Argentine windsurfer Gonzalo Hoevel was in Portimão this week to practice for the Formula Windsurfing World Championship to be held in the Azores between the next two Saturdays (November 12-19).
Hoevel won the competition last year and decided to join Portimão’s Miguel Martinho for a two-day training camp in Praia da Rocha on Monday and Tuesday.
As the 36-year-old has been competing mostly in slalom regattas, he wanted to practise alongside someone who specialises in the Formula format of windsurfing.
“I came to the Algarve where I hadn’t been in some time to practice with my friend Miguel, who competes at a very high level in the Formula format,” Hoevel told online surf portal Swell Algarve.
Both windsurfers will be competing in the Azores, though Hoevel will have the extra motivation of attempting to win the championship for the second year in a row.
It will be held in the same location near Terceira island’s Praia Vitória, which Hoevel knows well. He hopes this will work in his favour, especially after a productive training camp.
“I already feel as good as I did last year,” the Argentine sailor told Swell Algarve.
Miguel Martinho, who has 17 national windsurfing titles under his belt, was also thrilled to have prepared for the competition alongside Hoevel.
“What’s better than practising with the world champion,” he joked.
