Tomorrow the ALLEGRO.PL CUP will kick off in the famous holiday resort Leba in Poland. Already over 60 competitors from about 15 different countries representing three continents have registered for the most important windsurfing event in Poland 2007. Among these racers are some of the best windsurfers of the World.
The favourite to win the ALLEGRO.PL CUP is last years winner and current Formula Windsurfing World Champion Steve Allen (AUS-0, Tabou, Gaastra) from Australia. The Australian athlete is living in Poland since several years and has already some children with his Polish wife. He has an excellent knowledge about the venue Leba and its conditions and hopes to be able to take advantage of it.
But he will face serious challenges from his opponents. One of them is last years Formula Windsurfing European Champion Ross Williams (GBR-83, Tabou, Gaastra) from Great Britain. The British hotshot had am excellent season so far. He proved already in the past that he is able to beat all the other top racers and is ready to do so again if the chances are there. From Argentina Gonzala Costa Hoevel (ARG-3, F2, Neil Pryde) made his way to Poland to fight for the triumph and a share of the prize money.
Among the favourites is also Arnon Dagan (ISR-1, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) from Israel. He can usually be found on the top positions and has excellent chances for a podium finish. Italy is represented by the Italian Champion Andrea Cucchi (ITA-1, Starboard, Point-7). The “Italian Stallion” uses his trip to Poland not only to compete but also to promote his new sail brand Point-7 which he just launched. The notoriuous Italian Youth Champion Alberto Menegatti (ITA-456, F2, North Sails) is already a regular guest at the Windsurfing Euro-Cups in Poland.
From the Iberic Peninsula the Spanish Champion Fernando Martinez Delgado (ESP-71, Starboard, Neil Pryde) and the Portuguese Champion Miguel Martino (POR-5, Starboard, Neil Pryde) made their way to the ALLEGRO.PL CUP in Leba. They will face a strong fleet from the Baltic countries and Eastern Europe as several competitors from there take the opportunity to compete in the same fleet as the pros.
Poland can rely on a strong force in its home waters. The Polish racing legend Wojtek Brzozowski (POL-10, Starboard, Severne) finally hopes to celebrate a successful return to the competitions after a forced brake due to a serious injury from which he suffered last year. The young hotshotMichal Polanowski (POL-16, Starboard, Naish Sails) showed an excellent performance last year and got third . Pawel Hlavati (POL-11, Starboard Severne) and the two Miarczynski brothers Jarek (POL-127, F2, Naish Sails) and Przemek (POL-126, F2, Naish Sails). The past has proven that the performance in Poland has reached a superior level compared to many other countries.
The ALLEGRO.PL CUP features the both disciplines of Racing (Formula Windsurfing) and Slalom (IFCA). For Racing the competitors are allowed to register one board and three sails. Competitions can already be run in 7 knots as the racers use sails up to 12,5 m2 and boards with a maximum width of 100 cm. The whole fleet will start together so that we can expect some spectacular situations on the course. In the Slalom the fleet is devided into groups (heats) which fight among each other for the entry into the next round until the winner is finally fought out in the final. In the Slalom the maximum sail size is limited to 10,0 m2 with a maximum board width of 85 cm. The total prize money of the event is EUR 30.000,00.
The skippers meeting is scheduled for 10:30 with the first possible start at 11:00. For the opening day the weather forecast doesn’t look too promising with merely offshore winds between one and three beaufort. But for the next days the conditions should improve and we look forward to spectacular competitions on the Baltic Sea.
Besides the windsurfing action Allegro.pl has set up an impressive event program on the water at the beach and even in the air! A giant Allegro-Zeppelin is showing presence of the title sponsor in the sky. The party program will ensure a memorable event for competitors and spectators. Everyday after 7 p.m. the Łeba beach will change into Carribean isle – cradle of reggae – Jamaica. Everyone can swing to the top of his bent by cheerful jamaican rhythms. You will feel dizzy both by sunsets and windsurfing female fans. On Saturday, 4th of August every lady can join the „Miss Reef” contest – most beautiful buttocks competition organized with cooperation with Playboy magazine. While all ladies will compete, all men can admire their… shapes.
Big music stars from Poland and abroad will make evenings pleasant. You will see Indios Bravos – regarded as polish best reggae band, there will be DJs from Beats Friendly: Lipstick, Bartek Winczewski, Lexus i Novika, you will se also Slope and Desney Bailey. You can listen to highlander reggae by Zakopower, and on the last day of the races during the Łeba Regeneracja 2007 Grand Finale you will be moved by Boney M – they make you feel like dancing. The ALLEGRO.PL CUP will last until Sunday, August 5th.
The official website of the event is www.allegrocup.pl . The official website of the Windsurfing Euro-Cup series with more information is www.euro-cup.org . Besides the reports and the results you will also find a live ticker on www.euro-cup.org . So check out the internet!
