Check out all the official press release from the 2023 Techno 293 European competition from Torbole, Lake Garda!
For Italy, the women’s Plus category title went to Angelina Medde from Cagliari; two medals for the Circolo Surf Torbole with the men’s Plus silver medal of Marco Guida Di Ronza and the women’s under-15 bronze medal of Gaia Bonezzi; tricolour bronze in the under-17s with Sardinians Teresa Medde and Riccardo Poledrini.
The Greeks won the under 13, under 15 M and under 19 M titles with Thiseas Nikolopoulos, Panagiotis Ioannou and Alexandros Kokkinakis respectively. Gold and Under 15 women’s title to Estonia’s Bertha Kivistik; Turkey’s Nurhayat Güven wins in the Under 17 category, while Spain’s Tor wins in the Under 17 men’s
After an intense week alternating between variable, even disturbed weather and almost winter-like temperatures, the Techno 293 European Championships, organised in collaboration with the International Class and the Italian Sailing Federation, concluded with a beautiful sunny day at the Circolo Surf Torbole on Garda Trentino. It was a joy to see so many young people (270 from 16 nations) competing, despite the absence of the Nordic nations, who gave up because they were unable to train during the winter. Important numbers especially among the under-13 and under-15s, and the confirmation of so many feisty young girls, who matched the numbers of the boys. The Techno class, before getting the youngsters off to a flying start with foils, is proving to be fundamental in preparing surfers for regattas and introducing the younger ones to the fantastic world of travelling, as well as racing. From the south to the north of Italy, as in Europe: massive participation from Greece, Turkey, but there were also teams from Estonia, Great Britain, and Hungary. The upper Lake Garda did not betray and despite the variable and at times turbulent week, the wind always allowed racing, thanks also to the prompt work of the two Race Committees, who chose to race every day from 12 noon onwards, given the rigid air and water temperatures. Ten races in total for the older U17 and Plus, nine for under 13 and under 15. On the last day, the southerly wind blew at 12-14 knots, allowing for three beautiful and entertaining planing races. Great satisfaction for Circolo Surf Torbole, which began the season of major sporting events with perhaps the class and category that is closest to its heart, representing the breeding ground of international windsurfing. And great satisfaction for the organising club itself, in seeing two of its athletes on the podium, confirming the great work always done among the very young.
Under 13: title to GREECE 0, Thiseas Nikolopoulos
Title awarded among the youngest considering the absolute ranking and therefore without distinction of gender. Important gaps between the first three: victory by 10 points for the Greek Nikolopoulos, protagonist on the last day of two firsts and a second; silver for the Turkish Sarli and bronze for the other Greek Orestis Nikolaos Palamidis. First Italian Francesco Casano, fifth. Turkish Kabasalak was awarded first female, Italian Marta Clemente second. The Under 13s with 5.0 sails were also awarded: first the Turkish Nil Erdamar and among the males the Hungarian Flórián Kàtai.
Under 15 F: title to ESTONIA 209, Bertha Kivistik; bronze ITA 40 Gaia Bonezzi
Estonia’s Bertha Kivistik won by just one point ahead of a combative Danai Anagnostou, Greece; splendid bronze medal for Circolo Surf Torbole’s Gaia Bonezzi, penalised by an early start in the first race of the last day, which she handled with grit, redeeming herself with a fourth and a well-deserved first in the final race.
Under 15 M: Title to GREECE 23, Panagiotis Ioannou
Greece almost took the under 15 men’s podium with gold and bronze medals respectively from Ioannou and Giannakoloulos; second was Germany’s Moritz Schleicher. A pity for Italian Luca Pacchiotti, who lost his way a little in the last two races (17-15), thus failing to reach the podium, but still finishing an excellent fourth. A good sixth place for Circolo Surf Torbole athlete Andrea Totaro.
Under 17 F: title to TURKEY 1030, Nurhayat Güven; bronze ITA 347 Teresa Medde
A regular championship performance for Turkey’s Nurhayat Güven, crowned European champion, while there was only a two-point gap between the Czech silver medal won by Alexandra Lojinova and the bronze medal won by Teresa Medde from Cagliari, Italy. 1-3-2 the final day’s partials for the Italian.
Under 17 M: ESPANA 49 title for Bruno Barbara Tor; ITA 228 bronze for Riccardo Poledrini
The Spaniard Tor dominated from day one: a well-deserved title won by almost 20 points over the Greek Koutelas; Sardinian Riccardo Poledrini managed to take bronze, albeit by just one point.
Plus U19 F: Title to ITA 160, Angelina Medde
For Italy, the only title won in this European Championship thanks to a decidedly high performance Angelina Medde with 5 firsts and 5 seconds in the 10 races held. Behind her were Poland’s Linda Falkiewicz and Estonia’s Liisbeth Orav.
Plus U19 M: title to GREECE 19, Alexandros Kokkinakis; silver ITA 3 Marco Guida di Ronza (Circolo Surf Torbole)
Once again Greece took the title among the men’s U19 plus with Kokkinakis taking gold with 5 points ahead of the Italian Marco Guida Di Ronza, who managed to beat Cypriot Charalambous, third, by just one point.
Also racing in the Techno 293 Plus Open category, with no continental title awarded, reserved for under-19s only: victory for Italy’s Veronica Poledrini and Estonia’s Kaur Säärits.
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