The 23rd Annual Aruba Hi-Winds Kicks Off on Wednesday

The organizing committee of the annual Aruba Hi-Winds Tournament welcomed media to their unofficially headquarters of Moomba Beach Bar and Restaurant to announce that this popular event, attracting over 100 top windsurfers will be celebrating its 23rd year with an opening party at Moomba on Wednesday July 1.

This famous pro/amateur event, which has brought some of the greatest names in windsurfing to Aruba’s shores, went fully amateur in 1998, and is considered the premier annual amateur competition in the Caribbean. It has nurtured the sport amongst island children to produce the youngest female World Freestyle Champion, Sarah-Quinta Offringa and is now 5 days of fantastic wind and kite surfing action along with the famous beach events and parties.

Wim Eelens, president of the organizing committee for the past three years, and Charles Meijer, the intern from a Dutch university who is doing most of this years organizing. This year, the Hi winds intern has brought some original and creative touches to the event, including reintroduction of the Hi Winds magazine detailing all the activities and schedule, explaining the various surfing disciplines, and providing a history of the Aruba Hi Winds.

Main sponsors this year are Aruba Active Vacations, the Aruba Tourism Authority, Cool FM, Mitsubishi –protect and The Entertainment Group. Cool FM has organized a number of exciting beach concerts featuring top island performers such as Michael Lampe and Datapanik, Honeypot, Earplugs, and the Root Rebels.

Fisherman’s Hut north of the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino will be the hot spot to the beginning at 10:00am on Thursday, July 2 with the official opening and official start of races. Throughout the day, there is music from islands DJs, snacks and refreshments available, and in particular, plenty of Amstel Bright, a tournament sponsor, offered at discount prices.

In particular, spectators want to join in on Saturday and Sunday for the marvelous events planned by Cool FM. The beach parties begin each day at 2:00pm going late until 10:00pm with great music, a fashion show from Bula, extreme kiteboarding and freestyle windsurfing demonstrations, and the crowing of the prince, King and Queen of the Huts.

Over the five days of races the beautiful site of multiple colorful sails on the horizon will fill Aruba’s coastline, as young and veteran surfers compete for the trophies and purses in what is considered to be a windsurfing paradise attracting competitors from around the Caribbean, Europe, the United States and Latin America.