Garda Trentino Foil Days - RRD One Hour Classic - Day 3
by Elena Giolai 20 Jun 13:54 PDT
Another day marked by intense heat and waiting for the wind at the Garda Trentino Foil Days. The forecast had left some doubts, but once again Lake Garda answered the call, delivering light but sufficient conditions to run the third race of the RRD One Hour Classic.
For the first time, the historic race is bringing together fin windsurfing, windsurf foil and wingfoil on the same starting line. More than 140 participants created a unique spectacle, especially during the starts and at the two marks of the course, positioned respectively off Ponale and off Conca d'Oro. In the morning, Alberto Menegatti, to whom the race is dedicated, was remembered, together with Giusy Magliano, another member and former athlete of Circolo Surf Torbole, who sadly passed away this week.
Saturday was also a very active day inside the Expo Village, which returned to the beach in Torbole more than twenty years after the last major exhibition dedicated to water sports. Many visitors, tourists and enthusiasts had the opportunity to discover the latest products presented by the leading brands in the sector, test equipment on the water and take part in demonstrations and short introductory wingfoil lessons. The brands also brought energy to the Circolo Surf Torbole stage with presentations and technical insights dedicated to new equipment.
After the race, taking advantage of the last light gusts of wind, there was also space for a short but spectacular wingfoil freestyle session. The main protagonists were the youngest riders, including several Under 15 athletes, who showed enthusiasm and creativity with jumps, rotations and tricks in front of the large crowd gathered on the beach.
The day then ended with one of the social moments accompanying the event, hosted in one of Torbole's specialist shops and dedicated to the community of enthusiasts, with a display of RRD boards, title sponsor of the One Hour Classic.
The feedback collected from exhibitors, athletes and visitors has been particularly positive. The Garda Trentino Foil Days format has brought brands and enthusiasts back directly onto the beach in Torbole, a symbolic location for wind sports and an international reference point for windsurfing, foil and wingfoil.
The Race: RRD One Hour Classic
From a sporting point of view, the third race of the RRD One Hour Classic was held in light wind conditions, rewarding tactics, precision and the ability to make the most of every available gust. The provisional rankings are calculated on the best individual performance achieved by each athlete across the three races held so far, a format that rewards not only outright speed, but also the ability to find one's best day during the event. In wingfoil, the provisional lead changed hands. Luca Franchi (Italy) moved into first place thanks to the best overall performance, completing 18 legs in 1:06:36. Behind him, Sebastiano Zorzi (Italy), first Under 20, completed 18 legs in 1:06:58, while Carlo Ciabatti (Italy), leader after the first two days, dropped to third after retiring from today's race, while still remaining on the provisional podium with 17 legs in 1:01:52. The first woman is Marleen Fritz, with 13 legs in 1:01:37.
In windsurf foil, the top two positions remain unchanged. Amado Vrieswijk keeps the lead with 19 legs in 1:00:10, despite being forced to retire from the third race due to a broken mast. Second place is held by Bruno Martini (Italy), with 19 legs in 1:00:44, who today raced instead in the fin windsurfing category. Third is Noah Vinther, who achieved his best performance of the event in today's race, with 19 legs in 1:00:58. The first Under 20 is Leonardo Tomasini (Italy), eleventh overall with 19 legs in 1:02:31, while the first woman is Katherine Tonge, with 15 legs in 1:02:52.
In fin windsurfing, world champion Matteo Iachino (Italy) remains in the lead with 15 legs in 1:01:26. Behind him are France's Kevin Grosjean, second with 14 legs in 1:05:29, and Israel's Arnon Dagan, third with 13 legs in 1:00:29, a result achieved in today's third race and useful to strengthen his position on the provisional podium. The first woman is Anna Biagiolini (Italy), with 11 legs in 1:02:23, while the first Under 20 is Luis Burkhart (Italy), ninth overall with 12 legs in 1:07:45.
Tomorrow the programme will conclude with the fourth and final race of the RRD One Hour Classic and the last day of the Expo Village, closing a first edition of the Garda Trentino Foil Days that has already brought Torbole back to the centre of the international water sports scene.