It was an amazing event and start for the European
tour sponsored by MINI. 92 registered riders from 22 nations was a new record for this
continental tour. Sunny, windy and temperatures around 27 degrees and the
combination of sportsevent, lifestyleshow and music and entertainmentfestival
made the event for a perfect weekend for both riders and the 119.000 spectators,
who were changing the shore of the lake into a huge beachclub. I enjoyed the atmosphere, but it wasn’t really
my event and everything that could go wrong went wrong.
The first day started with the single elimination in freestyle - 32 men and 18 women. The wind dropped in the afternoon and at 5 pm we started 2 races. Unfortunately I choose my kite too small as the wind dropped completely in the second race and almost 16 kiters were swimming home and just the 18 and 21m kites were lucky to reach the finishing line.
The second day started early for the freestylers with a skippersmeeting at 7.30 and it was pouring down, almost no visibility. Rain, rain, rain and no breeze until lunch. When the wind started the freestylers battled and we saw an impressive high level in the guys final between Mario Rodwald and Michael Schitzhofer, which Mario won. The wind was still on and I learnt my lesson yesterday and grabbed finally my 16 m kite for todays racing. I entangled in the starting line and struggled with the choppy water of the lake, but it went better than yesterday, but still too many mistakes happened and I was not too happy about my result. Alice Brunacci and Christine Bönninger presented theirselves in topform and I got really motivated by their level. With the guys the battle between Riccardo Leccese from Colombia and Julien Kerneur continued.
The third day started with racing and we entered the water with big kites again. The wind grew up, so the organizers switched back to the freestyle double elimination far outside in the middle of the lake with offshore and gusty wind very difficult conditions for the riders. In the women heats, Chiara Esposito from Italy made especially strong impressions in the final heat against Michalina Laskowska from Poland and won the first round in Podersdorf. Another closely watched heat of the day took place between Stefan Spiessberger and Mario Rodwald, who continues after his first place in the single. Mario won this close and fantastic heat during the sunset.
As there was not even a breeze, racing on Sunday was not possible anymore
and all riders joined the beachclubatmosphere- watched the amazing RED BULL
Airshow and the finishers of the 60km Stand up Paddle Marathon.
In racing discipline, the
colombian rider Laccesse won over this event. The french racers Julien Kerneur
and Maxime Nocher taking place two and three on podium finishes. For the women, Alice Brunacci from Italy was riding really constantly
throughout the whole competition. Christine Bönniger and Nuria Goma followed in
second and third.
