EURO CUP, SILVAPLANA – FINAL DAY
Kiel / Silvaplana (SWITZERLAND)
The final day of the Windsurfing Euro-Cup Silvaplana brought the event to a
thrilling climax. Today the famous marathon race was sailed. It was this
historical final race which decided about the victory in the discipline
Racing as Ross Williams (GBR-83, Tabou, Gaastra) was fighting head to head
with his hardest opponent Arnon Dagan (ISR-1, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) for top
honours on the podium. The Israeli was able to continue with his exceptional
performance from the day before and dominated the race, rightfully taking
the triumph in Racing. But Williams can proudly relax on his triumph in the
Slalom from the day before.
Since almost 30 years the marathon race is sailed in the Engadin. With five
full laps around the Lake Silvaplana the racers have to go for even more
then the famous marathon distance of 42 kilometres. Every year more than 100
competitors from all over the World travel to Switzerland for this unique
race. Arnon Dagan dominated the challenge right from the start and was able
to finish the race in 53 minutes and 48 seconds. The second place went to
Ross Williams who had a fascinating duel with Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG-3,
F2, Neil Pryde). Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED-8, JP, Neil Pryde) presented
himself as one of the best young windsurfing talents on the third place with
the current Formula Windsurfing Youth World Champion Robert Baldyga (POL-18,
Starboard, Naish Sails) on his heals.
After four spectacular competition days with eight races including the final
marathon race the competitors have two discards, so that each of them they
can throw out his two worst results. After his overwhelming performance on
the two final days and especially in the marathon race Arnon Dagan was able
to pass Ross Williams and win the discipline Racing with 7.80 points. The
former leader Ross Williams follows just 0.30 points behind with a total of
8.1 points. Gonzala Costa Hoevel sits firm on his third position with 18.00
points. Kuba Guzdeck (POL-13, Starboard, Naish Sails) got a little
inconsistent on the last two days but could just defend his fourth position
with 30.70 points against Alberto Menegatti (ITA-456, F2, North Sails) who
accumulated 31.00 points.
In the discipline Slalom the decision was already made the day before in
wind speeds between 14 and 23 knots. The first round and the semi finals
didn¹t bring any bigger surprises so that most of the favourites found their
way into the final. There everthing seemed to be an easy game for Finian
Maynard (KV-11, F2, Neil Pryde), the brand new IFCA Slalom World Champion
from the British Virgin Islands. He had a perfect start and didn¹t make any
mistakes. But at the last mark he go stuck for a moment in the lighter
breeze. This was the chance for which Ross Williams waited the full heat.
Since the start he was on Finians heals raising the pressure to provoke
mistakes. Now he sneaked on the inside and pumped away a little bit faster
than the Speed World Record holder at his over 100kg. Accelerating towards
the finish line Ross covered Finian which opened the door also for Arnon
Dagan and Adriaan van Rijselberge (NED-2, JP, Neil Pryde) to pass the slalom
giant. Finian only finished as fourth with the Swiss local Richard
Stauffacher (SUI-31, Starboard, Neil Pryde) on his heals.
+++++
The official website of the event is www.engadinwind.com
<http://www.engadinwind.com> . The official website of the Windsurfing
Euro-Cup series with more information is www.euro-cup.org
<http://www.euro-cup.org/> . Besides the reports and the results you will
also find a live ticker on www.euro-cup.org<http://www.euro-cup.org/> . So
check out the internet!
