Chiemsee European Tow In Championship - The Finals

Yesterday night, the Chiemsee European Tow In Championship went into it's last round. As the crowds filled the beaches, the ten qualified riders made their way to the launch area. It wasn't long before Maarten Van Ochten opened the finals, with his first move. The atmosphere was electric and never before has such a large number of people been seen at a tow-in event. Everybody was expecting a lot of the sailors who made it into the final and their high expectations were fulfilled in every kind of way as the riders showed high air moves and powerful combinations that had never been seen before. 

Julien Mas, who ended up in 10th position couldn't quite show what he was able to do yesterday and therefor only scored 15,5 points for a bob into bob attempt. 

In 9th place, the Dutchmen, Maarten Van Ochten (JP/Neilpryde) scored 22,75 points for a really nice burner. Maarten told us that it was the second time he had ever tried tow in. Well done! 

8th place went to Belgium's Dieter Van deer Eyken (26,25 points) who landed a very clean burner and tried a switch kono on his second run.

Nicolas Akgazciyan (Starboard), from France, impressed in last year's EFE tow in video managed to land a burner funnel, taking 7th place with 26,5 points.

In 6th place, Max Matissek (North/Fanatic) who was representing Austria went into his run with the whole crowd behind him. After he crashed in his first run, he showed the perfect funnel into funnel which brought him 27,25 points. Adam Sims who was doing the live ticker yesterday said that: "This was one of the best I saw at this event!" 

Ending up in 5th place, scoring with the same move as Max, was Taty Frans from Bonaire (Starboard). He beat the Austrian with only 0,25 points more, due to his technical doable at the end of the move..

Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard) who just missed out on the podium ended up in 4th place with a really clean air funnel into air funnel. 28,5 points for the rider from Bonaire.

No big surprises for the top 3:

3rd place Kiri Thode (Starboard) from Bonaire, scoring 29,75 points for a double funnel pirouette, which the crowd loved big time.

2nd place with two incredible runs: 4 times freestyle world champion Gollito Estredo (North/Fanatic) from Venezuela. When he was towed the first time he landed the move that only he can do: air-burner 900. Super clean and with a lot of style. It was his second run that counted though, the Venezuelan stuck a move that hadn't been seen before: a perfect funnel into burner! 34,25 points came from the judges.

1st place and therefor the first European Tow-In Champion EVER is current Freestyle World Champion Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP/Neilpryde) who scored 37 points for the most perfect triple funnel with a sail duck at the end. Coming into the spotlight at full speed, Steven popped his board out of the water three times in a row, like a stone skimming the surface. He was extremely close to the judging platform, the spectators loved it, and showed their appreciation with huge applause. 

The prize giving was held straight after this amazing show, on the stage in front of the massive crowd. The representatives of the brand CHIEMSEE, who made this whole event happen, handed over the trophy and also the prize money for the new European Tow Windsurfing Champion. After an absolutely fantastic event, Tobias Blick from Chiemsee headquarters Germany announced to fund the tow in European championship again next year! 

Thanks to the main sponsor Chiemsee and the German Surf Magazin, who also supported this event. See you in 2013!

 

Pics by Martin Reiter