JYM IFCA SLALOM WORLD
&
YOUTH FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIP
JULY 12-19 ,2009
AT SOROBON BEACH
BONAIRE, DUTCH CARIBBEAN
It is saturday July 11th, and at Sorobon competitors from all over the world
are gathering together, testing their gear and have a good time.
Wind is perfect and everybody is looking forward to the races starting at Monday.
Tomorrow, Sunday July 12th the event officialy starts at 1700 Lt. after registration.
1st day, July 12
86 participants were registered from all over the world. ( ABC-islands, Poland,
France, Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Austria, Germany, UK and USA)
The opening ceremony was great and inpressive. Ofcourse the organisers had
their speeches and several sponsers wished all the participant good luck, succes
and a lot of fun for the coming.
Then....... the governor of Bonaire, Mr. G. Thode ,who officialy needs to open
the event arrived , not by car, not by motorcycle, not by boat but on
his windsurfboard!!!!! He blew the horn to open the IFCA Slalom Worlds Bonaire
2009 officially and then the crowed was entertained with life music.
2nd day, July 13
At 11.00 am skippersmeeting. Race-directors and judges explained rules,
regulations etc. First heat at 1.00 pm. The wind was around 20 knots and I used
my Hot Sails Maui 7.3 GPS and Starboard I-sonic 86. I compete with 25 other
Juniors in the U17 and U15 division. First round I made it to the final and got 6th,
second round also into the final, but crashed at the third buyon and got 8th.
Overall a good first day. There is good competition, so for me a this event is a good
challenge for me.
SEE MY VIDEO SITE FOR THE VIDEO OF DAY 1
3rd day, July 14
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY AUNT PASCALE AND
TO ALL PEOPLE FROM FRANCE!!!
First start at 11am. I made it to the semifinal but than went overearly and had to
race the losers in which I got first. Wind was strong (average 24knots) and I used
my HSM GPS 6.0. I learned a lot from my first overearly ever so I was fed up to
race my very best in the next round...... And I did. The second round of day two I
was overall winner because of a little luck and good thinking. I made it to the final
and was in third place behind ITA911 and POL75, but they went to the wrong
buyon and did not finish their course. I saw that happen and went upwind to get
the right buyon just in time and finished first. Waw, that was a good feeling.
Overall U17 in 5th place and U15 in first place..... but still 3 more days to go!!!!!
4th day, July 15
First start again at 11am. All juniors raced their first heat just before the rain
came down. I made it to the semifinals, but everything was cancelled because of
the rain who took the wind away. We had lunch and waited until 3pm and were
released for the rest of the day.
At 5pm "the paranda-bus" (party-bus with loud music) left from Sorobon
through town to Rincon. We had a real Bonairian night overthere and lots
of fun with our friends from all over the world.
5th day, July 16
2 eleminations we did today. The wind came back after yesterdays rain and it again
was time for action. In both rounds I could make it to the final and in both finals I
ended up 5th. In the last final it was a tough battle against Connor Baxter USA333.
He was in my way the whole course and blocked me a little just before the finishline.
No problem, competitors on the water, friends on the beach !!!
Tonight I go asleep early so I will be topfit for the final day of the IFCA Slalom races.
Saturday I will start my next event : Pro-kids Freestyle and looking forward to it.
6th day, July 17
Also today we raced 2 eliminations and in both I finished 5th. Below you see overall
results:
Junior under 17
1st Gutek Kurczewski POL75
2nd Luigi Romano ITA911
3rd Morane Demont FRA59
4th Connor Baxter USA333
5th Amado Vrieswijk NB20
Junior under 15
1st Amado Vrieswijk NB20
2nd Nik vd Erenbeemt ARU96
3rd Jean Patrick vd Woude CUR 191
We had a great award-ceremony in town at Wilhelmina-park. Bonaire won
3 first prizes. Monique Meijer in Master women, Juergen Saragoza in
Youth U13 and myself in Youth U15.
Al winners recieved a certificate and a local made very nice trophee.
After the ceremony everybody could enjoy the beautiful fireworks.
Thanks to Mr. Elvis Martinus, organisation Aquaspeed, IFCA racedirector
and jury-members, all the volunteers and all the participants who came to
Bonaire, this again was a very succesfull slalom-event.
From July 20th you can read all about the Prokids Freestyle-event
So keep checking my site !!!
