Lanzarote is an island of surprises and at the Windsurf World Cup in Costa Teguise, the weather was in mischievious mood. After 5 days of perfect trade winds off Las Cucharas beach, the wind took the final day off, but by then the winners had done enough to earn their prizes. Sands Beach Resort Hotel had been home to many of the competitors and the stage for the main media events, and all the competitors including 19 year old mens winner, Jose Estredo from Vanezuela and 16 year old womens winner, Sarah-Quita Offringa, from Aruba were grateful for their backing. Below right to left are Juan Carlos Albuixech (General Manager of Sands) , World Sub Champion Sarah-Quita Offringa, and Richard Page, tour manager of the Professional Windsurf Association.

The freestyle competition was hard fought but Sarah in particular was outstanding, just a few days short of her 17th birthday. Small islands are nothing new to Sarah, who comes from Aruba, a 33 km long island in the Lesser Antilles area of the South Caribbean, but even she must have been impressed at the beachfront on the popular family holiday island of Lanzarote.

It was very appropriate that Sands Beach Resort Hotel should play such a key role in this prestigious competition in the windsurf calender, as Sands encourages guests to try out windsurfing on their unique sea water lagoon. The Oceanside Windsurf School offer experienced tuition at Sands Beach Resort Hotel, but it is just one of many attractions at the beachfront resort, where the six palm lined plazas entice bathers from the luxury of the fully equipped villas.