With three wins in three heats, Sebastian Kördel confidently took victory at the Kieler Woche. Like many other classes, the iQFoilers were battered by the weak wind and were only able to complete five heats. But just in time for the final day, the conditions were much better than in the days before, with ten to 15 knots, so that the racers were able to take to the water in the morning.
Kördel, who yesterday due to wind holes and seaweed pitch had lost his lead to Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas, first had to compete in the quarter-finals. He won this as well as the subsequent semi-final and marched straight through to the final, where the medals are awarded. Fabian Wolf, who Hope for a podium finish finished fourth and was therefore eliminated before the final. That meant fifth place for him in the end.
Kördel's comeback after the seaweed disaster
In the final, Kördel then went into the race with South Korean Taehoon Lee and Juozas Bernotas. In iQFoil mode, the final places are decided here, regardless of the standings after the heats. Last year, Kördel lost out on victory after a dominant performance because he was slowed down by seaweed. This year, however, everything went according to plan and made the comeback perfect: Sebastian Kördel wins Golf ahead of Lee and Bernotas!
Jonne Heimann came eighth and Jakob Ditzen ninth. Elias Fauser, Lars Poggemann, Johannes Witte and Tjalve Böttger lined up in places 16 to 1.
Theresa Steinlein in second place after semi-final victory
The picture in the women's race was the same as in the heats: Denmark's Lærke Buhl-Hansen won the final, defending the lead she had held all week. Theresa Steinlein finished behind her and took silver after winning the semi-final. Giovanna Prada from Brazil came third ahead of Alisa Engelmann. The latter won the quarter-finals ahead of Sophia Meyer and Lena Haverland, but was then eliminated in the semi-finals.
All results of the Kiel Week can be found here:
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Tobias Frauen
Editor
