PWA Surf World Cup Podersdorf - Beautiful frustration

by Chris Yates on 1 May 2012 On the penultimate day of the PWA Surf World Cup Podersdorf spectators were treated to more unbelievable summer weather. However for the competitors it was largely a frustrating day.

The forecast for Monday was always marginal at best and unfortunately this is exactly how the day panned out. The double elimination began at 13:30, but the wind proved too fickle to complete the first round, meaning results remained unchanged from yesterday’s single elimination. Four out of eight first round heats were completed by the end of the day.

In the opening heat of the day, heat 26, local boy Max Matissek (Fanatic / North) made the most of the light winds. The Austrian was able to land a sick air flaka, which he then bettered by landing a brilliant shaka flaka. This proved too much for Rasmus Rahback Oegelund’s (JP / NeilPryde) as Matissek marched on. Andy Chambers (JP / NeilPryde) managed to sneak past Mattia Fabrizi (Fanatic / North) after a close encounter.

Adam Gavriel (Patrik / Simmer) advanced past Jeremy Pluss (Tabou) in heat 27. The Israeli sailed with more consistency throughout the heat compared to his opponent, and his efforts were rewarded with a place in the next round. Young Estonian Christofer Kalk (Fanatic / Gaastra) also progressed into round two ahead of Mauricio Alvarez (Patrik / Gaastra).

Heat 28 saw Loick Spicher (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) dispatch of Brazilian Danilo Da Silva (RRD / RRD), whilst the other side of the heat involving Yegor Popretinskiy (JP / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) and Remko De Zeeuw (F2 / Gaastra) required a re-sail. In what was a close heat, both sailors crucially had a move missing from their score sheet, due to the committee boat moving whilst the two sailors went head-to-head, meaning they were out of the judges sight. When the heat was eventually re-sailed, it was Popretinskiy who came out on top. The Russian famous for his double spocks was able to land a ponch and a nice culo to swing the decision in his favour.

Heat 29 took the best part of two hours to complete, having been cancelled three times prior to a result being gained. In the end the result was harsh on Adam Sims, who had been the better sailor in the previously abandoned heats. Ultimately though it was Matthias Kraschitzer who performed better at the fourth time of asking and the Austrian advanced. Bryan Metcalf-Perez (JP / NeilPryde) seemed to be catching more gusts than anyone else, and he took full advantage as he delivered an impressive kono to book his place in the next round.

There was a single attempt to run heat 30, but once again the wind failed to deliver, resulting in another cancelled heat. Balz Muller (Patrik / Severne) will no doubt have been disappointed at the decision as he was sailing fantastically in the light conditions. Muller was able to land a double flaka, a switch flaka and a quite brilliant one handed shaka before the heat was abandoned.

After a slow day in Austria, which saw just four heats completed in five hours, the decision was made to end the day shortly after five o’clock. We’ll be hoping for a forecast change for the final day of the event tomorrow, but Neusiedler See definitely offers the potential for a surprise. The weather can change in the blink of an eye here, as we’ve seen so many times before. The skippers meeting has been called for 9am with the first possible start being at 09:30.

Tow in

Tonight was the final of the EFPT tow in event and it definitely didn’t disappoint with big moves being thrown left, right and centre. In the end Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde) was crowned champion after a super sick triple air flaka diablo. Jose 'Gollito' Estredo (Fanatic / North) produced a moment of magic with a funnel burner, but it wasn’t enough to budge Van Broeckhoven from the top. Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra) completed the top three by jumping a perfect double air flaka diablo.

Last night was the final qualifying round of the tow in before Monday nights final. Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde) was the last rider of the first round to perform, but he instantly booked his place in the final with the highest scoring move of the last 3 nights. Van Broeckhoven delivered a sick triple popping flaka to blow away the rest of the competition. Joining him in the final would be Julien Mas (Patrik / Hot Sails) who popped an almost perfect culo, Dieter Van Der Eyken (Starboard / Severne), after the young Belgium landed his first ever burner in the tow in. The lucky fourth placed rider also progressing into the final went to Maarten Van Ochten (JP / NeilPryde / MFC).

Tow In Results
1st Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde)
2nd Jose 'Gollito' Estredo (Fanatic / North)
3rd Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra)

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