Huig-Jan Tak has been crowned the first ever Under 23 Kona On 2016 world champion.
The inaugural Under 23 Kona One World Championships got underway in Malmö, Sweden, and attracted 36 windsurfers from several countries.
In three days, sailors who usually compete in other classes raced for glory in winds that shifted between 12 and 14 knots on the first day and challenging winds in the remaining days.
Tak, from the Netherlands, took three out of nine bullets and used tactical knowledge to defend himself from the attacks of Marcin Urbanowicz and Adam Holm.
"I feel very happy. It was super exciting racing; so intense and close. In the end, it was all about tactics and no pumping. I also appreciated the different sail sizes used depending on body weight," expressed Huig-Jan Tak.
Polish RS:X windsurfer Marcin Urbanowicz finished runner-up, just two points short of the world title. Nevertheless, he was happy to compete in the Kona One class.
"The racing was very tactical, and I had to pay attention to the rest of the fleet the whole time. The social aspect was a positive surprise. To meet all the people also off racing was great," added Urbanowicz.
Adam Holm, a local star who has already won both World and European titles, finished third. The Swedish windsurfer hopes to win a medal in Tokyo 2020.
"It's been great fun racing with my RS:X friends in a different class built on different principles. The conditions were great but demanding. I am not completely satisfied with my result, but I made it to the podium," concluded Adam Holm.
Kona One Under 23 World Championships 2016 | Top 3
Men
1. Huig-Jan Tak (NED)
2. Marcin Urbanowicz (POL)
3. Adam Holm (SWE)