What an upset for all who were on the beach this afternoon in Sotavento, Fuerteventura while watching the men’s freestyle double elimination final heat between Australian rider Andy Yates (Slingshot, AUS) and Kevin Langeree (Naish, NED).

Langeree was dominating the final heat, but in an attempt to execute a blind judge in gusty, unpredictable 35-40 knots winds, he landed on the chop causing him to twist his knee out of position.

Race director Erik Troostheide was quick to react when he seen Langeree waving his arm in the air, which clearly indicated that he was injured. A jet ski watercraft was there in a few seconds to assist Langeree who had released himself from his kite.

The jet ski attendant could not lift Langeree onto the watercraft therefore slowly towed him to the shore where medical personnel where eagerly waiting to assess the situation. Langeree was transported by truck to the medical facility on the beach where local physician, nurses as well as orthopedic doctor and fellow kiteboarding race competitor Hans Moeller assessed Langeree’s injured knee. Langeree was carried back on to the beach where the podium was set in place for the freestyle double eliminations. While being held above the number two position Langeree announced with a upsetting crack in his voice, “this is the worst thing that could have ever happen to me. I hope the injury isn’t as bad as I think it is. I’m going to fly back home to Holland, heal and be back on the tour competing as soon as possible!” Fans cheered and clapped for Langeree’s good spirit, sportsmanship and charismatic charm. The exact extent of Langeree’s diagnosis in unclear at the present time but he is expected to have a full recovery.

Due to the upset in the men’s final, Andy Yates (Slingshot, AUS) takes first place in the double eliminations while Kevin Langeree (Naish, NED) takes second. It is the second event title for Yates this tour season. Yates defeated Alex Pastor (Airush, ESP) due to his overall better execution of tricks in a 3/2 judges decision. Pastor takes third place in the double elimination.

In the women’s freestyle division, it was a great day for Polish rider Karolina Winkowska (Slingshot, POL). Winkowska defeated Angela Peral (North, ESP) as well as Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP) in the semi final due to her powered switch blind judge 3 and better kite position. Pulido finishes the double eliminations in third place. Winkowska went on to the final against single elimination winner Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA). Kajiya defeated Winkowska in a 5/0 judge’s decision due to more powered tricks such as a front mobe, blind judge 3 and better kite position.

A total of three races were completed today. In the first race of the day Rolf Van Der Vlugt (Airush, NED) managed to use a great technique to overtake Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA) who was in the lead. Van Der Vlugt finished first in the first race of the day as well as second in the following two races. Kerneur took second place in the first race of the day followed by first place in the second race. Olivier Dansin (North, FRA) managed to take advantage of Van Der Vlugt’s small mistake in the last race of the day landing him in first place. There was also a fight at the finish line in the second race of the day as Bruno Sroka (Cabrinha, FRA) and Olivier Dansin (North, FRA) were neck-to-neck. Dansin wins but only by inches.

In the women’s racing division, Steph Bridge (North, GBR) dominated every race today finishing in first place. Katja Roose (Airush, NED) managed to finish second in the first race however German rider Kristin Boese (Best, GER) took second in the following two races. Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA) finished third in the first race of the day but Roose managed to take the second place position in the following two races.

Today marked the first day of the Sky Masters discipline, which turned out to be a great turnout. An electronic device known as the Shadow Box was attached to each competitor’s board to measure the exact height of each big air jump. Fuerteventura is by way one of the best places in the world to test this new potential discipline due to its fierce wind conditions. Tom Hebert (Airush, NCL) dominated with a record jump of 41.6 feet =12.68 meters, Florian Dabous (Naish, FRA) followed in second place with a height of 39.3 feet = 11.97 meters and Sebastien Garat (RRD, FRA) took third place with a height of 38.3 feet = 11.67. Holly Kennedy dominated in the women’s division with a record height of 29.2 feet = 8.9 meters, Kristin Boese (Best, GER) followed extremely closely behind in second place with a height of 29.1 feet = 8.86 meters, Angela Peral (North, ESP) took third place with a height of 28.2 feet = 8.59 meters.

Tomorrow’s skippers meeting is scheduled for 10:00am with a first possible start of 10:30am for racing.

RACING RESULTS

MEN RACE #7

1. Rolf Van Der Vlugt (Airush, NED)

2. Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA)
3. Olivier Dansin (North, FRA)
4. Dirk Hanel (North, GER)

MEN RACE #8

1. Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA)
2. Rolf Van Der Vlugt (Airush, NED)
3. Sky Solbach (North, USA)
4. Olivier Dansin (North, FRA)

MEN RACE #9

1. Olivier Dansin (North, FRA)
2. Rolf Van Der Vlugt (Airush, NED)
3. Bruno Sroka (Cabrinha, FRA)
4. Blazej Ozog (North, POL)

WOMEN RACE #7

1. Steph Bridge (North, GBR)
2. Katja Roose (Airush, NED)
3. Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA)
4. Kari Schibevaag (Ozone, NOR)

WOMEN RACE #8

1. Steph Bridge (North, GBR)
2. Kristin Boese (Best, GER)
3. Katja Roose (Airush, NED)
4. Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA)

WOMEN RACE #9

1. Steph Bridge (North, GBR)
2. Kristin Boese (Best, GER)
3. Katja Roose (Airush, NED)
4. Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA)

SOURCE: PKRA