PWA FREESTYLE QUALIFIER, NEUESIEDLER SEE, AUSTRIA

Day 4

The race is over and it was amazing:

Tuesday April 30, 2002
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Ten thousand people came to watch the show at the Neusiedler See, a lake located
30 minutes from Vienna.

Freestyle at its best was shown by 32 riders from 12 countries. Strong wind
from both sides (west and east) made it a very complete competition. The riders
pulled out unbelievable tricks like clew first spock 540 variations, grubbies,
newly invented moves like the Swayze (a flay water Taka) from Web Pedrick, Diabolos,
flat water Goyters, all kinds of Willy Skipper variations and also a wide range
of classic moves like 360s,backwind jibes, body drags and speed loops.

Some of the riders had a strong come back, like the inventor of the King of
the Lake Alex Humpel (Neil Pryde/JP)(4th place),the Austrian who now lives in
Maui, Michi Schweiger (Naish/Naish)(5th place ex aequo) and the Italian champion
Raimondo Gasperini (Fanatic) (5th place ex aequo).

The top three riders however were going off in a spectacular way. US Freestyle
rider Web Pedrick in his powerful and complete-disregard-of-danger style was
chasing the two el Yaque based riders Diony Guadagnino (Neil Pryde/JP) and Remko
de Weerd (Gaastra/AHD). Diony showed that he improved a lot since his win at
the King of the Lake 2000 and that he is a serious threat to all riders this
year. The winner Remko de Weerd (Gaastra/AHD) however is amongst worlds best
freestyle riders due to his amazing technical skills and he showed that he can
pull out his tricks with all sail sizes and that he is one of the riders who
will battle for the Freestyle World title 2002.

FINAL RESULTS

1. Remko de Weerd (Gaastra/AHD)
2. Diony Guadagnino (Neil Pryde/JP)
3. Web Pedrick (North Sails/AHD)
4. Alex Humpel (Neil Pryde/JP)
5. Michi Schweiger (Naish/Naish) ex aequo Raimondo Gasperini (Fanatic)

Not only on the water but also at the parties all riders showed what was possible
and also several impossible moves and they all agree that the party week at
Podersdorf is the mother of all parties. At the closing ceremony tonight in
the big party tent up to 2000 people are expected.

Who said that windsurfing was dead?? It was good to see such a high level of
sailing and thousands of fans who enjoyed the show. Let the show never end!!!