From May 4th to 8th the season of the Windsurfing Euro-Cup will start with the event in Portimão/Algarve (Portugal). Now the pre entry list for the event has been published. Until now 30 competitors from 14 different countries out of three continents are registered. Many of the Worlds best windsurfers have confirmed their participation in the kick-off event. With the two disciplines Racing and Slalom and a total prize money of EUR 20.000,00 the Windsurfing Euro-Cup Portimão will be the first benchmark for the competitors, the windsurfing brands and the new equipment.
The TOP-5 of the final Euro-Cup event last year will come to Portimão. First of all Michal Polanowski (POL-16, Starboard, Severne Sails) from Poland. Last year the young hotshot was able to win the EC Oeiras in front of Ross Wiliams (GBR-83, Starboard, Gaastra) from Great Britain and Andrea Cucchi (ITA-1, Starboard, Neil Pryde). The Portuguese national FW Champion Miguel Martinho (POR-5, Starboard, Neil Pryde) presented himself in perfect shape and defended the fourth place against Wilhelm Schurmann (BRA-999, Starboard, Neil Pryde) from Brasil.
In Portimão they will be challenged by strong opponents: Not less than three World Champions have announced their arrival: First of all the 2003 Formula Windsurfing World Champion Steve Allen (AUS-0, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) from Australia who is also one of the favourites to win the EC 2005. Another hard nut to crack is the Polish FW dominator and FW World Champion of 2000 Wojtek Brzozowski (POL-10, Starboard, Neil Pryde) who seems to be in great shape since the first preparation regattas in Australia. Finally the Italian FW Youth World Champion Alberto Menegatti (ITA-456, F2, Gaastra) is ready to fight for a place on the podium.
But there are even more hot riders registered, who have chances to win the first Euro-Cup event in Portimao: Arnon Dagan (ISR-1, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) is one of the top riders of the Fanatic team and has already proven that he is able to beat everybody. Ben van der Steen (NED-57, Exocet, Neil Pryde) is the top rider of the Exocet team and has his strengths when the conditions get rough. Jesper Vesterström (DEN-111, Neil Pryde) is not only a pro windsurfer but also a male model from Denmark. He is always hungry to prove that he is not only one of the best looking but also one of the fastest guys on the water. Roy van Koolvijk (NED-97, Fanatic, Windwing) is the crazy boy from the Netherlands who surprised the public with excellent results last year.
It will be exciting to follow the first “big competition” of the year. The event will be covered on www.euro-cup.org , www.overpower.net and www.formulawindsurfing.org . So check out the internet for current news from the competition scene in the beginning of May!
EC-Portimao_PreEntryList_210405.pdf
Contacts and further Information:
Matthias Regber (Director of the Windsurfing Office)
Choppy Water Event Management GmbH
Maßmannstr. 11, 24118 Kiel, GERMANY
Phone: +49 (0) 431 / 971 98 98 – FAX: +49 (0) 431 / 971 98 99
URL: www.euro-cup.org – E-Mail: info@choppywater.de
Isabel Guimarães (Overpower Windsurfing Club)
Rua Coelho da Rocha 20A – 1250-088 Lisboa, PORTUGAL
Phone: +351 213 957 322 – Fax: +351 213 940 036
E-Mail: overpower@100surf.pt
