The ProAm Windsurf Cup took place last weekend in Strande. 31 starters were registered in the Fin Slalom, seven of them with Techno 293. 26 riders took part in the Foiling discipline. In difficult conditions with shower fronts and shifting winds, the host Surf Club Kiel was able to complete a total of three valid races in the Foiling discipline and one in the Fin Slalom discipline. Vincent Langer, the leader in the GWA rankings, took the opportunity to secure more points on his way to winning the California Windsurf Cup 2024.
Langer won two of the three rated foiling races. Langer had to take a break in the last race, but was able to take it as a stringer. Kai Paustian, who was unable to take part in the first regattas of the year for work reasons, finished in second place. With a third place in race two and even a heat win in the final race, he was able to cancel out a retirement in the first race. Tjalve Böttger secured third place ahead of Alexander Neubert and sixteen-year-old Paul Regber.
Regber, who was travelling on iQFOiL Youth&Junior equipment, also achieved his first top 3 finish with a third place. He won the Junior U17 classification by a large margin ahead of Mika Henning and Gustav Grünbaum. In the Youth U19 category, Erik Wehkamp from Kiel came out on top ahead of Jesse Richter and the best lady Eva Lotte Grünbaum. Tjalve Böttger won the classification for the Olympic iQFOiL equipment. Paul Regber won the pre-Olympic iQFOiL Youth&Junior classification ahead of Gustav Grünbaum and his sister Eva Lotte Grünbaum. Tom Franke won the Techno Windfoil classification ahead of Oke Hochschild and Pauline Bruch.
Richter is the surprise winner of the Fin Slalom
The conditions for the Fin Slalom discipline were particularly challenging. The gusty and shifting wind tried the patience of the regatta crew and participants. Nevertheless, a score was achieved in this discipline, which Leo Richter won. He thus also won the Youth U21 classification and secured valuable ranking points for the annual ranking. The favourite Vincent Langer followed in second place, with Oliver Schott in third. After foiling, Alexander Neubert also secured fourth place in the Fin Slalom. Colin Stutzke completes the top 5 in this discipline.
The youngsters are also breathing down the necks of the established pros in the Fin Slalom discipline. Mika Henning wins the Junior U17 classification with a sensational seventh place. Paul Regber followed just one place behind, ahead of Gustav Grünbaum. Peter Matysik came out on top in the Youth U19 category. Noah Schmäh followed in second place ahead of the best-placed lady Pauline Bruch.
The Techno 293 youth class was also held as part of the Fin Slalom discipline. Gustav Grünbaum won the Junior U15 Boy category ahead of his brother Fritz Grünbaum. Lena Schmäh won the Junior U15 Girl division ahead of Greta Meincke. Hannes König dominated the Open Boys category ahead of Tom Franke, while Mascha Reiber won the Open Girls category.
Two youngsters in the top 5
With first place in foiling and second place in the Fin Slalom, Vincent Langer clearly secured overall victory. Alexander Neubert benefited from his better overall performance. He narrowly missed out on the podium in both disciplines with fourth place in each. But with eight points, he finished a convincing second in the overall standings. It was a similar story for Colin Stutzke. Fifth place on the fin and sixth place in foiling earned Stutzke 11 points and third place on the overall podium. Two youngsters complete the top 5 in the overall classification. Sixteen-year-old Paul Regber just missed out on the podium with 13 points, while twelve-year-old Mika Henning completed the top 5 in the ProAm Windsurf Cup.
For the windsurfers, the action continues next weekend on 22 and 23 June at the ProAm Windsurf Cup on Lake Wittensee. The exciting One Hour format is then on the programme.