IFCA Slalom European Championships 2009 – Day 4

After three days with very strong wind conditions, the fourth day of the IFCA Slalom Youth & Master European Championships at Schönberger Strand was the day of the light wind experts.

With a wind speed of three to four beaufort the wind was always close to the limit. That caused a lot of breaks during the regatta. Nevertheless almost one complete slalom-elimination in the youth category could be completed. The first elimination of the masters slalom number nine was completed as well.

 

The fourth day began auspicious. In the morning the qualification heats of slalom eight in the youth fleet started with great conditions. Changing conditions leaded to a lot of interruptions. But the semi-finales could be completed during the day. At the end of the day the candidates for the Youth final had been detected: Maciek Rutkowski (POL-23, Starboard, Maui Sails), Teade de Jong (NED-777, Mistral, North Sails), William Alikiagalelei (FRA-540, AHD, Loft), Sebastian Bonhomme Allaire (FRA-511, AB, Challenger Sails), Sebastian Kördel (GER-220, Lorch, Neil Pryde), Jacek Piasecki (POL-013, Starboard, Neil Pryde), Paul Frick (FRA-385, Starboard, North Sails), Aubin Quernec (FRA-334, Fanatic, North Sails), Jocelyn De Souza (FRA-873, Lorch, Ka Sails) and Gutek Kurszewski (POL-75, Starboard, Maui Sails).

 

Tomorrows forecast, for the fifth event day, seems to be perfect. With five to six windforces there are exciting slalom-eliminations expected. The next days will show, whether Bernd Flessner (GER-16, F2, Neil Pryde) from Germany, who is at the top of the overall ranking, can continue his series of victory. Helge Wilkens (GER-63, F2, Neil Pryde) from Germany is close on his heels, followed by Thade Behrends (GER-94, Exocet) from Germany on position three. On the fourth position, Alexander Lehmann (GER-373, Fanatic, North) is ahead of the Italian surfer Luis Marchegger (ITA-6, JP, Gaastra).