We are more than happy to announce that the DAM-X at the Zeil- and Surfcentrum in Brouwersdam will go into the second round in 2016.
After a successful launch of DAM-X in 2015, where the organisation team around Pieternel van der Linde and Uwe Jendrusch combined a European Freestyle Pro Tour stop with a great side-program for amateure windsurfers, the sequel will be staged from the 12th through to the 16th of October 2016.
The spot in the North of Holland delivered several worldclass freestylers like Rick Jendrusch (Severne), Nick Van Ingen (North/Fanatic), Maaike Huvermann (Severne/Starboard), as well as freestyle World Champions Dieter Van der Eyken (Severne/Starboard) and Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP/Neilpryde), who also held the European Freestyle Champion title in 2009/2010 and 2013/2014.
The high attendance of 38 riders in 2015 at the well organised event underlined the popularity of the Brouwersdam and motivated the organisation to step it up again this year.
We’ll see all three disciplines again: freestyle men with 10.000€ prize-money, freestyle women with 3.000€ prize-money and an official EFPT tow-in with 3.000€ prize-money which will count into the overall tow-in ranking of 2016.
Since the EFE in Six Fours les Plages needed to be postponed to spring 2017 due to the lack of funding, the DAM-X will also be the final stage of the European Freestyle Pro Tour this season, which is a great addition to the value of this event in the Netherlands.
Zeil- and Surfcentrum Brouwersdam
We caught up with the organisation team around freestyle windsurfer Maarten Van Ochten to find out more about DAM-X 2016:
EFPT: What are your favorite memories of the 2015 edition of DAM-X?
Maarten van Ochten: I think the feeling when all the pieces came together with absolute team work and everyone was ready for the event was an amazing. To be honest there were many highlights during DAM-X: the Friday night event, the EFPT final in the evening of the last day and of course seeing so many people enjoying the action on and off the water. I really felt that the mixture of bringing the big audience in touch with the water sports and its top athletes was something special.
EFPT: What will be special about DAM-X 2016?
Maarten van Ochten: For now I can just say that it’s amazing having the EFPT final at the event. Besides the whole team and partners are thrilled to move the DAM-X 2016 to a whole new level. So everyone is excited for the second edition of DAM-X.
EFPT: Many worldclass freestylers call Brouwersdam their homespot. Is there a close collaboration with the riders concerning ideas for the event?
Maarten van Ochten: We asked all riders for their feedback already last year and it’s great to hear many awesome ideas and enthusiasm from their side! For this year we have increased the media booth. That means that there will be much more content for all riders, brands and the national and international media available. Like this we hope to reach out to an even bigger audience and to share news with the whole peer group and beyond.
EFPT: Who did already confirm his participation?
Maarten van Ochten: For the mens division: hotshots such as World Champion Dieter van der Eyken (Severne/Starboard), European Champion and ranked 3rd in the World Amado Vrieswijk (Severne/ JP), Davy Scheffers, Brouwersdam local and best ranked Dutchie in the PWA. Up and coming talents such as Yentel Cears (11th PWA and 4th EFPT), Youp Schmit (11th PWA) and Rick Jendrusch (Severne) confirmed their participation. For the womens division: 3rd in the world ranking Maaike Huvermann (Starboard/Severne) and Jazzy Zwerus (JP/Neilpryde) currently holding a top ten position in world already sent their confirmation. We expect more riders to confirm their participation soon. It will be an exciting battle at the DAM-X event!
EFPT: DAM-X will be the last stop for the European Freestyle Pro Tour this season. What makes DAM-X and Brouwersdam the perfect place to hold the EFPT final?
Maarten van Ochten: Brouwersdam offers the opportunity to sail with all sorts of wind directions and strength of wind. Many of the worlds best freestyler windsurfers and even worldchampion were ‘made’ here. This shows that the location can offer the best conditions to challenge all athletes during the DAM-X event. Besides the setup of the event is great and will be well worth of the big final.
Check out the highlight video of 2015 produced by Continentseven: