Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing and Bodyboarding News Center. Breaking News, Surfing Games, Surf Movies, Board Size Charts, Surf Videos, Wind and Wave Forecasts, Surf Shop, Surf Spots, Surf Cams, Surf Travel.
Shabar Zubari and Marina Alabau conquer the 2009 RS:X European Championships in Tel Aviv
Monday, 22 June 2009 10:31

Shahar Zubari

Israel's Shahar ZUBARI and Marina ALABAU of Spain are the 2009 RS:X European Champions, claiming the titles following today's Medal Races in Tel Aviv.
The women’s Medal Race was held first and it turned out to be a sweet victory for Marina ALABAU (ESP). European Champion in 2007 and 2008, she now adds the 2009 RS:X European Championship title to her impressive list of successes. By finishing second in the Medal Race, she has demonstrated that she is the dominant force in the Women's RS:X fleet. No other woman can live with her, except perhaps...

Her team mate. Blanca MANCHON (ESP) ran out of power on the last day. She topped the leaderboard for the whole of the championship. However, she scored a DNF in the first race of the day yesterday suffering from heat stroke. She dug deep. Took on the 10th race in the series (the second of yesterday's races) and came third. All she had to do today was finish in the top five.

Sadly, it was not to be. She spent the morning in hospital, hooked up to a glucose drip. She was so dehydrated that the doctors told her not to race.

Nevertheless, like a true champion, she dragged herself down to Tel Aviv Marina rigged up and went racing. She just had to finish to secure second place overall. This she did... a great achievement although the silver medal will be difficult to take after dominating throughout the week.

Bryony SHAW (GBR) hung onto the third place overall that she reclaimed yesterday. Finishing seventh in the Medal Race was just enough to secure her a podium position. That makes it bronze in Qingdao and now bronze in Tel Aviv for the Brit. Come September and the RS:X World Championship in Weymouth, she will be determined to go at least one better. To do that she will have to mix it with the Spanish duo. It's a big ask...

Disappointment must also be the sentiment felt by Maayan DAVIDOVICH (ISR). Fourth overall before the Medal Race and no doubt hoping to go one better on her home waters.

She threw it away yesterday in race 10 and then failed to make an impression today, finishing ninth. Final result seventh overall ... behind the Italian pair of Laura LINARES (ITA) and Flavia TARTAGLINI (ITA).

In the men’s Medal Race, Shahar ZUBARI (ISR) never looked threatened; Always looked in control; never got flustered or excited; although admittedly the conditions were ideal for him with 5-12 knots all week. He is almost unbeatable at this level and on this water. Gold at the 2009 RS:X European Championships was almost a formality here in Tel Aviv. Or that's how it looked from the outside. No doubt, he suffers from some angst and anxiety but he never shows it. Silver in Tel Aviv is added to the bronze medal he won in Qingdao at the Beijing Olympic Games.

But for an uncharacteristically poor set of results on day four (10, 10), Julien BONTEMPS (FRA) would have been in a position to threaten ZUBARI more seriously. As it was, he was left defending his position from Ivan PASTOR (ESP).

PASTOR faded in race 10 putting in a 16th and then compounded the error by not putting in a good Medal Race result. BONTEMPS was let off the hook when he could have been made to struggle and sweat.

João RODRIGUES (POR) looked as though he might be a threat with flashes of brilliance but never really put a series together that demanded attention.

Next stop Weymouth... the RS:X World Championships will be raced on the waters set to host the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition. 


SOURCE: ISAF


 

Join our surfing community in Facebook!   Get the top news stories in your Twitter account!   SurferToday.com on Google +   Follow us on Pinterest   SurferToday on Youtube

Check the Wind Forecast for your surfing region
The best anemometers in the world
The Beaufort Wind Force Scale
Wave Height Forecast
The best windsurfing spots in the world
How to make your own windsurfing sail
The best official windsurfing classes
Board & Sail Size Chart
The best freestyle windsurfing moves
The best surf watches in the world

