Revelations From Ricardo

Freestyle looses one of its iconic riders after Ricardo Campello makes the shock decision to leave the discipline.

After finishing sixth overall in the 2008 freestyle tour, it comes as a great surprise to find that Ricardo Campello, one of the freestyle discipline's great innovators, is no longer going to compete on the PWA freestyle tour.

Instead, the Venezuelan has made the decision to focus purely on the wave tour for the 2009 PWA season. Driven by a desire to land the illusive triple forward loop and make the podium on the wave tour, Campello will be sorely missed from the freestyle scene.

In addition to changing his sailing focus, Campello has also announced he'll be opening the doors of his own windsurf centre in El Yaque. Here's Ricardo with the word on both revelations:

"Right now I'm in the airport on my way to the first event of the year in Cabo Verde. I'm arriving a bit earlier to train and have some fun surfing.

This year I have decided to not compete in freestyle, my goal is to be top 3 in waves and also complete the triple loop; for that I will need to focus full time on wave sailing.

On the other hand you might not of heard much from me lately because I've been working really hard on my new project, which is a windsurf centre in El Yaque. It's called 'Campello Wind Centre'.

We are still not ready but I would like to invite you all to have a look at the latest pictures of it. If things go well, in about a month we will have our first clients on the water.

It's going to be stocked with the 2009 JP and NeilPryde rang. Also, for kitesurfers we'll have Cabrinha kites in addition to other activities like snorkelling, wakeboarding, bikes and more. We will teach from beginners all the way to experts, and on some special occasions I'll give some freestyle clinics.

Yoli De Brendt will be the manager of the centre and she will be taking care of all the clients and giving some special tips. There is a website on the way soon: www.campello.com.ve there you'll have all the information you need to know about the centre, the place, the gear etc. If you want to be the first to sail with us please make your reservation at [email protected] ."

Ricardo Campello is sponsored by JP Australia, NeilPrydeand MFC.

PWA / Andrew Buchanan

? 2009www.pwaworldtour.com

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