Steven Van Broeckhoven apre col piede giusto la sua stagione freestyle 2015 vincendo il primo Single Elimination dell’anno al Mondial Du Vent a Leucate, in Francia, prima tappa del PWA World Tour.
In attesa del risultato del Double Elimination in programma oggi, è lui il protagonista della prima giornata di gare con vento. Il vice campione del mondo in carica ha mostrato tutto il suo talento in condizioni di vento side on con chop formato e disordinato. Lo scirocco che è soffiato nello spot francese non ha regalato una situazione semplice per i riders che tuttavia hanno messo in acqua tutto il loro potenziale regalando super moves al pubblico presente.
Il fuoriclasse belga si è imposto in finale contro il detentore del titolo Gollito Estredo, apparso comunque in gran forma ma incapace ieri di arginare lo strapotere di Van Broeckhoven. Oggi la possibile rivincita nel Double. Terzo classificato Kiri Thode che ha chiuso davanti al giovane Amado Vrieswijk.
È stato anche il giorno dell’esordio in una tappa di Coppa del Mondo PWA per i ragazzi del Windsurfing Club Sa Barra: Giovanni Passani, Rossel Bertoldo e Riccardo Marca. Passani è stato l’unico a superare il primo turno battendo l’amico Marca in un derby tutto italiano prima di perdere, con onore grazie ad una bella batteria, contro il campione del mondo in carica Gollito Estredo. “Sono molto contento della mio esordio. Dopo aver passato il turno contro Riki ed aver sconfitto l’emozione ho cercato di dare il massimo contro Gollito. Ho surfato abbastanza bene ma è ovvio che ci sarà ancora molto da lavorare per poter impensierire campioni di questo calibro. Al momento sono 17esimo e spero nel Double per confermare o migliorare questo piazzamento”. Ha detto Giovanni Passani a fine giornata.
LA PRESS REALESE DAL PWA WORLD TOUR
As forecast the wind arrived on day three of the Mondial du Vent PWA World Cup allowing the single elimination to be completed as the contortionists of the freestyle world laid down the gauntlet with some of their biggest moves. After four intense hours of competition – in winds ranging from anywhere between 15-30 knots – it was Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde), who managed to claim victory in the single elimination with a powerful display.
Single Elimination
Winners’ Final
Reigning world champion – Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North / MFC) – safely navigated his way into the opening winners’ final of the year, as he clinically dispatched of Giovanni Passani (Tabou / GA Sails), Phil Soltysiak (Starboard / Sailworks), Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic) and Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne), to setup up a mouthwatering duel with Steven Van Broeckhoven, who successfully defeated Kiri Thode (Starboard / GA Sails) in the semifinals. The Belgian opened his account first with an explosive one-handed air funnel 360 before adding a high culo, whilst Gollito responded with text-book culos of his own on both tacks. Conditions proved to be tricky with the wind becoming more marginal – meaning both sailors were forced to pump and fight their way through their repertoire of moves. However, in the end it was Van Broeckhoven, who was just able to edge the battle on this occasion with a powerful air bob doing the damage to give the twenty-nine year old the perfect start to 2015. Van Broeckhoven will now be hoping he can defend his single elimination crown when the double elimination begins.
Steven Van Broeckhoven wins the single elimination:
“I’m really happy, I didn’t expect to win today, but it’s great to have a result already and hopefully we can get through the double tomorrow.”
Up and Coming
Sam Esteve (JP / NeilPryde) made an impressive start to his debut on the PWA World Tour as he knocked out Florian Wegerer in the opening round. However, it was his performance in heat 14b which really stood out as he pushed the current PWA Youth Freestyle World Champion – Amado Vrieswijk (Starboard / Severne) – all the way with clean burners, ponches and an amazing air skopu. Unfortunately for the young Frenchman he was counting two burners on one tack, which decreased his diversity and ultimately cost him a famous victory, but he certainly looks like one to watch.
In the end Vrieswijk survived his early scare and eventually finished the single elimination in fourth place as he wowed the crowds and the judges with a couple of outstanding air kabikuchis, but he couldn’t quite defeat fellow Bonairean Kiri Thode (Starboard / GA Sails) in the battle for third and fourth.
Double Trouble
We are more accustomed to seeing double forwards solely in wave contests, but today two sailors produced doubles almost out of nowhere. Both Davy Scheffers (Tabou / GA Sails) and Youp Schmit (99NoveNove / Avanti) threw caution to the wind in their quest for victory and by the end of day three Scheffers currently sits in joint fifth alongside Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne), Anthony Ruenes (Tabou / GA Sails) and Taty Frans, whilst Schmit occupies joint ninth.
Meanwhile, Romain Pinocheau (F2 / Avanti / Maui Ultra Fins), enjoyed a fine day as he finished the day in joint ninth having defeated Adam Sims (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg), before claiming the scalp of Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard / Hot Sails Maui) with a radical air skopu.
The forecast for tomorrow looks promising with winds from the Northwest accompanied by sunny skies being predicted, which should hopefully result in the Tramontana whistling down the Pyrenees Mountains to provide another exhilarating day of freestyle. The skippers’ meeting has been called for 9am tomorrow morning with the action commencing from 9:30am. Don’t miss any of the amazing action by tuning intowww.pwaworldtour.com – here you’ll be able to follow the action as it happens via the PWA live stream and live ticker.
Results After Single Elimination – Men’s Freestyle
1st Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde)
2nd Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic / North / MFC)
3rd Kiri Thode (Starboard / GA Sails)
4th Amado Vrieswijk (Starboard / Severne)
5th Davy Scheffers (Tabou / GA Sails)
5th Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne)
5th Anthony Ruenes (Tabou / GA Sails)
5th Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic)