2020 Formula Kite Individual European Championships - Day 1
by International Kiteboarding Association 20 Aug 2020 16:02 BST
18-23 August 2020
2020 Formula Kite Individual European Championships - Day 1 © Eureka / Dominik Kalamus
Julia Damasiewicz (POL) Theo de Ramecourt (FRA) sit on top of the rankings after four races for each group on the first day of racing in Puck, Poland.
In stable 10-12 knot conditions both competition leaders did not only fight with their closest opponents, but also with some seaweed that easterly winds from a long high pressure system over eastern Europe had swept into the bay.
Both Damiasiewcz and De Ramecourt had close fights throughout the day, with the 15-year-old Damasiewicz finishing just ahead of fellow teenager Magdalena Woyciechowska, making it 1-2 for the host country. Both are tied on 4 points, with the better end for Damasiewicz having won the final race.
Defending European Champion, Britain's Ellie Aldridge, ended up in a comfortable third place at 9 points, with three more competitors following closely only separated by single points.
In total there are 26 competitors in the women's competition, making up approximately one third of the total fleet.
The 66 strong men's fleet is split into two qualification groups, with De Ramecourt and fellow Frenchman Axel Mazella both recording three wins and a second-place finish in their respective sets to finish equal on points at the end of the day. With a win in round four, De Ramecourt is breaking the tie in his favour and kept the edge in the overall standings.
Last year's ANOC World Beach Games Gold Medallist, Germany's Florian Gruber finished the first day in third, having taken the first win in De Ramecourt's group and a number of top three finishes in the remaining races.
Slovenian Toni Vodisek showed a strong come back after 10 months of injury which he suffered at last year's KiteFoil World Series Final in Sardinia, preventing Mazella from having a perfect day. Vodisek sits in 4th overall with seven points.
France's Maxime Nocher and Nico Parlier are fifth and sixth, all tied on seven points.
Competition takes place daily through to Sunday 23 August, when the top 14 men and women will compete in the Semi-Finals and Finals of the Medal series.
Top five men after four races (one discard)
1. Theo De Ramecourt (FRA) - 3 pts
2. Axel Mazella (FRA) - 3 pts
3. Florian Gruber (GER) - 6 pts
4. Toni Vodisek (SLO) - 7 pts
5. Maxime Nocher (FRA) - 7 pts
Top five women after four races (one discard)
1. Julia Damasiewicz (POL) - 4 pts
2. Magdalena Woyciechowska (POL - 4 pts
3. Ellie Aldridge (GBR) - 9 pts
4. Lauriane Nolot (FRA) - 13 pts
5. Nina Arcisz (POL) - 14 pts
Full results (updated live during racing) can be found at www.formulakite.org