IFCA CHAMPIONAT DU MONDE
HYERES, LES PALMIERES IN FRANCE
APRIL 10 - 15 , 2010
Right after the exciting slalom and freestyle event "The Curacao Challenge" in which
I became 1st in Slalom under 18 years and 3rd in Freestyle under 18 years, I flew with
my mom on April 7 to the south of France to attend the IFCA Slalom Worlds JYM in Hyeres.
Hyeres is a town about 100 km east of Marseille.
We stayed at Hotel Port Helene where also team Aruba , Turkey and some French
competitors stayed.
April 8
Arrival at Marseille airport and transportation was arranged by the Hyeres windsurfclub
to Hyeres. After checking in at the hotel we picked up our rental-bikes and made a small
tour through the neigbourhood.
April 9
We checked the equipment and took a good spot at the event-site to leave the gear
during the eventweek. We were together with team Turkey who were very friendly
and helpfull.
April 10
Registration-day. It went very smooth and we started rigging the sails and I went
training on the cold water for an hour or two. At 1800 the openingceremony took
place and all participating countries were annouced.
I was very proud to hold the flag for my island Bonaire.
I competed in Junior under 17 and 15 years. Very challenging and I could not wait
to start the first race. Windpredictions for the week were not so good, except for
sunday 11th and thursday 14th of April.
Every morning we checked the wind and rigged the necessary sails.
We were placing the boards and sails on the beach very early so we had a perfect
spot during the racing and I could change sail or board very quickly between the heats.
I went on the water every morning to check the wind (direction) and just to get used
again to the cold water and wetsuit.
Airtemperature was 15 degrees celcius and watertemperature was 12 degrees celcius.
(only a little colder than at Sorobon ......... NOT !!!!!!!!!)
My mom went with me on this trip to France and she did a very good job.
She was my coach, caterer, and carried my gear up and down to the beach every
morning and late-afternoon. She checked the noticeboard , heat-orders, results and
was jelling like crazy when I raced my heats.
Team Turkey, Curacao, Aruba and myself representing Bonaire.
The beach of Hyeres. A beautiful windsurfing site.
Although the water was freezing and the wind was not consistant the whole week
I recommend every windsurfer to visit this place.
It is not only good for slalom, but would also be perfect for freestyle.
April 11.
Skippersmeeting at 10.00 . All was explained very clear. Wind was good (16-20 knots)
and first start at 11.00. I was ready to compete. First Masters, followed by Youth,
than the Juniors and last the girls. I had to start in heat 4. I took my Starboard I-sonic
and Hot Sails Maui GPS 7.3. Start went smooth and finished first. Next heat 6,
the wind picked up, switched board and sail to I-sonic 86 and GPS 6.6 and managed to
finish 4th and went to the first final of the event. Finished 6th and I felt cold but confident
to better next time.
In the afternoon the second round started. Winds were up to 22-32 knots. The beach was
crowded with competitors and sails. I started in heat 3 of the juniors and finished 2nd.
Next heat within the 4 first finishers and went again to the junior-final and became 5th.
The day ended around 1830. I was exhausted, cold and very hungry. It was a great and
succesfull first day of racing for me. The "cote du boeuf" tasted very good and fell asleep
as soon as I saw my pillow that night.
April 12
Skippersmeeting again at 10 and first possible start at 11.00. The winds were light
but the organisation lowered the AP-flag around 12.30. Round 3 started and today
it was not my lucky day. It was crowded around the startingboat, my turkish friend
had problems with his gear on the beach which I helped very quickly and later on
I got confused which heat was on and started in the wrong race. I lost a lot of points
but could discard this race. After the first heats of the day, the wind went down and
all races were cancelled at 1700. My aunt Pascale and uncle Paul arrived by car out
of Holland and we had a nice dinner at the harbour of Hyeres.
April 13
The number 13 says it all, no wind, no races today. Round 3 could not be finished
today. It was a long day waiting at the beach. By the end of the afternoon races
were cancelled. Luckily it was a sunny day and we could warm up a little.
April 14
Day 4 of the event and the wind was ok for racing. (14-17 knots) Round 3 could
be finished and I was eager to start round 4 to forget my big mistake at the start
2 days ago. I started in heat 2 and finished 4th, second heat 3rd and could race the
final and finish 4th. A good result and felt good again. Full of adrealine and to make
this event a succes for myself and Bonaire. Today I used my GPS 7.3 and I-sonic 101.
Freezing hands after a day of racing.
April 15 and last day of the event
Last day, last chance to race my very best. I started in heat 2 with 14-17 knots of wind.
finished first again, second heat 3rd and in the last final of the event I became 5th.
Below the results and more info about the event and pictures you can find at
http://ifca.internationalwindsurfing.com (just click on the link)
or
https://sites.google.com/site/hwoifca/home (just click on the link)
Below the team of the Hyeres windsurf-club who organised this geat event.
MERCI BEAUCOUP !!!!
Award-ceremony was at 1700 hours and I recieved my throphee for being the
winner of the IFCA Slalom under 15. Second place was won by Justin Denel FRA 541
and third for Ethan Westera from Aruba.
Overall under 17 I ended on the 6th place.
I am very happy with the results , I learned a lot again during this events and
want to thank Mr Schliemann and Mr. Poltenstein for their tips, tricks and nice conversations.
Mr Bruno de Wannemaeker, president of IFCA,
was also at the Curacao Challenge and we met again a few days later in Hyeres.
A new friend from Turkey, maybe we will meet again in Alacati, Turkey soon !!!
I had a lot of fun with my mom, but did not forget my dad and sister Chanel
who stayed at home on Bonaire.
April 16
The day of departure back to Bonaire arrived, but the news of the eruption of the
vulcano in Iceland made it impossible. We were transported by bus to Marseille
and could arrange to board on one of the last planes who went into the European
airspace to Paris Charles de Gaulle. Team Curacao who also planned to fly home
from Marseille joined us on this adventure. After arrival in Paris, we got stuck.
With the load of windsurf-equipment we were not accepted on any train and taxi's
were toooooo expensive to transport us to Amsterdam. We stayed in the Sheraton
on the airport and my grandfather arranged a bus out of the Netherlands which
picked us up on saturday-morning and transported us the 468km to Schiphol-airport.
Arrived at Schiphol, we saw no flights leave and could store our equipment and went
to my family. Nobody could tell us how long the airspace across Europe would be closed.
Now we are already 4 days waiting for a flight home. Tonight (April 19) KLM
announced to resume airtraffic by tomorrow, but KLM cannot book us until friday
the 23rd of April to Bonaire. We keep trying to get an earlier flight, because I will loose
a lot of days at school. We hope to be home soon to celebrate my championship
and enjoy the nice weather on Bonaire again.
It is saturday April 24th and FINALLY were are back on Dushi Bonaire again,
back to school, back to my quad and favourite Sorobon to train hard for the future events.
I want to thank Starboard, Hot Sails Maui , my parents, grandparents, Bon Bida Spa, Maduro &
Curielsbank Bonaire , my aunt and uncle and all friends for their support I've recieved during
this event.
Best regards
Amado NB-20
