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| 29|04|2007 | 29.04.2007
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yb>The Single Elimination is almost done
Two perfect days of sunshine a crowded beach with super relaxed people, the wind forecast not promising and then the wind kicks in like hell and the boys go crazy.
Just like this wouldn't be enough there is a ramp in the competition area which throws guys in the air and leaves spectators breathless. What a day in Podersdorf at the "SURF WORLDCUP".
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| The first view of the lake in the early morning was like a wish coming true, whitecaps all over the water! Yes, skippers meeting at 9am, and the first guys on the water already at 9.10am. First guy practising on the water, like always: Andre Paskowski (F2/North Sails).
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|  | | | Andre Paskowski (F2/North Sails) | |
You might say that the young German reopened the area for everyone and in which better way could we start a competition than sending out the EFPT Champ of 2006 to check the conditions? Everyone was super stoked, the conditions were so amazing that even the judges were shakin and wanted to go for a run. The lake had other things in mind.
Just after finishing the first qualification heat the wind dropped so bad that the competition had to be postponed. It was probably the fact that "the ramp" was waiting and the show that the first riders delivered what kept the people on the beach waiting to see the elite of European Freestyle.
Kevin "Spunz" Mevissen (JP/NP) was the first rider to hit the monster on this day and just as he had announced it the night before he pulled a great forward loop, so nice and smooth you might think he has one of these ramps in his backyard.
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| If you think the crowds on the beach where stoked you should have seen his face, smiling like a little child at Christmas Eve. A few jumps later he felt so confident to show something never seen on the lake: a double forward! He almost made it... but everyone on the beach of podersdorf couldn't have been happier.
The race director and his judge team knew in this moment that they can expect an amazing day of unbelievable action. So after waiting for better conditions the race was restarted at 3 pm. And it was exactly that way. The surprises kept coming.
Ruben Petrisie (Exocet/The Loft) got kicked out by young local Rider Max Matissek (F2/North Sails). In a super nice heat he was out sailed by the youngster.
Next famous Name to fall was Matteo Guazzoni (RRD/Simmer) and again a young Austrian dude was happy to go one step further up.
One might say that this place has its own rules and the dropping and rising wind was testing the nerves of riders and judges in equal amounts. About 7 heats had to be cancelled and repeated to get a clear result, riders which went out with a right sail size found themselves either over or underpowered a few minutes later.
The guys had to focus and keep an eye on their opponents much more than on any other place, and it seems like exactly this situation gave the local guys a pretty big advantage.
After all struggling with the wind the competition had to be stopped with 4 heats missing to complete the single. Race Director and Judge team decided to have the first skippers tomorrow at 8am just to be save as the wind was amazing in the morning everyone hopes that the lake will awake in the same style on the last day of competition.
Still in the race:
Nicolas Akgaczyan (Starboard)
Michael Rossmeier (Exocet/The Loft)
Norman Günzlein (JP/NP)
Kevin Mevissen (JP/NP)
Remko de Weerd (Fanatic/Gaastra)
Andre Paskowski (F2/North Sails)
These guys will go full power for sure as each one wants to stand on the top place.
We're looking forward for these last heats and hope to get them done, so please keep your fingers crossed and watch out for more news to come.
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Autor: efpt, Pix: DaMike, Sandra Schenach | |
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