EFPT Podersdorf 2007

EFPT Podersdorf 2007
When:	26-30 April
Where:	Podersdorf, Austria
Winners
1st:	Nicolas Akgazcyan (Gun Sails)
2nd:	Normen Gunzlein (JP/Neil Pryde)
3rd:	Andre Paskowski (F2/North)

Report by: Louise Emery

This is a huge social event in Austria falling over the Bank Holiday weekend. Having wind and therefore competition is the icing on the cake but not essential as thousands of Austrians party on down with the pro windsurfers. Certainly this year the wind was fickle; blowing old boots until the judges called a heat start and then it would die away as quickly as it came. But the organisers did manage to get a round done over two days and produce another result at the second event on the EFPT Tour.

Kevin goes one-footed off the stunt ramp

Wily Skipping legend Nicolas Akgazcyan

Normen Gunzlein

Andre Paskowski

DAY 4 of 5

Finally, after several days of partying, the Pros had to go to work. Well, not quite yet as the gusty wind meant competition was on hold until the afternoon. However there was ONE monster jump ramp out in the bay which was just the thing to get you warmed up. First up the ramp (by choice) was Kevin Mevissen. Never one to miss an opportunity to please the crowds, Kevin pulled out one-footed forwards and then went for a double. He nearly landed it which would have been the first double landed off a 'outside' ramp at an event. But by three O'clock the gusty wind settled enough for serious play to begin.

The wind really did play havoc with sailors kit choice. No matter what you rigged for your heat, the wind would change one way or the other leaving you underpowered or overpowered. It was funny then that the local hotshots who had been given wild cards into this event always seemed to be just perfectly powered up leaving the visitng Pros struggling to gauge the wind strength. This situation saw some surprise results; young local Max Matissek beating EFPT regular Ruben Petrisie and then Italian Matteo Guazzoni. Overall seven heats had to be cancelled and re-run which leads to a lot of sailor frustration. By late afternoon it all got to much and with only six sailors left in, the Race Director decided to call it a day and resume in the morning when the cleaner wind would hopefully return.

Six to Go

So Nicolas Akgaczyan, Michael Rossmeier, Norman Gunzlein, Remko de Weerd and Andre Paskowski had an early start with a 8am Skippers meeting. The wind was better but the sailors still had to rig their biggest sails and fattest boards. Underpowered moves like wily skipper variations were the order of the day and it was Nicolas & Normen who made it to the final with the Frenchman winning his first EFPT Event. Andre Paskowksi beat Michael Rossmeier into third.

RESULTS

1. Nicolas Akgazcyan (Gun Sails)

2. Normen Gunzlein (JP/Neil Pryde)

3. Andre Paskowski (F2/North)
4. Michael Rossmeier (Exocet/The Loft)

Joint 5th: Remko de Weerd (Fanatic/Gaastra), Kevin Mevissen (JP/Neil Pryde), Andrea Rosati (RRD, Neil Pryde) & Michael Sumereder

NEXT STOP: The EFPT Tour goes to Milos in Greece 25-28 May.

Report by, Louise Emery . Photos courtesy of EFPT.





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