EFPT 9th. place at European Tow-in
Qualification rounds: the Tow-in was a big spectacle every night, every rider in and out of Europe got two runs to put there best performance down. Only the best 3 of each could get their spot into the final. For the final top 10 there was a special place reserved for the very best 4th. position. Actually I never had the chance to practice Tow-in and I knew everybody had a good practice during the lack of wind at several Worldcups or European championships last year. A number of riders have been training this quite a lot during there winter training. I analyzed the previous rounds what to do and what defiantly not to do. Because with tow-in the wind is coming from whole different direction. During the qualification rounds I first went for a save Airfunnel. My plan was making a double rotation but this didn’t worked out yet. The rounds after my first jump every body was getting wild and the level of each rider went trough the roof. I knew I had to step my game for my second run run to qualify myself for the final. So I did. The jet ski was going super fast, the tears where in my eyes and when approaching the jump area I could launch myself in a good Burner 540. The EFPT stated: “The lucky loser, who will join the nine riders of the three qualification runs will be Dutch sailor Maarten Van Ochten, who’s burner scored 28 points and therefor kicked Tonky Frans out of that last place..
The fleet for tonight’s final will be: Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP/Neilpryde), Maarten Van Ochten (JP/Neilpryde), Julien Mas, Nicolas Akgazciyan (Starboard), Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard), Gollito Estredo (North/Fanatic), Max Matissek (North/Fanatic), Kiri Thode (Starboard), Björn Saragoza (Starboard) and Taty Frans (Starboard). We are expecting an incredible final, which will start at 8.30 pm (Austrian time), like every evening” Yesterday night, the Chiemsee European Tow In Championship went into it’s last round. As the crowds filled the beaches, the ten qualified riders made their way to the launch area. It wasn’t long before Maarten Van Ochten opened the finals, with his first move. The atmosphere was electric and never before has such a large number of people been seen at a tow-in event. Everybody was expecting a lot of the sailors who made it into the final and their high expectations were fulfilled in every kind of way as the riders showed high air moves and powerful combinations that had never been seen before. EFPT: “in 9th place, the Dutchmen, Maarten Van Ochten (JP/Neilpryde) scored 22,75 points for a really nice burner. Maarten told us that it was the second time he had ever tried tow in. Well done”! 1st place and therefor the first European Tow-In Champion EVER is current Freestyle World Champion Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP/Neilpryde) who scored 37 points for the most perfect triple funnel with a sail duck at the end. Coming into the spotlight at full speed, Steven popped his board out of the water three times in a row, like a stone skimming the surface. He was extremely close to the judging platform, the spectators loved it, and showed their appreciation with huge applause. I’m glad taking 9th. place overall in the open European Champions Ships Tow-in 2012! Big congratulations to my teammate Steven van Broeckhoven who won the title.
Photos: John Carter / EFPT
