Kitesurf Tour Europe, Spain - Rodwald and Lammerts victorious + Video

by Kitesurf Tour Europe on 6 Nov 2012 After four days of spectacular competition, light and strong wind conditions at the beach of Castelldefels came to a fabulous end, when the European Championship in Kiteboarding Freestyle as well as the winners of the Mini Kitesurf Tour Europe in Course Racing were crowned. 97 riders out of 19 nations participated in Spain.

The wind didn’t came up on the last day to run the double eliminations in Freestyle and to continue with Course Racings, but everyone enjoyed the friendly Spanish atmosphere and the prize giving ceremony at the beach.

The first day of the event had amazing conditions for Freestyle, with perfectly sunny weather and winds up to twenty knots. This allowed the riders to show how far the riding has come over the last decade.

In the single eliminations, Mario Rodwald (GER, North) and Stefan Spiessberger (AUT, North) made their way to the final. Rodwald travelled to Spain as the leader of the Mini KTE ranking and was unstoppable to get the title. In the final of the single eliminations, he won against Spiessberger. Local rider Patrick Blanc (ESP, Ozone) took third podium place against Johnno Scholte (NED, Future Kiting) in the looser final.

In the women division, dutch freestyler Annelous Lammerts (Slingshot) won the Spanish stop against Therese Taabbel (DEN, Cabrinha) with powerful and clean moves. German rider Sabrina Lutz (North) gained third place on the podium after her heat against Kelly Schouten (NED, Liquid Force).

After five events all the results are in : Rodwald and Lammerts are the winners of the final stop of the Mini Kitesurf Tour Europe in Castelldefels, Spain and were also crowned European Champions 2012. Stefan Spiessberger and Sabrina Lutz, obtained second places of the overall ranking 2012.

In Course Racings, Italian rider Riccardo Leccese (Ozone) made his way to Spain with the clear mission to win the Mini Kitesurf Tour Europe. Leccese won three out of four races and got first place on that last event. On second place, Adam Koch (USA, Ozone), who challenged his fellow racers and Maxime Nocher (FRA, North) crossed the finish line in third. Nevertheless, Leccese remains the leader in the overall tour ranking and celebrated his victory on the podium at the beach of Castelldefels. Second podium place in the tour overall ranking took Maxime Nocher, followed by German Olympic hope Florian Gruber (North).

For professional Northkiteboarding team rider Steph Bridge (GBR), the 2012 season was successful again. In Brouwersdam, Netherlands, she became first overall and then dominated the KTE France. Here in Spain, she left no doubt again about who is one of the fastest European female racers by winning all races and clearly dominating the women fleet. On second place, Christine Bönniger (GER, Flysurfer) also show her qualities in Course Racings, followed by Spanish racer Elena Anton Pascual (Ozone).

With regard to the overall ranking, Christine Bönniger is the well-deserved winner of the overall Mini Kitesurf Tour Europe 2012 in Course Racing, followed by Kathrin Borgwardt (GER, Cabrinha) and Steph Bridge in third.

The Mini Kitesurf Tour 2012 promised an exciting kiteboarding season by visiting five countries with five freestyle events, five racing events and one slalom event.

This year’s season has led the Mini KTE as well as the sport of kiteboarding to new heights and it will mirror nothing less than success and triumph for the upcoming season 2013. After these five different stops that asked for a great variety of riding skills from waves to choppy water and light to strong wind conditions - the feedback of the riders has been very positive enjoying the atmosphere during the whole tour, the good organisations and the professional level during the events. Thilo Trefz (Tourmanager) honored all the riders for their good work and dedication to the sport.

During the 2012 season, the top riders were really pushing the limits of kitesurfing in Freestyle and Course Racings. Every rider brings something to the sport, pushing each other through the season, traveling together and enjoyed the tour ambience. The Mini Kitesurf Tour Europe, which is already in full preparation for the 2013 schedule, proved to be a perfect foretaste regarding to the Course Racing Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Overall Ranking KTE 2012 - Freestyle Men here
Overall Ranking KTE 2012 - Freestyle Women here
Overall Ranking KTE 2012 - Course Racing Men here
Overall Ranking KTE 2012 - Course Racing Women here