The first real day of Rs-X Youth World Championship

by Elena Giolai on 30 Jun 2017 The Championship flares up, possibly thanks to the feelings of security brought by the visit of Alessandra Sensini, Olympic athlete and current vice president of CONI.

The first real day of this Rs:X Youth World Championship was dominated, in the temporary male Overall Rank, by its leader Luuc-Adrianus van Opzeeland (Ned). The female Overall temporary rank sees the unchallenged rule of Katy Spychakov (Isr). Nicolò Renna (8° generale) is the leader of the Under seventeen male rank, while the U 17 female rank sees Melissa Ertekin (Tur) at the top.

It was a day rich of both tension and emotion, which brought to the completion of 3 trials. The Italian athletes went very well, with the excellent performance of Daniele Gallo (2° overall), Luca Di Tomassi, (5°Overall). Giorgia Speciale also did very good scooping up a 5° place. Also worthy of note were the performances of Alessandra Papitto 7°.

The qualification trials moved forward thanks to today's good and strong wind - the Ora, the local southerly wind - which allowed many trials to be held. Yesterday was a difficult day instead. The athletes had to spend part of the night repairing some small damage caused to their boards by the three Ponale storms which raked the Rs:X Youth World Championship on Wednesday afternoon. Circolo Surf Torbole left its gates and storehouse open for all those who wanted to restore their gear.

At 12 pm yesterday the Ora wind peeped out on the Garda Lake, allowing the race's jury and staff to place the competition's field. That lit up the faces of the racers, who were finally able to test themselves against the usual weather and marine conditions of the Lake. The constant wind really made the competition flare allowing the 200 athletes to finally face each other in an arena worthy of the competition. Finally a good set of trials then for both boys and girls, who coloured with their sails the waters in front of Circolo Surf Torbole.

An intense day for both staff and jury, who had to regain the time lost to the fitful wind of the last days in order to drive the competition - a hotbed of windsurf champions who may, in the near future, compete in Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games - to its spectacular conclusion on time.

The Olympic athlete and current vice president of CONI Alessandra Sensini (Gold medal at Sydney 2000, Silver at Pechino 2008, two Bronze medals at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004) was a special guest at the Rs:X Youth World Championship yesterday, an important appearance which adds value to Torbole's Circolo Surf. Sensini remarked on the importance of holding these competitions more frequently, and about how this Class sees a high competitiveness at a national level.

'We are certainly dealing with the future of this Olympic Class here - Sensini explained -. There are athletes, of national relevance too, who have the prominent physical qualities needed to do well in Class Rs:X. Nationally speaking we have a high competitive level among both male and female athletes. The Garda Lake is an exceptional showcase - the Olympic athlete went on -. Holding international competitions here is a good thing for both sport and the local territory. These events galvanize the social fabric, youths and the territory itself. We must try to organize always more of them. Here on the Garda Trentino after all - Sensini cares to stress - there is an important organizational ability tested on many great events. This is a region which knows how work is done'.

Circolo Surf Torbole's president Armando Bronzetti announced yesterday that the Circolo will host the 2018 Mixed Windsurf Championship, and that it is officially running for the hosting of the 2019 Olympic Class Rs:X World Championship.

The first day of qualification trials was dominated previsionally by Daniel Cohen e Titouan Pillo for man and, Katy Spychakov for woman.

Fabien Pianazza (Fra) is the previsional rank leader for the Under 17 male league while for the Under 17 female league the top athlete is Faustine Manhes (Fra).

A first dividing of a leading group of racers from the others is clear from the results, but everyone pushed the boards to the best of their ability. Among the Italians Luca di Tomassi (17° Overall), Nicolò Renna (35° Overall e 5° U17), Rosanna Stracampiano (8° overall) e Giorgia Speciale 17° Overall) gave excellent performances which bode well for the next stages of the Rs:X Youth World Championship. Also not to be underestimated are the performances of israelis, french and english, who may become even more combative in the next trials.

So, we can really say we're started: this Youth Rs:X Championship has officially begun heating up! Yesterday the first trials for the qualifications for this Olympic class were held, Olympic class which - here on the waters of the Garda Lake and also thanks to this important international competition - will see the forming of some of the Olympic Teams for Tokyo 2020, since observers carefully watched the competing athletes.

Tension and the will to race and win were high from the start. At 12.30 pm the youths got into the water to reach the arena of the competition, located in a central position between Riva del Garda and Torbole.

Ora, the local southerly wind, dominated the day with an ideal wind speed of 8/10 knots, perfect for the racers to display all their athletic prowess: and the two hundred athletes coming from thirty nations faced each other off at their best from the very beginning.

Indeed, the thirst for victory moved many to give their best from the very first start signal, which came around one pm. The series of starts for the various categories identified coloured the waters of the Garda Lake of a beautiful red tinge. Many followed the manoeuvres of these young racers - today's champions and probably Olympic athletes of tomorrow - from the beaches, commenting and trying to eye gouge a possible order of arrival.

Doing well in the trials were the Israelis and french nationalities, with many athletes entering the top tiers of the temporary rank. The competition resumes tomorrow with the same schedule, hoping in constant wind and good weather and marine conditions to dignify a competition which is 'young' only in the age of the racers, because these days there are real athletes in front of Circolo Surf Torbole, fierce and real windsurf experts. Youths today, but promises for a spectacular future sailing scene.

In the afternoon bad weather came back, interrupting the continuation of the trials. These the trials finished before the change in weather. The trials were interrupted because of a storm which raised the Ponale, a very strong local wind, forcing the athletes quickly back to Circolo Surf Torbole.