After an amazing launch for the Surf Worldcup here in Podersdorf with stormy conditions, the region around lake Neusiedl presented itself in a whole different light today. Lots of sunshine and calm weather implied a great start for the Chiemsee Tow-In show with 3.000€ prize-money up for grabs.
For the first time in years the waiting list to get into the 30 riders who would be allowed to compete in the tow-in show exceeded ten people. The best 30 riders were seeded into the three qualification rounds. Unfortunately the seeding had to be changed several times due to injury occuring amongst the fleet. Youp Schmit, Marco Vinante (Starboard), Giovanni Passani and Max Rowe unfortunately had to drop out.
The latest list looks as follows:
Fleet number one was sent to the water at 6.00pm for some training to then compete in the perfect sunset from 7.00-8.00pm. Lots of people gathered at the beach to see the show that was put on by some of the finest freestyle windsurfers in the world.
Just like the past years each rider had two runs with the better one counting. Judging was based on style and technical difficulty.
Nik Van der Eerenbeemt (JP/Neilpryde) and Jamie Howard (JP/Severne) were the two lucky riders who dropped into the fleet after two riders had to cancel. Van der Eerenbeemt who is a young rider from Curacao and who is usually only training slalom also showed his potential in freestyle windsurfing and tow-in. He went for double funnells but couldn’t quite mix up the top guys. Quite outstanding were Julien Mas (JP) and Rafael de Windt who were both competing in a costume to put on a show for the audience. It was well honored by the spectators, yet both riders couldn’t show more than some funnell combos that wouldn’t give them enough points to advance. Nicolas Akgacziyan who is always very creative in tow-in couldn’t pull his moves this time which left him quite disappointed.
Rick Jendrusch spinning through a triple funnell
Kiri Thode (Starboard) from Bonaire and winner of the Chiemsee European Tow-In Championship in 2015 was the first one to throw an air-funnell burner (48,5 points). This move put him into the lead. Hunting for the top positions were also Rick Jendrusch (Severne) who pulled a smooth and super clean triple funnell (47 points) and Max Matissek (North/Fanatic) who went for a flaka shaka (41,5). What no one was expecting was young Jamie Howard (JP/Severne) from the UK who circled through a perfect flaka shaka (40,5) in the first and an even nicer flaka shaka flaka (50,5 points) in the second round which put him ahead of Thode. The Brit landed upright on the board and has been celebrated by the crowd. When local hero Matissek tried to push his scores with the same move, he unfortunately couldn’t land it as clean.
Jamie Howard from the UK rocking the first fleet
The three riders going through to the big final on Sunday are:
1st Jamie Howard
2nd Kiri Thode
3rd Rick Jendrusch
The top 4 of todays qualification
After this firework of moves the rockets of the firework-show were launched into the clear skies above the event area. With this truly great start we expect nothing less of the two upcoming qualification rounds tomorrow.
Fleet number two and three will be on tomorrow at 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm respectively. We are looking forwards to an awesome performance by the remaining riders.
