2024 FPT Naxos - Day 1

by Freestyle Pro Tour 16 Oct 2024 13:27 PDT 16-20 October 2024

Maaike Huvermann (Severne/Maui Ultra Fins) takes the win in the women's single elimination on Day 1, while the unseeded men battled it out for a spot in the main event. Naxos gave the riders a taste of the conditions to come in the next few days, with plenty of up and comers making their mark today.

The first skippers meeting of the event was held at 10am sharp, with competitors and their bright, sticker-covered sails all set and ready for action. However, the wind made us wait a little longer before truly showing its power, keeping everyone on their toes until later in the day.

Since the Freestyle Pro Tour allows a maximum of 32 competitors in the men's fleet and there were more riders registered, the day started with qualification rounds. Ten unseeded riders faced off in two single eliminations to secure the final six open spots in the fleet.

Local Greek riders Sokratis Saraliotis (JP/NeilPryde) and Stamatis Promponas (Severne) stood out, using their home advantage to the fullest. Familiar with every gust of the spot, they laid down impressive moves that left a lasting mark on the qualification rounds.

The other four spot were up for grabs in a comeback round, where it was Australian Sam Green (Severne) who stood out the most with moves like One Handed Forwards and Shaka's. Joining him in the main fleet is newcomer Gianluca Sorrentino (Duotone), an Italian rider who spends months each year on Karpathos, hence being used to the strong winds. Frenchman Julian Join (Duotone) and Italian Tommaso Coppola (JP) filled the last spots in the 32 man Single Elimination starting tomorrow.

Men advancing to the main event:

• Sokratis Saraliotis
• Stamatis Promponas
• Sam Green
• Gianluca Sorrentino
• Julian Join
• Tommaso Coppola

But as the day progressed, so did the wind - and it didn't just stick around, it grew stronger. With that, the judges moved straight into the women's single elimination round. A full women's fleet of eight riders, representing six different countries, took to the water, showcasing what they've been working on all summer during training across Europe, from the Canaries to Karpathos. Check out the highlight video from their single elimination:

There was an exciting mix of familiar faces and fresh talent. Linda Mankova, who couldn't show her full potential in Vieste, demonstrated her skills in the stronger Greek winds. She's no stranger to these conditions, having honed her abilities over years of working on Karpathos. Her teammate from the same island, Ziva Batis, made an impressive debut today, and will be one to watch in the double.

As the sun set, the competition heated up in the semi-finals. Elena Dominick (Severne) triumphed over Linda Mankova (Starboard/Severne), while tour veterans Lisa Kloster (MB-Boards/Sailloft) and Maaike Huvermann delivered a spectacular final showdown. Kloster managed to match Huvermann's total scores in all heats prior to the final, putting some pressure on the multiple times European Champion. Their level continues to rise, pushing the boundaries of women's freestyle in every heat.

Tomorrow promises even more intense action, with forecasts predicting winds up to 35 knots and some solid ramps to spice up the competition. We'll start the day with the men's single elimination, with the skippers meeting set for 9:00 and the first possible start at 9:30.

Stay tuned for more incredible action from Naxos and follow our socials to stay up to date!

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