SURFING

Jordy Smith wins the Billabong Rio Pro 2013
19/05/2013
article thumbnail

Jordy Smith has conquered the Billabong Pro Rio 2013, in clean two-to-four foot (1 meter) waves, at the primary site of Barra da Tijuca, in front of thousands of surf fans.
The best ocean conditions of the entire Billabong Pro Rio 2013 came in the finals' day, with Jordy Smith beating Adriano de Souza in the last heat of the last day of the event waiting period. Win it or break it. Adriano de Souza and Jordy Smith were up and riding with different trumps under their belts. The Brazilian w [ ... ]


Guinness confirms Shawn Dollar's 61-foot paddle-in wave record
19/05/2013
article thumbnail

The Guinness World Records have officially certified Shawn Dollar's 61-foot wave, at the Cortes Bank, off the coast of California, as a new paddle-in world record.
The 30-year-old resident of Santa Cruz, California, caught the superlative wave on December 21, 2012 during a terrifying session at the Cortes Bank, a notorious offshore hazard to shipping located over 100 miles west of San Diego in international waters. A panel of experts measured the wave at 61 feet on the face. Dollar caught th [ ... ]


+ Surfing News

KITEBOARDING

Kitesurfing in India kicks off with the Red Bull Quila Surf
20/05/2013
article thumbnail

The first kitesurfing competition will hit India, between 23rd-25th May, at Mandwa. The Red Bull Quila Surf will showcase 70 Indian kitesurfers in the water.
The costal district of Raigad is ready for action. The Red Bull Quila Surf is the first ever kitesurfing competition in the country and anxiety grows. Ines Correia, the 2011 Kite Surf Pro (KSP) World Tour champion from Portugal, has been invited to judge the riders based on speed, maneuverability and attitude.


"Death loop" kills kitesurfer in Quebec
14/05/2013
article thumbnail

A 32-year-old kitesurfer has passed away when he was sailing on the Lake of Two Mountains, in Quebec, Canada.
Julien Blanchard was enjoying a kitesurfing session in the part of the river delta widening of the Ottawa River, in Quebec, when he suffered what is commonly called the "death loop". The rider was dragged to his death on the lake, after fell and being kept underwater by his kite for about 20 minutes.


+ Kitesurfing News

WINDSURFING

Taty Frans and Kiri Thode blast the Curacao Challenge 2013
17/05/2013
article thumbnail

Taty Frans and Kiri Thode have claimed the Slalom and Freestyle titles at the Curacao Challenge 2013, in the Netherlands Antilles.
A total of 85 windsurfers from some of the world's best sailing countries like Bonaire, Aruba and Curacao competed in front of hundreds of spectators. The 5th edition of the Curacao Challenge showcased an high level of competition mixed with a great atmosphere. The event held a Tow-In Freestyle contest, Slalom races and a SUP battle.


The windsurfing book for young people
14/05/2013
article thumbnail

"Go Windsurfing!" is a windsurfing book for young people published by the Royal Yachting Association.
Written and illustrated by Claudia Myatt, "RYA Go Windsurfing!" offers easy reading style and engaging content to children aged between 7-12 years old. The entertaining and clear format takes the reader from the beginnings through to starting to race and what they need to know to stay safe while out windsurfing. There is also an informative section at the back which explores Windsurfing amaz [ ... ]


+ Windsurfing News

BODYBOARDING

Dan Ryan air drops into vertical Teahupoo
15/05/2013
article thumbnail

Dan Ryan has scored epic air drops into deep barrels, in Teahupoo, Tahiti, during the largest swell of the year.
The adrenaline-fueled 13th May 2013 has been considered an historical big wave surfing day, in the French Polynesian island. Too big to paddle-in, too vertical for surfers. No worries. Dan Ryan, member of the big wave bodyboarding club, was one of the few prone riders defying fear, at the Teahupoo bowl. When the moment came, he went for it, big time.


World's best tube riders fly to El Gringo
14/05/2013
article thumbnail

The 2013 IBA GoPro Arica Chilean Challenge kicks off on the 17th May, in Arica, Chile, at the infamous El Gringo bodyboarding spot.
The third stop of the 2013 IBA World Tour is a Grand Slam Series events, which means there's a lot at stake. With $40,000 in prize money and 2000 points for the winner, Chile is a must. Moreover, the Arica Chilean Challenge is celebrating its 10th anniversary and all riders will be trying to claim the trophy, in front of thousands of hardcore bodyboarding fans.  [ ... ]


+ Bodyboarding News