| Antoine Albeau wins WaterZ Downwind Race |
| Wednesday, 15 September 2010 15:56 |
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Antoine Albeau wins the first WaterZ downwind long distance race with amazing 35 knots average speed on his JP Slalom 82 and RS:Racing EVO lll 9.5. Sebastian Kornum takes first in the Youth Class and finishes 12th overall with his JP Slalom 65 and RS:Racing EVO ll 7.8 sail. Vestas, one of the largest windmill manufacturers in the world, sponsored the first ever watersport event with Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Wakeboarding and SUP in one big event. “Powered by Nature” is the theme, - even for the wakeboarding activity, as it took place in a cable park powered by windmills. More than 120 windsurfers and 80 kiters took part in the 25 km long distance race across Ringkøbing Fjord in Denmark with three long legs at angles 100-110 degrees to the wind. A number of pro windsurfers showed up in the WaterZ race as they were already in Denmark before the PWA wave event starting in Klitmøller shortly after. Antoine Albeau took the lead shortly after the start followed closely by pros like Ross Williams, Robby Swift, Andrea Cucchi and Peter Volwater. But with Danish NeilPryde teamrider Kasper Juul Larsen and a number of other strong Danish riders in their heels, the fight for the second place was still open. Albeau was flying and heading for a clear victory, and even the 2x300 hp RIB boat had problems keeping the pace in the chops. The monster RIB boat was showing the way to the buoys, as the visibility in the weather did not make it possible for the riders to see from buoy to buoy, but 18 times world champ Albeau was often catching up on it and making it a true challenge for the boat crew to lead the way. On the last leg of the race, Kasper Juul Larsen passed Cucchi and Williams and finished second some hundred metres after Albeau who came to the race committee boat right after the race and said it was one of the best set courses he ever raced. Young Gun Sebastian Kornum from Denmark secured double victory for JP and NeilPryde by taking first place in the youth class, and he was happy to see his junior team mates Christian Justesen and Danni Jakobsen taking second and third. “It was a tough race and great fun to see how fast the pros are sailing. My board and sail worked perfectly and I had chosen the right sizes. I made a good start and did my best during the race, but there was no way I could follow the leading guys. Their speed is amazing and inspires me to keep training hard and working with my gear”, - says 18 years old Sebastian, who is a former junior world champ. After the race, Antoine Albeau went out again with a group of young sailors and gave them some tricks and experience for a lifetime while a helicopter was flying over their head with cameraman Lars Petersen filming the young sailors “Riding With The King”.
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