The pros raced close to the trade fair audience on the pool in Surfsport Hall 17 at the weekend. Driven by wind turbines and wings or pure leg power on their pump foils, as two indoor world cups took place on the XXL pool: The GWA Wingfoil World Cup and the first event of the newly founded Surf Foil Tour (SFT). The first weekend therefore brought plenty of water action and new champions in two disciplines.
Time trial: Just a few seconds separate the top four riders
After three exciting laps around the two buoys, 16-year-old Frenchman Axel Gerard won the individual time trial at the "GWA Indoor Wingfoil World Cup".
Just like his strong competition consisting of the best German kiter, Fin Flügel, the three-time Wingfoil World Champion Titouan Galea, foiling pioneer Balz Müller and the World Champion in Big Air, Benjamin May, he was able to improve from lap to lap. There was only a few seconds difference between the best times of the four top riders.
"I'm absolutely thrilled that I managed to win here. I started the final a bit disappointed because I crashed while pump foiling. This was the first indoor event for me and I really just wanted to come here to enjoy the great atmosphere with the other riders and have fun," says the newly crowned World Cup Champion Axel Gerard directly after his last race.
Spaniard Suardiaz wins the women's race
Nia Suardiaz from Spain secured the title of "GWA Indoor World Cup - boot Düsseldorf" champion in the women's category. It was her first time at the trade fair and she is thrilled with the atmosphere in Surfsport Hall 17: "I'm so happy to have won this contest. It's incredibly cool that so many spectators came to watch. It's an incredible experience and I had a lot of fun," says the 17-year-old Spaniard.
We wanted to attract young people from the scene to the trade fair with the contests and we succeeded. (Petros Michelidakis, boot Düsseldorf Director)
Newly founded Surf Foil World Tour: Pumping for all it's worth
The newly founded Surf Foil World Tour (SFT) also held its first event of the year together with boot Düsseldorf on the trade fair's XXL pool. In front of a packed crowd, the ten finalists competed against each other and raced against each other on their pump foils (without wings and wind) using pure leg power.
In three rounds, three-time world champion in Big Air, Benjamin May, was able to prevail against his strong competition. The German managed to pass the technically demanding course of slalom and straight racing sections in the 64 metre long pool in record time: "The spectators were mega and kept us going with every lap. The participants were highly motivated and pushed each other on. It was a great event!" said Benjamin May directly after his victory
New Caledonian Titouan Galea, a three-time world champion in wingfoiling, was only a few seconds slower and finished in second place, while 17-year-old Robert von Roll from Switzerland completed the podium and crossed the finish line closely followed by Jurij Scheibler (4th).
Three years ago, when I started the sport, I would never have thought that I would be taking part in a World Cup. (Winner Sarah Sparlinger)
The two women in the fleet made it exciting for the audience. While Sarah Sparlinger set a record in the first round, she stumbled in the second run and was eliminated. In the jump-off against her rival Viola Lippitsch from Austria, she gave it her all once again and won the race: "It's an incredible feeling to be here. The atmosphere is simply electrifying. Three years ago, when I started the sport, I would never have thought that I would be taking part in a World Cup," said the Swiss athlete immediately after the race.
Organisers are delighted
"The atmosphere in Hall 17 is incredible. We wanted to bring young people from the scene to the trade fair with the contests and we succeeded. We are delighted that we can offer the various sports a great platform where they can showcase their sports and inspire others," says Petros Michelidakis.
Being able to show what the athletes can do so close to the audience and being right in the thick of it is something you don't usually get. (Tom Hartmann, Tour Manager GWA & and SFT)
Tom Hartmann, Tour Manager of the two World Cups, is also satisfied with the contests in Düsseldorf: "The first Indoor Wingfoil World Cup and the very first event of the newly founded Surf Foil World Tour will go down in history. Our athletes were just as enthusiastic as the spectators about how you can ride with artificial wind and hold exciting competitions indoors. The boot offers a stage on which you can present yourself and attract a lot of attention. Being able to show what the athletes can do so close to the audience and being right in the middle of it is something you don't get anywhere else. The atmosphere was fantastic and that's what we want to achieve, to inspire people with the sport."
