Malcesine / Lake Garda (Italy), 25 April 2003. Tomorrow on Saturday 26th of April the second Windsurfing Euro Cup of this season will start in Malcesine at the Lake Garda in Italy. 123 competitors have pre registered for the competition which makes it already one of the biggest Windsurfing Euro-Cups of all times. But not only the total number of competitors is impressing also the level of the fleet is impressing high. So the eyes of the complete Windsurfing World will be focussed on the small town of Malcesine for the next four days.
It is difficult to name a single favourite as the fleet is so strong and the level of the competitors very close to each other. But some of the big names need to mentioned none the less. Steve Allen (AUS-0, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) has won the Windsurfing Euro-Cup last year and showed already a strong performance with a third place at the first Euro-Cup at the beginning of April in Porto Santo / Madeira (Portugal). One of his strongest opponents in the past was Wojtek Brzozowski (POL-10, Starboard, Neil Pryde). The EC Malcesine is the first big international Regatta for him so it will be interesting to see his level this year.
The complete Fanatic team has presented itself already in a perfect form with the victory in the manufacturers ranking at the first Euro-Cup. Now Steve, Arnan Dagan (ISR-1, Fanatic, Neil Pryde), Ben van der Steen (NED-57) and Pieter Bijl (NED-0, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) have to prove their level again. But Starboard is also not sleeping and has send all their top riders like Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG-3, Starboard, Neil Pryde), Brian Roegild (DEN-173, Starboard, Gaastra), Michael Polanowski (POL-16, Starboard, Neil Pryde), Ross Williams (GBR-83, Starboard, Gaastra) and many more to dominate in the manufacturers ranking this time. All the main windsurfing brands are represented by their top racers: Patrice Belbeoch (FRA-81, Exocet, Aerotech), Ramses Landmann (NED-72, F2, Neil Pryde), Micah Buzianis (USA-34, Mistral, North Sails), Devon Boulon (ISV-1, Mikes Lab, Windwing) are just a few examples.
It will be interesting to see if the Italian locals are able to take advantage of their knowledge about the special conditions at the Lake Garda and can stand against the overwhelming power of the international windsurfing professionals. Andrea Cucchi (ITA-1, Starboard, Neil Pryde), Marco Begalli (ITA-415, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) the young hot shot Alberto Menegatti (ITA-456, Starboard, YES Sails) and the other locals presented themselves in good shape at the last training days here on the Lake.
But not only the top male racers are present in Malcesine. The event is also the first stop for the Formula Windsurfing Women Cup 2003. The fastes women on the water found their way to Lake Garda to cross their weapons for the first time this year. The biggest favourite is of course Dorota Staszewska (POL-1, Starboard, Gaastra) as dominating girl of the last year with a victories in the Women Cup and at the FW World Championships. But the other girls are getting closer and there are several who hope to beat Dorota this year. One of the strongest of them seemed to be Christine Becker (GER-215, G-Sailboards, Gun Sails) from Germany who returned to the racing scene after a break and presented herself in brilliant form.
We are looking forward to a great competition!
The Windsurfing Euro-Cup Malcesine / Lake Garda (Italy) will last from Saturday, 26 April to Wednesday, 30 May. The first possible start is scheduled for Saturday, 26th April, 12:30.
You can find more information and follow the competition online on the official Website of the Windsurfing Euro-Cup www.euro-cup.org and on the FW Class Website www.formulawindsurfing.org .
