Iballa and Daida Ruano Moreno, 2006 World Windsurfing Champion

Moreno sisters are Windsurfing champions: Iballa crowned PWA 2006 World Champion in the Waves category, Daida crowned in Freestyle and Super X

For almost a decade, Daida Ruano Moreno and her twin sister Iballa have been constantly revolutionizing the world of boardsports, and in particular windsurfing, where they are the undisputed queens of the circuit. Since the twins came into the world just 10 minutes apart, they have ploughed the same furrow, and achieved the same exceptional sporting success. Iballa and Daida first discovered their love for windsurfing back in 1995. It was a natural choice for two girls from Pozo Izquierdo in Gran Canaria, an island where windsurfing is the number one sport. In no time at all, the sublime surfing chicas were taking their places on the podium (and often on the top steps) in every one of the major international windsurfing competitions, in the process writing one of the most celebrated family success stories in the history of boardsports.

Last November 17th, at the hallowed Hawaiian windsurfing temple of Ho’okipa Beach on the paradise island of Maui, Iballa won the PWA Aloha Classic, and in doing so clinched her second PWA (waves) world title. It was a particularly sweet victory for Iballa who, in spite of her commitment and desire, has suffered a series of injuries that have often forced her to sit on the sidelines and watch her sister Daida take the plaudits. Daida, meanwhile, wins the 2006 world crown in the freestyle and Super X category, adding two more trophies to the astonishing 12 world titles she has won in total since the year 2000. It’s an absolute record.

The Roxy Girls, Sofia Mulanovich and Chelsea Georgeson, show off their skills on the Women’s ASP World Championship Tour

Last November 20th, the 2004 Women’s Surfing World Champion, Sofia Mulanovich, won the first of the three events that make up the Triple Crown of Surfing in Haleiwa (Hawaii). Currently ranked 4th on the women’s elite WCT circuit, with just two events of the season remaining, Sofia finished 5th in the WQS (WCT qualifier) following her victory in the US Open in Huntington (WQS 6 star event) in July and her recent success at Haleiwa.

That means the Peruvian is guaranteed to retain her place among the world’s top 18 surfers in 2007, and currently holds the n°1 spot in the women’s Triple Crown of Surfing. The WCT Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach (Oahu, Hawaii), which began on November 24th (and lasts until December 1st) and the WCT Billabong Pro at Honolua Bay (Maui, Hawaii), scheduled for December 8 to 20, are the last two stages of the 2006 WCT circuit and the Triple Crown of Surfing.

But the race for the 2006 Women’s World Championship is still wide open. The last two stages of the Women’s WCT in Hawaii will be decisive, with Chelsea Georgeson (Team Roxy), currently 3rd in the overall ASP WCT rankings and reigning world champion, still in the race for 2007. With a fierce battle in prospect with her compatriots Layne Beachley (AUS) and Melanie Redman – Carr (AUS), everything is still to play for!

Lee-Ann Curren: European Pro-Junior Surfing Champion and European Junior Championship Runner-up 2006

For Lee-Ann Curren, daughter of the surfing legend Tom Curren, 2006 has been an outstanding year in more ways than one. After putting in an epic performance to help the French Team to an historic 2nd place (ahead of the USA and Brazil) at the latest ISA World Championships in Brazil, Lee-Ann stormed to the first individual title of her career, becoming European Pro-Junior Champion in August 2006. And she did it in some style, putting in a masterful season peppered with a series of high-profile victories on the pro-junior circuit. The shy blonde surfer signalled her winning intent first in Portugal with two successive victories (in the Roxy Pro Junior and Buondi Pro Junior), then at Huntington Beach in California (Target Women’s Pro Junior) in July, before reaching the final of the Pro-Junior event in Ericeira (Portugal), which was eventually won by her friend and rival at Team Roxy, Alizé Arnaud.

With her European title safely in the bag, Lee-Ann will have the honour of challenging for the World Pro-Junior Championship in Narabeen (Australia) in January 2007, alongside the best surfers of her generation.

And to top off a hugely successful year, Lee-Ann recently won a silver medal at the European Junior Championships in Ferrol, Galicia (Spain). Up against her compatriot Pauline Ado in the final, an enthusiastic Lee-Ann was eventually beaten after breaking her board in the final run. The silver medal and the title of European Junior Vice-Champion helped France to the top of the Championship, well ahead of Portugal, Spain and England.