FPT Boot Düsseldorf 2026 Day 2 - Air Funnel Burner dreams come true
by Freestyle Pro Tour 24 Jan 11:11 PST
23-25 January 2026
- FPT Boot Düsseldorf 2026 © Freestyle Pro Tour
Day 2 at Boot Düsseldorf kicked off with a bright and early training session at 08:00, and the energy inside Hall 17 was already at a high before the first competitive runs of the 2026 season.
The women's fleet, with Elena Dominick, Maaike Huvermann, and Lisa Kloster all back on the water after a long session in the pool the night before, were once again the first to hit the water. Their early-morning appearance said everything about both their determination and stoke for competition. Maaike threw down clean Culos, Lisa worked through stylish Funnel Clocks, and Elena landed some beautifully clean Spocks; Straight to business.
The standout of the training session, however, was Foivos Tsoupras. Big Burners, Cana Bravas, and his newly discovered Tow-In Shaka all on full display, he once again proved that he's one of the most entertaining Tow-In riders to watch. Meanwhile, the hunt for the Air Funnel Burner continued. Niclas Nebelung, Lennart Neubauer, and Yentel Caers were all looking for it during training, but none of them were quite able to crack the double power-move threshold that seemed so vital to secure a ticket to the finals. Yentel did, however, finally stick the no-handed Burner that had dodged him on Day 1.
Throughout the day, riders soaked up the Boot Düsseldorf experience, hanging out around the show, exploring the convention, jumping into the pool for some pump-foil action, and socializing in the areas surrounding Hall 17. The calm before the storm. And when the clock hit 16:45, the storm finally arrived.
The first competitive session of the 2026 Freestyle Pro Tour season was officially under way. In the women's fleet, the very first run cranked things up to 10 already. Elena Dominick opened with a one-handed Spock right by the edge of the pool, immediately drawing cheers from the crowd. Lisa Kloster answered back with a clean Funnel that just narrowly edged Elena's score. But Maaike Huvermann showed once again why she remains the uncontested top dog in the women's fleet. First an Air Funnel to beat Lisa's score, then an even cleaner Culo to upgrade further, scoring an 8.5 and comfortably securing first place, with Lisa Kloster locking into second.
In the men's fleet, all the elements we had seen in training finally came together. Leander Halm was dead set on sticking the Burners that had been serving him so well throughout practice. Tigo Kort and Bodhi Kempen both took a regular-stance approach, focusing on clean Culos in their runs. Foivos Tsoupras continued to impress, calling his counting move on camera before sticking his newly discovered Tow-In Shaka on his very first run.
Niclas Nebelung once again went hunting for the Air Funnel Burner. Determined to stick it, knowing it was what he needed to compete with the riders on top, he came painfully close, but no cigar. The best he managed was an Air Funnel Funnel. Steven van Broeckhoven stuck to the playbook he had declared the day before: safe and stylish single moves. A big, laid-back one-handed Burner briefly put him into first place after his opening two runs.
But the reigning FPT Champion had other ideas about how this elimination was going to end.
After narrowly missing it throughout Day 1 and the morning training session, and teasing that "this will again be the move to win it" throughout, Lennart Neubauer finally stomped an Air Funnel Burner. His very first move of the session scored a massive 9.33, instantly locking him comfortably into first place. He went hunting for a Double Culo in his second and third runs but came up short. It didn't matter. The Air Funnel Burner was enough.
Until Yentel Caers decided to turn the entire session into a movie. An Air Funnel Funnel to start things off, followed by a Burner Funnel, just barely pushed Steven van Broeckhoven down into third. But in true Yentel fashion, he wasn't there to play it safe. He was there to put on a show. And to maximize the drama, he saved the big-money move for the very end.
After narrowly missing it throughout Day 1 and the morning training session, and teasing that "this will again be the move to win it" throughout, Lennart Neubauer finally stomped an Air Funnel Burner. His very first move of the session scored a massive 9.33, instantly locking him comfortably into first place. He went hunting for a Double Culo in his second and third runs but came up short. It didn't matter. The Air Funnel Burner was enough. Until Yentel Caers decided to turn the entire session into a movie. An Air Funnel Funnel to start things off, followed by a Burner Funnel, just barely pushed Steven van Broeckhoven down into third. But in true Yentel fashion, he wasn't there to play it safe. He was there to put on a show. And to maximize the drama, he saved the big-money move for the very end.
If there's one thing we've learnt over the years, it's to never ever count Yentel Caers out. On Run No. 3, the Air Funnel Burner finally came. And it was even bigger than Lennart's, putting Yentel into first place. With that, the stage for the finals is officially set:
Lennart Neubauer vs Yentel Caers.
Maaike Huvermann vs Lisa Kloster.
Two duels between some of the world's best freestylers. Make sure to tune into the Freestyle Pro Tour social channels tomorrow to follow all the action live as the 2026 season reaches its first peak of many.