Champion took her third race win of the series, well ahead of Andrea Hoeppner in second and Colette Guadagnino in third. In the sixth race, Dutch sailor Lucienne Ernst took control from the start and dominated the race, with Hoeppner once again taking second and Jaggi back in third.

Uli and the VAN Uli Hoelzl from Austria had no need for a hotel in Sylt: With her yellow 280.000-kilometer Toyota Hiace Uli saves the money and enjoys the seven square-meters of her 13-year old home. And the 1200 kilometers from Austria to Sylt of course were no problem for both – Uli and her van. Lots of stickers and some rust, massage-equipment and some drinks inside... Uli: "I feel so comfortable with it!" The Van can be found almost everywhere: In Sylt and Sardegnia, Southern France and Danmark, Lake Garda and Lake Neusiedl, in the Tirolean mountains or in the city of Vienna. ride on...