Kiran Badlow (NED-9) and Helene Noesmoen (FRA-57) crowned first European IQFoil Champions on Big Wednesday in new Medal Race “winner takes all” knock-out series.
The final day delivered great spectator action with high drama and intense moments topping anything we have seen all week including wind shift wipe outs, great recoveries, abandoned races and switch of race format as the breeze dropped. [more]
In light patchy conditions the winners adapted and made the most of conditions, showing huge mental resilience, sharp mind, technique and awesome fitness. Key to success on the day mostly came down to who got on the foil fastest and who stayed on the foil longest in the soft breeze.
In the men Nicholas Goyard (FRA-465) in third had a stormer of a semi-final fighting his way back into contention but having seen a final cancelled, could not match winner Kiran Badloe (NED-9) and Sebastian Koerdel (GER-220) in second. It all came down to the last gybe and the last reach, with Kiran showing amazing fitness pumping his way over Sebastian to the wire to win gold. Matteo Iachino (ITA-140) who displayed great racing throughout the week crashed out in the semi-final in the dropping breeze.
In the women Helene Noesmoen, who has been consistent at the top throughout the week killed it in both the semi and final.
Isla Watson (GBR-529) clawed herself back into the quarter-final to sail the race of her life to win silver. In third place Lilian de Geus (NED-3).
