Windsurf Cup Sylt 2024: Vincent Langer wins overall classification, Michele Becker dominates in foiling

Exciting final day in the final slalom

In winds of up to seven forces offshore, the participants completed four more complete eliminations in the fin slalom discipline on the final day.
Vincent Langer turned the final day into a victory marathon on the Fin. He didn't give his opponents a chance in any of the races. Even if he was not directly at the front of the field at the start, a short sprint was often enough to take the lead. After that, he was able to control all the races from the front and sail home safely. In the end, Langer won the Fin Slalom discipline with an ideal score of 0.0.

Fabian Wolf (GER-404, Starboard, Severne) followed directly behind in all races. The reigning GWA champion in the foiling discipline showed that he is also one of the best German windsurfers on the Fin and can therefore have justified hopes for the overall ranking. After five second places in five races with two strikes, Wolf secured a clear second place with 6.0 points.

Youngster Anton Richter (GER-6, JP, Neil Pryde) had a bad start to the final slalom competitions. He was disqualified in the first final due to an early start. He was therefore eagerly awaiting the strong wind forecast for the final day, which promised more fin slalom races to improve his results. His hopes were realised. Not only did the wind materialise, but Richter also put in a strong performance. After exciting duels with Fabian Wolf, he secured four third places. In the final standings, he ended up in third place with 9.0 points.

Jonne Heimann (GER-107, JP, Gun Sails) followed in fourth place in the Fin Slalom discipline with 11.0 points, just one point ahead of Alexander Neubert (GER-294, Sailoft, 12.0 points).

In foiling, the decision was already made on the Whitsun weekend

Michele Becker (GER-277, Patrik Windsurfing) won the three races in this discipline. This gives him the ideal score of 0.0 in the discipline ranking.

Vincent Langer made a faux pas in the second foil final and hit the wrong buoy. However, he was able to compensate for this with two second places in the other two races. In the foiling discipline, he took second place with 4.0 points.

Just one point behind him was Fabian Wolf, who kept the pressure on the top duo in foiling constantly high. 5.0 points secured Wolf third place on the podium.

Just like in the fin slalom, Jonne Heimann only just missed out on a place on the podium. This time he was neck-and-neck with Lars Poggemann (GER-730, FMX Racing, S2 Maui). In the end, they both scored 7.0 points. Heimann was only able to beat Poggemann in the tie-breaker due to the better scratch result.

Overall ranking: The combination of fin and foil

In the overall ranking, the results of the two disciplines Fin Slalom and Foiling are combined. This is where the overall winner of the event is crowned. Vincent Langer dominates the California Summer Opening Sylt 2024 with a victory in the Fin Slalom and second place in the Foiling discipline. With 3.0 points, he only just misses out on the ideal score for the overall ranking.

Fabian Wolf followed just two points behind with 5.0 points. The sports soldier put in a strong performance on Sylt and showed that he is a force to be reckoned with in both disciplines.

Jonne Heimann showed that the path to a good overall placing requires strong performances in both disciplines. He narrowly missed out on a podium finish in both foiling and fin slalom, coming fourth in each. In the overall ranking, however, he was able to secure third place with 8.0 points.

Anton Richter lived up to his reputation as one of the most universal riders. Third place on the fin and sixth place in the foiling discipline earned him 9.0 points. This puts him just one point behind Jonne Heimann in fourth place in the overall standings. Alexander Neubert (GER-294, Sailoft) completes the top five in the overall standings of the California Summer Opening Sylt 2024.

Successful start with wind on three out of four days

"We are delighted with the mega kick-off for this year's tour of the California Windsurf Cup. Wind on three out of four days and a total of eight slalom eliminations. Finally both disciplines could be organised again. And all in front of a mega crowd. Sylt has once again delivered!" says Matthias Regber from Choppy Water GmbH, which organises the California Windsurf Cup.

Official races were held on three of the four days of the event. Three complete eliminations were held for the foiling discipline. There were even five races in the Fin Slalom discipline. But not only the wind played along. In keeping with the event motto, the summer kept its promise at the California Summer Opening on Sylt. Visitors flocked to the Brandenburg beach in glorious sunshine and temperatures well above 20 degrees.

The windsurfers continue in June with the ProAm (pros & amateurs) Windsurf Cups in Surendorf, Strande and on Lake Wittensee as well as the next big California Windsurf Cup in Pelzerhaken from 28 to 30 July.