Pozo Izquierdo beach in the municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, in the south of Gran Canaria, is one of the best spots in the world for windsurfing.
When Sidney Newman Darby Jr. put a sail on a board and created the first windsurf in the mid-1960s, he could never have imagined the impact the sport would have on the world. He would not have been able to believe that windsurfers would one day be able to travel at astronomical speeds and jump great distances in the air off waves. Sidney Newman Darby Jr. would not have been able to imagine the scene at the Gran Canaria Wind & Waves Festival in 2019, in Pozo Izquierdo, where participants were seen doing full forward rolls in the air while clasping windsurfs.
Pozo Izquierdo Beach in the municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana in the south of Gran Canaria is one of only a few places in the world where windsurfers can jump between 10 and 15 metres in the air. Pozo Izquierdo has ideal windsurfing conditions. There are long waves across the beach and a constant wind throughout the year. Pozo Izquierdo is also a very pretty place with lots of windmills which gives the area a distinctive look.
In twenty years the Ruano sister have won 30 world titles between them. At the 31st edition of the Gran Canaria Wind and Waves Festival, which was held in Pozo Izquierdo in July 2019, Daida Ruano finished first in the female category. This was her twentieth title at the Gran Canaria event.
Two of the most successful Canary Islands athletes were born on the outskirts of Pozo Izquierdo. Daida and Iballa Ruano are twins and are known as the Ruano sisters. At the age of 17 they discovered a windsurf in their neighbours’ rubbish bin. Since then they have never looked back. The Ruano sisters developed their skills before Youtube was popular, so they could only improve their technique by reading windsurf magazines and watching tourists who came to the Canary Islands to windsurf.
In twenty years the Ruano sister have won 30 world titles between them. At the 31st edition of the Gran Canaria Wind and Waves Festival, which was held in Pozo Izquierdo in July 2019, Daida Ruano finished first in the female category. This was her twentieth title at the Gran Canaria event.
“[Pozo Izquierdo]is a windsurfing location that requires a certain level of navigation ability, especially when you are in the waves. It’s not a great spot for a beginner because the conditions are quite tough. However, Bahía de Formas is a very short distance from Pozo Izquierdo. That beach is perfect for windsurfers who are just beginning in the sport or who have an intermediate level. There are surf schools in the area as well. They can help you build up your level and get ready for Pozo Izquierdo,” says Daida Ruano.
“Pozo Izquierdo never disappoints. It is always windy. It is one of the best places in the world to do windsurfing. I notice the good reaction of international riders when they arrive to Pozo Izquierdo and discover the place. The conditions are special. They are harsh because the waves and wind are never lacking,” Daida Ruano adds. Iballa Ruano also speaks very highly of Pozo Izquierdo: “We owe everything to Pozo Izquierdo. It is a distinctive and incredible place for windsurfing. The type of strong summer wind isn’t present anywhere else in the world. You always know the championship is going to be good at this venue. This year has been particularly good. It has been one of the best of the 31 editions of the championship at Pozo Izquierdo.”
For 30 years the best windsurfers from the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) have come to Pozo Izquierdo to participate in the first round of the world championships. Pozo Izquierido is chosen for the world championships because of the conditions on offer to windsurfers. Besides the good weather and wave conditions, the Canary Island people are renowned for their friendliness. The atmosphere around the championships is always really good with plenty of local gastronomy, good humour, and Canarian customs present.
Philip Köster is a German windsurfer based in Vargas Beach. He is a big fan of Pozo Izquierdo. “It’s the best spot in the world to do jumps. The wind and waves are constant all year round. There is really no comparison. Other windsurfing spots around the world might have good weather, but it would only be for a few months each year. Windsurfing in Pozo Izquierdo has really helped my career.”
Two of the most successful Canary Islands athletes were born on the outskirts of Pozo Izquierdo. Daida and Iballa Ruano are twins and are known as the Ruano sisters. At the age of 17 they discovered a windsurf in their neighbours’ rubbish bin. Since then they have never looked back. The Ruano sisters developed their skills before Youtube was popular, so they could only improve their technique by reading windsurf magazines and watching tourists who came to the Canary Islands to windsurf.
In twenty years the Ruano sister have won 30 world titles between them. At the 31st edition of the Gran Canaria Wind and Waves Festival, which was held in Pozo Izquierdo in July 2019, Daida Ruano finished first in the female category. This was her twentieth title at the Gran Canaria event.
“[Pozo Izquierdo]is a windsurfing location that requires a certain level of navigation ability, especially when you are in the waves. It’s not a great spot for a beginner because the conditions are quite tough. However, Bahía de Formas is a very short distance from Pozo Izquierdo. That beach is perfect for windsurfers who are just beginning in the sport or who have an intermediate level. There are surf schools in the area as well. They can help you build up your level and get ready for Pozo Izquierdo,” says Daida Ruano.
“Pozo Izquierdo never disappoints. It is always windy. It is one of the best places in the world to do windsurfing. I notice the good reaction of international riders when they arrive to Pozo Izquierdo and discover the place. The conditions are special. They are harsh because the waves and wind are never lacking,” Daida Ruano adds.
Iballa Ruano also speaks very highly of Pozo Izquierdo: “We owe everything to Pozo Izquierdo. It is a distinctive and incredible place for windsurfing. The type of strong summer wind isn’t present anywhere else in the world. You always know the championship is going to be good at this venue. This year has been particularly good. It has been one of the best of the 31 editions of the championship at Pozo Izquierdo.”
For 30 years the best windsurfers from the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) have come to Pozo Izquierdo to participate in the first round of the world championships. Pozo Izquierido is chosen for the world championships because of the conditions on offer to windsurfers. Besides the good weather and wave conditions, the Canary Island people are renowned for their friendliness. The atmosphere around the championships is always really good with plenty of local gastronomy, good humour, and Canarian customs present.
Philip Köster is a German windsurfer based in Vargas Beach. He is a big fan of Pozo Izquierdo. “It’s the best spot in the world to do jumps. The wind and waves are constant all year round. There is really no comparison. Other windsurfing spots around the world might have good weather, but it would only be for a few months each year. Windsurfing in Pozo Izquierdo has really helped my career.”
Ricardo Campello, from Venezuela, came first in the men’s category at the 31st edition of the Gran Canaria Wind and Waves Festival. “[Pozo Izquierdo] is one of my favourite places. I travel to many places around the world, and Pozo Izquierdo is in my top three. The conditions are ideal because the wind and direction of the waves makes a magical combination which brings out the best in windsurfers,” he says.
Ricardo Campello is a crowd-pleaser. When he windsurfs he jumps very high into the air and performs fantastic tricks which gets all of the public onto their feet clapping and shouting applause.
Justyna Sniady is a Polish athlete. She is a believer in Pozo Izquierdo as well.
“It is one of my favourite places in this part of the world,” she says. “I usually windsurf in Australia, but outside of Australia I love to windsurf in Pozo Izquierdo. The conditions in this place are great for professionals. There is sun, waves, and wind. What more could you ask for?”