Good news from the European Freestyle Pro Tour event on Vassiliki…
Andy Chambers (JP/Neilpryde) was the barbecue on the first evening, but yesterday he made it from the last place in the single to 5th place in the double elimination. Vassiliki was delivering perfect thermal winds again for the EFPT fleet, lasting exactly as long as the elimination needed.
Thermal winds never come before 2pm. Therefore the EFPT riders could spend a few more hours in their beds. At 1pm everybody attended the skippers meeting ready for the double elimination. Andy “Bubble“ Chambers lost in yesterday´s single elimination in the first heat against his british mate, and maybe the most hilarious speaker around, Colin Dixon. So for today Andy was up to correct this mistake. The naked chef sailed very stylish and fluently throughout his heats. He could win over Max Rowe (Simmer Style) in the first round. In a very tight heat, where both riders had big moves like no handed Flakas and Shove-it into Spock, Andy finished his heat not crashing even once and therefore could pass. His solid and fluent style brought further victories against Andraz Zan (RRD/RRD), Niklas Strahlen (RRD/Simmer Style), Davy Scheffers (Tabout/Gaastra) and also his JP-Australia/Neilpryde teammate Antxon Otaegui was left with nothing after he met Andy in heat nr. 31. After 6 heats the British sailor gave Nikos Athanasiou an interview for the live broadcast. Andy stated that he is super happy, but also super tired right now. Heat nr. 32 showed Yarden Meir (Fanatic/Simmer Style) on the opponent list. Chambers batteries were nearly empty after 6 heats. The Israeli won and succeeded into the next heat where he was 1 on 1 against Braz Edvan Souza de Pedro (RRD/Simmer Style). Colin Dixon announced Edvan as the king of the dancefloor from yesterdays party, and the always smiling South American proved he can also perform well on the water. Yesterdays finalist Nicolas Akgazciyan (Starboard/Gun Sails) got eliminated by de Pedro and ended up on third place. After 34 heats only two riders remained in the double elimination ladder. Edvan Souza de Pedro and the regular guest Steven van Broeckhoven (F2/Gaastra). During the 8 minutes pause from the prior heat to the final one, a few strong gusts forced a lot of amateur riders to call the rescue boat. Steven and Edvan had, as yesterday Steven and Nico, again a difficult decision which sails they should choose. The powerful Belgian van Broeckhoven rigged a bigger sail than Edvan, who gambled, and took 4.5sqm. The heat was dictated by the wind. Steven managed to stay in the upper, more windy, part of the heat area, while Edvan had to pump really hard to get his moves done closer to the beach. Some might say now that it is boring to see, or read, Steven van Broeckhoven winning. To those we have to respond that we don´t get tired of Steven´s explosive style. While about 100 windsurfers in the bay of Vassiliki, even the slalom guys, are far away from planning, the huge Belgian pulls off Air-Flakas, Toads, and switch Konos. As the final opponents made there way back to the beach it was already clear that Steven van Broeckhoven takes the first double elimination on the Milos Beach Lefkada Vassiliki Festival.
Today the whole event moves to the second spot. Located in the north of the island, Milos Beach will be the playground on the third and fourth day of the event.
