Big Thursday At The 2016 European Freestyle Pro Tour Season Finale in Brouwersdam

 A day that will be lodged in the memories of many for years to come. The action got off to a bitterly cold but high octane start as freestyle windsurfing’s elite men and women took to the water soon after dawn and didn’t stop until shortly before dusk.

Tactical Start

With a selection of heats out the way on Wednesday it was time for the remaining part of both fleets to take to the water. With fluctuating winds in the early hours it was as much a tactical game of what equipment size to choose as it was the technical ability to manage that gear selection through explosive and diverse moves.

It was not only an advance up the results table that rewarded those who managed to master both of the above, but also improving winds and warmer temperatures. The combination of which allowed even more crowd pleasing moves as the top guys and girls exploded further and further into the air with even more contorted variations that had been witnessed earlier on in the morning.

No Losers Here

For those unfortunate enough to see an early exit it was not all doom and gloom as a gathering crowd gave the riders a warming return to the beach and for many a hot shower and a coffee from the Zeil- & Surfcentrum lifted any negative spirits fast.

Groms Get the Good Life

About halfway through the first round of competition (the Single Elimination) a huge group of school kids arrived right on time to soak up the final heats and the atmosphere. They were greeted with mesmerising moves on the water and mixing with the pros that were back on dry land. Appearing encouraged by so many people in the water the kids were quick to join them down the infamous Water Jump, a huge waterslide that launches those who take it on up to 5m in the air!

After a warming shower and a hot chocolate it was straight to the stage where the kids were lucky enough to receive a poster each and have it signed by the best freestyle windsurfers in Europe. Not a bad day out for these future little surfers.

Locals Rule

As the crowds built on the shoreline it became quite apparent that the finals were about to take place, it seemed that it was to be a local showdown, Steven Van Broeckhoven (World Champion and multiple times European Champion) was to face Dieter Van Der Eyken (also World Champion). A pure example of what kind of windsurfers Brouwersdam is able to generate.

Amongst the ladies it was a similar affair as local sailor Maaike Huvermann (Vice World Champion 2016 ) was able to step up to the plate to take on the most successful female freestyler of all time, Sarah-Quita Offringa from Aruba. Sadly for Huvermann, Offringa was not about to let her run of never losing a heat be disrupted now and the local Dutch lady would have to settle for second, whilst Offringa displayed pure class and talent to take the top spot.

Back with the men and the two finalist fought a fierce fight, with the lead going from one to the other throughout, eventually it was to be Van Broeckhoven who began to establish a lead and he didn’t look back from there. His explosive style and world renowned pop saw him quite literally bouncing his way to victory.

Second Chance for All

However, it’s not all over, windsurfings second round of competition (known as the double elimination) offers all the riders a second chance to fight back up the ranks. This double elimination got straight underway as soon as the single elimination was finished and those who had seen that early exit were back in their wetsuits and straight on to the water.

Wave Style Moves on Flat Water!

 With the double elimination came the strongest wind of the day, 25 knots across the heat area all afternoon allowed for a dynamic display of the latest flat-water freestyle moves and even a handful of ‘wave’ style moves were witnessed. Highlights came in the form of backloops from Taty Frans (Bonaire), air kabikuchis (an aerial manoeuvre that sees the rider re-directing the rotation in mid-air, you have to see it) and the shifty stuck by Van Broeckhoven in the final.

Italian Comeback

As the competition engine powered on the competitors had the opportunity to sail plenty of heats and watch as those fighting for the podium were finally revealed. Perhaps one of the standout competitors this year and of this double elimination had to be Jacopo Testa (Italy), who pieces his heat together in a way others don’t. His selection of moves alone already appears to break the norm, then there is the fact that he totally stomps these moves that make him a feared rival for any of his fellow competitors. Such tactics allowed him to stop a charging Taty Frans and then to destroy the hopes of Sam Esteve (France) and Dieter van Der Eyken (Belgium) to find himself facing Van Broeckhoven in the final.

 King of Pop

 Drones took to the air, cameras lined the shores and the atmosphere in the crowd became electric as the two finalists cruised out to the heat area. The next 7 minutes of action was by far and away the best we had seen all day. It seemed the riders spent as much time in the air as they did out of it. The move names may have had the crowds confused the but the action was clear to see and once again it was a close fight but the moment Van Broeckhoven landed a perfect shifty (one of the hardest moves in freestyle windsurfing right now and highly well respected by the riders themselves) was the moment he began to take the lead. From there it was to be the end of Testa’s run and Van Broeckhoven sealed the deal that no one would beat him on his home turf.

 Girls Fight Back

 Meanwhile the girls had plenty of intense battles of their own, a strong performance was seen in the early rounds as Hanna Poschinger (Austria), who is new to international competition, managed to advance past 4 competitors to finish 5th. However, it was the battle for 2nd and 3rd that got the attention of the local crowd as Maaike Huvermann (Holland) was to face a charging Arrianne Aukes (Holland). Aukes, put on a great show as she laid down a solid repertoire of moves on both tacks, including some moves often seen in the mens fleet, to make her way into the final and to 2nd place.

 It was Offringa who once again stole the show, much to the disappointment of her competitors, as she showed excellent form and a level that many from the mens side of the discipline are often heard discussing (in fear). It is no wonder her second victory of the day was met with so much admiration as she continues to inspire both men and women of all ages across the sport.

 See it for Yourself – Live

 With many expecting this to be the end to the windsurfing side of the competition it was a surprise to hear that a whole new round of competition will commence at 08:00am tomorrow. The conditions here at the Zeil- & Surfcentrum appear to want more of this mind-blowing action as much as the riders, judges and spectators do. Witness it for yourself by getting down to the shores of Brouwersdam tomorrow morning. It’s going to go off…

Current Ranking Men

1. Steven van Broeckhoven (Belgium)
2. Jacopo Testa (Italy)
3. Dieter van der Eyken (Belgium )

Current Ranking Women
1. Sarah Quita-Offringa (Aruba )
2. Arrianne Aukes (Holland)
3. Maaike Huvermann (Holland