Danish Open 2024: "This is how it goes until I finally face Ben in the final!" - Two friends on their first contest experience

Text: Arne Jörn

Tuesday, 15.10.2024: It's time to pack up because our first freestyle competition at Danish Open Week 42 starts on Thursday. The day before promises a strong south-easterly wind for a warm-up session in Kegnaes. My mate Ben and I have wanted to take part in a windsurfing contest for a long time, and now the time has finally come.

Warm-up in Kegnaes

A quick shop and a refuelling stop later, we are on our way to a car park near Kegnaes. Once there, we set up our sleeping set-up and, after a quick chat, wrap ourselves in our sleeping bags. When I wake up, the morning is dawning and a few minutes later I can see the first rays of sunshine crossing the horizon: The wind is strong, but the waves aren't really making an appearance yet, so we decide to take a detour behind the dam to freestyle - perfect warm-up. During the session, the wind continues to pick up and we finally head to the wave spot. Once there, I set up my 4.0 without having to wait long. A beautiful day with fun wave conditions draws to a close as Ben and I savour the Bolognese we've made during a break and watch the sun disappear behind a veil of clouds on the horizon. We then pack up our things and set off in the direction of Klittmøller.

First contest experience

The alarm wakes us up at 6.45am and after a quick breakfast we head to Klittmøller to register at Nasa Surfklubben. The atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming and still a little sleepy. Mads Bjørna gives a short introduction, while Brian takes photos of the participants in front of the slightly hazy sunrise. A light south-southeasterly breeze offers the prospect of a few rounds of freestyle on the flat water. Therefore: skippers meeting at 9.30 am in Krik.

The wind is weaker than expected, so we put up our biggest sails: 4.4 for Ben and 5.2 for me. The skippers' meeting is short and sweet. Ben and I exchange grinning glances as the other participants set their start watches - we don't seem to be so perfectly prepared! A few questions later, we're a lot smarter: the race is organised in 12-minute heats, in which the best three moves per side are counted. We were just about to find out the exact meaning of the flags when the red flag shot up with a loud "Tut". The first heat is about to start, but who has to go on the water now? A glance at the table makes Ben swear and me laugh, Ben Behrendt is at the top. So Ben runs to the car and puts on his wetsuit as quickly as he can. Despite everything, Ben is still on the water almost on time to present his tricks.

Two drivers, but only one 5.2 rig

After a few minutes, I realise that it's my turn in the next round and that Ben has also borrowed my 5.2. So I slip into my wetsuit and start to feel the increasing tension, because after all, I'm racing in my first heat against Tobias Bjørna - who won the Danish Open Freestyle U21 in the spring. When Ben's heat is over, we swap rigs on the water. I try as best I can to regain the height that Ben had lost earlier, but when the green flag goes up, I'm still downwind of the breakwater. I watch the gust pattern upwind of me intently and start pumping after a tactical change of direction. I accelerate briefly, switch and do an e-slider, only to see a perfect shaka from Tobias upwind of me. Move by move and gust by gust, I work my way further and further downwind until I wonder whether anyone is still paying attention to me and my manoeuvres. Suddenly there is no longer a flag to be seen and I run back to the jetty and ask if the round has been cancelled. But to my astonishment, it hasn't and I seem to have won! Over the next few laps, I pay more attention to myself and make a start far to windward of the pier. And so it goes on until I am finally in the final against Ben. Unfortunately, the wind seems to drop even more and after an exhausting twelve minutes I'm back on land for the award ceremony of the Freestyle U21. 4th place: Anton Richter 3rd place: Bjørn Olesen 2nd place: Ben Behrendt and 1st place: me, Arne Jörn. Ben and I look into the waning wind, somewhat incredulous and very happy.

Supersession in the wave

The next two days are windless rest days, which we use to go surfing. On the last day of the competition we have to get up early again: Skippers meeting at 7.30 a.m. The wind is light and cross offshore. Unfortunately, the first heat is cancelled due to a lack of wind. Later, a 30-minute super session starts, during which Tobias delivers an amazing wave riding show. This is followed by the official award ceremony and the prize-giving. So ends a very fun and successful first competition experience for Ben and me. Many thanks to the Danish Open Team for the great organisation, see you next year!

As was inevitable, the wind picks up after the competition. In the evening we head to Agger and the next morning to Nørre Vorupør for two proper wave sessions.