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.
Nick Dempsey and Marina Alabau conquer the 2009 RS:X World Championships
Friday, 11 September 2009 20:27

Nick Dempsey 

Marina Alabau (ESP) adds the World gold to the European crown she won at Tel Aviv in June, while Nick Dempsey’s (GBR) victory helps sweeten the bitter disappointment of missing out on an Olympic podium spot in Beijing a year ago, and sees him become the first Brit to win an Olympic Class windsurfing world title in 18 years.

The women’s Medal Race was the first to get underway in ideal conditions at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on Thursday, with Alabau enjoying a 12 point buffer over her teammate Blanca Manchon (ESP) in silver heading into the final showdown.

Alabau remained in control, just as she has throughout the regatta, with a sixth place in the medal race more than enough to hand her gold, while Manchon finished fourth in the final 10-board race to make it a Spanish one-two in the women’s fleet.

“I’m super, super happy,” Alabau said.

“It was not such an easy week – I had to focus hard on the beginning of the week as I knew it would be more windy then which I had trained for so I had to do well early on.

“In the end I had a few points for the medal race, so I could have a really relaxed medal race and it was good. I’m very happy to have the gold, and silver too for Spain so my coach is very happy!”

Charline Picon (FRA) completed the podium spots with a bronze for France, while Bryony Shaw (GBR) ended a disappointing world title challenge on a high, clinching the Medal Race win to boost her overall standing to sixth – a best ever World Championship finish for the Skandia Team GBR sailor.

Dempsey, the 2004 Athens bronze medallist, led the men’s fleet heading into their Medal Race on Thursday, needing only to finish two places ahead of Israel’s Nimrod Mashiah to claim his first ever World Championship crown.

In the end, the Skandia Team GBR sailor forced his opponent onto the back foot and into a rule infringement at the start, and while Mashiah was taking penalty turns, Dempsey got a flying start.

He led the Medal Race from start to finish to seal victory in emphatic style, watched by a large contingent of family and friends, including his double Olympic gold medal-winning wife Sarah [nee Sarah Ayton], out in Portland Harbour.

“It’s just awesome,” said an elated Dempsey.

“I was a broken man after Beijing – to go into the medal race there joint first and then to come fourth was just heartbreaking.

“This year is what it was all about for me – my whole focus has been on this week. I’ve always wanted to be world champion so this is probably the pinnacle of my career, and I’m certainly sailing better than I ever have.

“It’s funny because although we live here and train here, we rarely actually race here so you never really know how good you are so to win here at the 2012 venue at such a big event is just amazing.”

A seventh place in the Medal Race was enough for Mashiah to keep hold of the silver medal position with The Netherlands’ Dorian Van Rijsselberge claiming bronze.

Thursday’s Medal Races draw to a close a successful RYA-run, UK Sport-supported RS:X World Championships.

“I’m really pleased with how the event has gone,” said RYA Event Director David Campbell-James.

“The RS:X class has been a joy to work with and have been really forward thinking in terms of the media and presentational aspects at the event. The race teams on the water have done a really great job as well, so all credit to them and the numerous staff and volunteers who’ve made the event a success.”  


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

Things you didn't know about surfing
23/05/2013
article thumbnail

The history of surfing is very rich. There are multiple facts and figures surrounding the evolution of wave riding, through time. Some are strange, others are deeply bizarre.
From the innovative surf gear to maritime science, surfing has been collecting stories, records and achievements. Did you know that... 1. The Hawaiian Islands are the most isolated archipelago on planet earth.
2. The windiest surf city in the world is Wellington, capital of New Zealand.
3. The tallest tsunami ever record [ ... ]


The surf earplugs that allow you to hear
22/05/2013
article thumbnail

The new Seals Balance Pro by EQ earplugs allow surfers to protect their ears and hear everything when wearing them.
When spring and summer start, everyone surfs more often. Also, all-year round surfers are more exposed to severe ear injuries, such as the surfer's ear (Exostosis) and swimmer's ear (Otitis). This problem can be developed after 3000 hours of cold water surfing. Neoprene hoodies and ear plugs are the best way to avoid surgery.


+ Surfing News

KITEBOARDING

"Kite Surfer" is the new wind riding game for iOS
22/05/2013
article thumbnail

"Kite Surfer" is the latest kitesurfing game for iPhone and iPad.
Lemondo Entertainment has announced the release of its newest game, "Kite Surfer", an arcade kitesurfing game designed for both iPhone and iPad. "Kite Surfer" is an endless running game, in which players take control of a character by swiping on the display or tilting a mobile device.


Pudla Narapichit hailed Kiteboard Tour Asia 2012/2013 champion
21/05/2013
article thumbnail

Pudla Narapichit and Doque Delos Santos have been crowned the Kiteboard Tour Asia 2012/2013 champions.
With 120 riders from 30 countries, the final and decisive Chinese stage once again broke all records, at Pingtan Island, also known as Haitan Island. The spot is regarded as China's windiest location - regular wind speeds of over 30 knots are recorded over the winter monsoon season and all of the island's old traditional style stone houses need to have rocks placed on top of their tiled roo [ ... ]


+ Kitesurfing News

WINDSURFING

Dieter van der Eyken dominates the 2013 Belgian Wave Windsurfing season
23/05/2013
article thumbnail

Dieter van der Eyken is one step closer of being crowned the 2013 Belgian Wave Windsurfing champion.
Bredene, in the Belgian province of West Flanders, held an intense weekend of wave windsurfing action. On Friday, all sailors completed the single elimination of the competition, despite the medium size waves and light winds.


Delphine Cousin stands out in the 2013 French Windsurfing Championship
23/05/2013
article thumbnail

Delphine Cousin is shining a light in the 2013 French Windsurfing Championship, with a victory in the second stage, held in Brest.
Despite the difficult conditions - three days of disoriented and gusty winds - sailors were able to complete two races. The organization worked hard to try to get more races, but even if the windsurfing fleet had spent many hours on the water every day, nothing could be done.


+ Windsurfing News

BODYBOARDING

The story and legends of bodyboarding in "Born to Boogie"
23/05/2013
article thumbnail

"Born to Boogie: Legends of Bodyboarding" tells the story of the incredible sport of bodyboarding from 1971 to the modern days.
The pioneers, the champions and the underground chargers are all profiled, among them Tom Morey, Pat Caldwell, Ben Severson, Jay Reale, Mike Stewart, Michael 'Eppo' Eppelstun, Guilherme Tamega, Andre Botha, Ryan Hardy, Damian King, Ben Player, Jeff Hubbard, Mitch Rawlins and Pierre Louis Costes. "Born to Boogie: Legends of Bodyboarding" was written by the bodyboard  [ ... ]


Nuno Azevedo sweeps fourth Luso Galaico Championship title
22/05/2013
article thumbnail

Nuno Azevedo has conquered the bodyboarding division of the XV Luso Galaico Championship, a competition between Portuguese and Galician riders.
Up to 64 bodyboarders and surfers from the North of Portugal and the Spanish region of Galicia have competed at Cabedelo Beach and Arda Beach, in Viana do Castelo. With a mobile structure and a new live scoring system, the level of competition was high in the 2-4 foot waves on offer. Portuguese riders claimed four out of five titles at the XV Luso Ga [ ... ]


+ Bodyboarding News