After Antony Ruenes in 2015, Steven Van Broeckhoven (Gunsails/JP) in 2016 and Jacopo Testa (RRD/RRD) in 2017, the Belgian freestyle superstar Yentel Caers (JP) took victory in the 2018 edition of the EFPT Lanzarote. After two extremly exciting double eliminations, with tight races and highscores dropping heat after heat, the JP rider could mark down his second EFPT win within a week.
The morning hours of the ultimate day here at Costa Teguise were used to run the double elimination of the bananity juniors division. Lennart Neubauer (Starboard/Severne) and Corto Dumond (Starboard/Severne) met in a superfinal, after Dumond was defeating the leader of the single elimination in an outstanding heat. Dumond scored with a culo and a burner on starboard and a shaka and stalled forward on porttack, whilst Neubauer answered with a kono and skopu on starboard and flaka360 and shaka on port.
Lennart Neubauer (by Gwen Marche)
In the following heat however, Neubauer stepped up his game and could defeat Dumond to win the elimination eventually. Neubauer was superhappy and stated that he had also landed his first burner360 in the heat. 16 years old Stefan de Bell (Fanatic/Severne) made it to third place. The level amongst the juniors was remarkable and we are looking forward to see more in the upcoming seasons!
Top 3 juniors (by Gwen Marche)
Worth a mention in the double elimination, apart from the winner Yentel Caers, are definitely Nic Hibdige from the UK and Steven Van Broeckhoven from Belgium.
Hibdige showed a great form, taking down Julian Wiemar (Starboard/Severne), Mattia Fabrizi (Patrik), Loick Spicher (RRD/RRD) and even tour-leader Tonky Frans (RRD/RRD) in the fight for 6th place, to cause some serious upsets. After only the half of the heat had been over, the freestyler from the UK had already scored 37 points against local rider Frans! Only Steven Van Broeckhoven could stop the young Brit in the race for 5th place. Hibdige stated:’ I am super happy! Finally everything comes together! I couldn’t sail much lately because I was working a lot, but maybe that has been a good mental training – to windsurf in my head the whole day. Yes – maybe it has been the daydreaming!’
Steven Van Broeckhoven was killing it today, proving some serious professionalism and competitiveness. The Belgian sailor sailed sailed seven heats, taking out Adrian Beholz (Sailloft/Patrik), Dieter Van der Eyken (Severne/Severne), Nic Hibdige, Antoine Albert (Goya/Goya), Antony Ruenes and finally Adrien Bosson (North/Fanatic) in a very close battle. In his seventh heat of the day he then faced winner of the single elimination Yentel Caers. Caers was putting on an incredible show, landing seven moves on each tack without a single crash. The riders who were watching the final were going wild on the beach and it was more than obvious that Caers deserved this event-win like no one else. Caers stated, that he was super stoked about the win, considering the high level of the other top sailors.
Steven Van Broeckhoven (by Valentin Böckler)
The top 3 of the EFPT Lanzarote 2018:
1st Yentel Caers (JP)
2nd Adrien Bosson (North/Fanatic)
3rd Antony Ruenes
Winner of the event Yentel Caers (by Dominik Jendroszczy)
Tonky Frans however remains the tour-leader at this point. The only sailor at his heels has been Giovanni Passani, who couldn’t compete in this event due to an injury. Nonetheless, the fight remains exciting as there are still two high class events to go. The riders are now released for a small summer break. In August the EFPT will travel to lake Silvaplana for a big tow-in show and then continue onwards to Costa Brava and finally Brouwersdam in the middle of October.
(Header/Featured image by Valentin Böckler)