Lets talk about freestyle...
Freestyling competing with the worlds best is where you have to really push to impress the judges with you most grazy air, complicated moves, where nailing your moves with clean and diversity, technical is where you score the most to advance to the next heat.

In the single elimination I was on my 5.2 loco in all my heats. the wind pretty gusty but strong. I could have been on my 4.8 but the it was risky so having the doubt which sail to take was a issue for me. I kept myself cool not to get distract by my own thought. but as the heats where on I won 2 heats and the next one getting to the Quarter finals It was again a heat between Tonky and I. Tonky really was on fire seeing him sailing his previous heat He really wanted to do good, The heat started where I first move crash from then on I got very nervous and couldn't get it back together to made my moves perfect and so Tonky made it to the finals getting to go for the top 4 while I got the 5th place, having Steven sail amazing heat to finish 1st in the single elimination and Gollito 2nd, Kiri 3rd and Tonky 4th was not what I have expected because I knew in the double I have to really work hard to get a podium finish and having the best guys already in the top 4 i kinda scratching my head not knowing what to do in the double elimination. as I have a long way to go in the double to atleast getting in the top 5 was harder as there are many guys in the top 10 who are also hungry to get a better results. Dieter van der Yken, Bjorn Saragoza, Choco Frans and philip soltysiak. So the morning started where i put in my head to making it in the top 5. The wind was stronger on this day, So I rigged my 4.8 loco, such a GOOD sail, My first heat of the last day was against brazilian freestyler Edavn Souza, i sailed well and not full power as I needed to save my energy for the next heats to come. 2nd heat was against Dieter Van deer Yken. This heat was tens, I pretty much felt the pressure I was scared as I thought I lost I won 3-2 desiciosn PHEW,  Next heat Bjorn saragoza, I wanted to push and so i did, I said to myself let make all the move clean and not crashing so i kept to this plan till the end It worked. winning the heat against Bjorn got me in the top 5 and this was great. Next Heat Tonky, ANother heat of the brothers, Wow this is the 5th time already in two event we are against each other, well All I said may the best win, I really wanted to win, I just felt comfortable and all I started of with a Shove-it spock, then a Future, Culo into Spock, Kono, Burner and much more, as there was 20sec before the heat ended I remember doing a spoke into Culo, and I was confident I won the heat with no doubt.  This ment I had to face Kiri, for the 3rd or 4th place, I did really good in the heat against him, but failed to do a move on the port tack made me lose the heat damn it, i should have push just a bit more harder, but well having to finish fourth is still a good result.

Well: Kiri went to to beat Gollito in a really extreme heat. Having Kiri beat down Gollito, Kiri then had to Face Steven van Broeckhoven. This wasn't a really extreme heat as the wind got lighter so the move where not really done with much hight and power. but these guys put on a show. and in many people eyes and point of view at the beach Kiri won, but the judges had another opinion and had Steven won the double elimination and the event.

Overall, Aruba did deliver good freestyle wind and water conditions and what I learn from it is that Any one can win a event and I am really looking forward to win a event before this freestyle season finish still have 3 more event to go.

Fresstyle results:
1st Steven
2nd Kiri
3rd Gollito
4th Taty
5th Tonky
6th Bjorn
...
13th Choco (my brother)

As far for the Girls. Having Xenia stepping her Game up in the last few months, I would say she really do deserve the 3rd place finish. Laure I am still surprise with How she raised her level up and she is getting to saraquita level, nice 2nd place for her.

The Caribbean Queen, more and more I see her a potential as the best women freestyler, the one that brought the women freestyle to the next generation. She is truly the best and from now on I see no one that can take that crown from her. Respect she deserve the 1st place.

About my slalom racing on Aruba...
I said to myself the start of this year, I will only do slalom at the Grand Slam event. Starting the slalom in Vietnam with a great 15th finish where I knew I could have finish in the top 10 but making a PMS blew all that. BUT BUT, At times one must push to be on top, you must take risk right, please correct me if  I am wrong.

My presence at the Aruba Grand Slalom was just to see if I can again repeat my result from Vietnam. The only slalom gear I brought with me to Aruba was:
STARBOARD:
1x Isonic 87, 34 cm MFC kp model fin
1x Isonic 107, 38 cm MFC kp model fin

MAUISAILS:
TR7 5.9
TR7 6.6 my prefered sails.
TR7 7.6 which I only used in one race but was to big for me.

I stared the first day with a PMS in the 2nd round of the 1st elimination 24th place , then having the 2nd elimination going really well only by having again another PMS semifinal then going to the loser final again have another PMS 16th place "DAMN".

Frank from the PWA and Bjorn Caddy told why are you pushing to much, you have enough speed to be in the top slow down a little, put your watch 2sec behind then you know for sure you will start good. That helped but also what I realize I was always infront of the pack before the start line, So my next plan was to be start in the back of everyone so that way I am alone and not having the full fleet pushing me to cross the start line before the horn goes.

The next day I had everything plan, and I was starting really careful and not really pushing there where latterly most of the races I was crossing the start line in 6 and 8 position while jibing at the 1st mark I was already in qualifying position. so to that 2nd day of the event I realize i will keep it like this and to just have no more PMS.

Each race I was doing better and better and my results went from 24 to 17 to 12 to 9 to 7 until the last day of the event I had another PMS where I shouldn't have push, but I really wanted to risk and have a perfect start to get to the final so that I can have a top 5 finish. but I blew it :(.

Telling you the truth I only sailed one race with the TR7 7.6 sail on my Starboard Isonic 107 woodcarbon but that wasn't my best heat.

So I got back on my TR7 6.6 and my Isnoc 107, these combination had me really going fast and I was comfortable to comfortable on these gears that I had enough speed to gain a good results.

At times I couldn't believe how fast I was going, some of the races I have even finished ahead of Ross Williams, Micah buzianis, Steve Allen, Josh Angulo, Cyril etc and many more and even passing some of the guys heading to finish line to qualify to the next heats.

The heat I really enjoyed was the elimination #8 Loser final where I had this perfect start and I switch my 107 for the Isonic 87, and this was really the perfect board as the wind increase and i toke the risk to use a smaller board to go faster, Mi plan was to wind the Loser final, but I slow down on the first mark at the jibe and so Antoine got away so I was stuck with Micah, palying with him was my mission and I litterly play with him the whole race until the last mark heading to the finish, I jibe inside him, he made a mistake going down wind trying to go to the finish line while I just made a little upwind and point my board straight to the finishline.

I feel good that I did this slalom event in Aruba and to finish a great top 10, Was what I have said from the beginning I flew to Aruba.

I remember talking to my Brother Choco on Bonaire. I told him the only thing I want is to finish top 10 in Aruba for the SLALOM. And I litterly made it. Maybe I was the little WASP that is what People where calling me on the Internet. I was the buss all what people was talking about Taty Taty Taty.

But the truth is I have not been training slalom. Most of the guys on the slalom tour are sailing and testing the whole year around. The gears that I have is just a simple one, no special batten, no special mast, no special fins, nothing is special - all producation gear that you can buy in surf shop. I am just getting my gears to work and do good with what my sponsors support me with.

Slalom Results:
1st Bjorn
2nd Ben
3rd Antoine
4th Finian
5th Julien
6th Cyril
7th Questel
8th Arnon
9th Me "Taty" :)

I want to thank my sponsors:
STARBOARD, MAUISAILS,BONAIRE WINDSURF PLACE,MYSTIC clothing.

Taty Frans NB-9

Sick photos by PWA/John Carter