The first IFCA Foil World Champion is Luuc Van Opzeeland NED-55 and Anna Sagulenko UKR-8 was crowned IFCA Foil Female Champion in Switzerland.
The 2019 IFCA Foil World Championship came to an end after 11 Races in light to medium winds, 3 discards and only 2 general recalls which was pretty smooth for the BIGGEST Start line – so far – of 71 Foil competitors during the Vanora Engadinwind by Dakine 2019. Thanks to all the brave flying competitors, the race committee, volunteers, the cool media crew in general and all the sponsors involved. [more]
Everybody loves Venora Engadinwind on Lake Silvaplana, the good weather, the mountains, amazing landcape, and the event offers lots of fun. The Freestylers have had an awesome time entertaining the watching crowds with their fantastic tricks before the Foilers enjoyed their feeling of freedom flying across the lake in such majestic surroundings each day.
There was an enormous sense of anticipation on the Final Day with titles on the line. The wind filled in as usual and we had one race under way. The Dutchman who was leading the way didn’t have a good race and Julien Bontemps, his nearest rival, won it so, going into the last race of the competition, just two points separated the top two riders.
As competitors went round the windward mark for the second time, Steve Allen was leading, Julien Bontemps was about fourth and the Dutchman was right down the pan. This meant that Julien Bontemps was set to be the World Champion provided he made no mistakes.
However, there were holes developing all over the course, hooters were going off and the race was cancelled, that was it, no more racing and Luuc van Opzeeland NED-55 was the new 2019 IFCA Foil World Champion! Second was Julien Bontemps and Steve Allen took a very creditable 3rd place ahead of Gonzalo Costa Hoevel ARG-3. 20 year old Luuc also takes home the Youth title.
A special mention for Anna Sagulenko UKR-8: she has been racing with the guys all week and takes home the World title in the Women’s fleet.
What an amazing week we have had at the Vanora ENGADINWIND powered by Dakine!
