IFCA Slalom foil and fin Europeans for Youth, Junior and Master categories ended in Torbole
by Elena Giolai 25 Sep 10:05 BST
21-24 September 2023
The youth (under 21 and under 17) and masters (over 40) fin and foil slalom European Championships came to an end after four rather complicated days in terms of weather.
- For Italy, silver Youth foil by Jacopo Gavioli (Circolo Surf Torbole) and bronze master fin and foil respectively by Massimiliano Brunetti and Francesco Durso
- Slalom fin: Denmark's Tunc, Turkey's Erca and Germany's Wilkens the new European champions junior m, junior f and master respectively
- Slalom foil: Turks Tandogan and Ercan, Dane Vinther and German Steiner the new European junior m and f, youth m and master champions
Fortunately, on the last two days the weather changed course and offered two beautiful days of sun and wind that made up for the regattas as much as possible, with the Circolo Surf Torbole organising committee and the FIV regatta committee making the most of all the wind possible, right from the early morning.
Sunday started at 8 a.m. as well, this time with the slalom fin discipline, which requires a higher wind intensity than the foil (a base of 11 knots compared to the foil's 8). Despite the somewhat inconstant gusts, but thanks to the great work of the Race Committee, which relentlessly monitored the wind on the race course, as well as the athletes' gliding conditions, it was possible to conclude the boards in the Junior men's, women's and Master's categories. Unfortunately, the largest category of youth under 21, did not manage to complete the final, which would have awarded the podium. In fact, just when it was the turn of the youth final, the wind started to drop, not ensuring smooth racing. Despite at least four unsuccessful attempts due to 'wind holes', they were unable to finish their race, which up to that point had offered exciting buoy passages with gybes and great glides. They hoped for a southerly wind in the afternoon, but it did not pick up, leaving them with a very strong wind.
For the younger junior and masters categories, on the other hand, which were present in smaller numbers than the youths and therefore had fewer batteries, the slalom fin titles were awarded: among the junior males title went to the Dane Denizhan Tunc, followed by a French one-two with Paul Gobin and Ivan Huault. Among the under-17 girls, domination by Turkey's Elif Ercan, who also won the slalom foil title; second and third place went to France's Sermet and Philip. Good race for the masters with victory for German Helge Wilkens; second place for Austrian Purwitzer and third place for Italian Massimiliano Brunetti.
On Saturday, with a morning and afternoon foil slalom programme, all the tables were closed, thus enabling the slalom foil speciality titles to be awarded for all categories: European junior slalom foil champion was Turkey's Tan Tandogan, vice-champion was France's Ivan Huault (already silver in the fin) and bronze medal went to the other Turk, Brahim. As anticipated double fin and foil of the Turkish Elif Ercan, followed by the two French Philip (third in the fin) and Sermet. As for the foil slalom in the youth category, the only discipline assigned for the under-21s, victory for the Dane Noah Vinther and a fine silver medal for Circolo Surf Torbole's holder Jacopo Gavioli. Bronze went to Frenchman Genevoy. Title not awarded to the women, because there were less than five at the start. Germany's Markus Steiner won the continental slalom foil masters title, ahead of his compatriot Eber and Italy's Francesco Durso.
Find full results here.