IFCA Foiling European Championships in St. Peter-Ording - Day 4
by IFCA 18 Jul 21:02 BST
IFCA Foiling European Championships in St. Peter-Ording - Day 4 © IFCA
Winds of six to seven Beaufort battered the North Sea on Day 4 of the California Windsurf Cup St. Peter-Ording. After two days dedicated to Foiling, Saturday finally saw the Fin Slalom fleet take to the water.
Two complete eliminations were completed, and both were won by standout athlete Amado Vrieswijk (NB-20) from the Caribbean island of Bonaire.
Two Fin Slalom Eliminations on the North Sea
In the opening elimination, Vrieswijk claimed a convincing victory ahead of France's Alexis Mathis (FRA-997) and the Netherlands' Sem Stroosma (NED-450). Fellow Dutchman Thijs Hanemaaijer (NED-107) finished fourth, while Bonaire's rising youth talent Tycho Smits (NB-1111) completed the top five.
Vrieswijk also won the second elimination. Reigning German Slalom Champion Vincent Langer (GER-1) finished second, while Tycho Smits improved even further to secure third place. Germany's Keno Recke (GER-10) claimed fourth, ahead of Thijs Hanemaaijer in fifth.
Perfect score gives Vrieswijk the overall lead
After two Fin Slalom eliminations, Amado Vrieswijk comfortably leads the standings with the perfect score of 1.4 points.
The battle for the remaining podium positions is extremely close. Tycho Smits holds second place with 8.0 points, while Vincent Langer, Alexis Mathis, and Thijs Hanemaaijer are tied on 9.0 points. The tie-break currently places Langer ahead of Mathis and Hanemaaijer.
Family entertainment alongside the racing
Despite the stormy weather, large crowds gathered on the beach at St. Peter-Ording to watch the world's top windsurfers in action. Away from the water, the Event Village offered an extensive programme of activities for the whole family. Visitors could take part in free yoga sessions presented by LVM Insurance or try their hand at skimboarding. The Vanlife Expo showcased the outdoor lifestyle and featured the latest vehicles from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, among many other attractions.
The LVM Family World provided a wide range of interactive activities and entertainment for younger visitors. A diverse food court served a variety of street food and event catering throughout the day. In the evening, the Food Corner once again transformed into a party zone, where fans, guests, and athletes celebrated together late into the night with sets from popular DJs.
Championship titles to be decided on final Sunday
Another day of strong winds is forecast for the final day of competition. The conditions are expected to be suitable for both Foiling and Fin Slalom, making it possible to complete further races in both disciplines.
As a result, the IFCA Foiling European Championship title will be decided on the final day. The fight for victory in the Fin Slalom competition also remains wide open. Only the women's championship appears to be all but decided.
Slovenia's Lina Erzen (SLO-51) has dominated the IFCA Foiling European Championship, winning 10 of the 11 races held so far. After the discard results have been applied, she leads the standings with the perfect score of 5.6 points. Norway's Tuva Oppedal (NOR-29) is second with 16.0 points, while her sister Helle Oppedal (NOR-39) occupies third place with 21.7 points.
The prize-giving ceremony for the IFCA Foiling European Championship is scheduled for Sunday at 5:00 p.m., when the new European Foiling Champions will be crowned on the main stage.