TEASER!
We kick off with freestyle, it’s the warmer upper so to speak, the opening set of the night, like a band slowly working up the crowd. Girls first with two runs apiece and then the men with the likes of Max Matissek crashing out of the pool and saluting the audience as the atmosphere builds with each move. Both Gollito Estredo and Steven Van Broeckhoven failed to qualify allowing French sailor Nicolas Akgazciyan to be the star of the show and judging by his reactions when he pulls his moves, he is hungry and he wants this win. The Frenchman punches the water as he nails each move and the crowd erupt for the first time of the night. I had spoken to him in the dressing room just before the show and he was so fired up not just to win but to also do it in style. The freestyle is over in twenty minutes or so as the fans shut down and we move straight over to the main stage for the prize giving. It is now time to celebrate as Akgazciyan brandishes the tricolour as he charges up onto the podium, this is his moment and he is determined to milk it all the way. Once again it’s a slick show filmed all live on TV by multiple cameras all over the stadium. Word is also out that the commentary is much better tonight so it looks like this show is the real deal at last!