EFPT Neusiedlersee - Podersdorf - Austria
01 May 2007
Michael Rossmeier with a fourth place best Austrian!!
Although a very bad windforecast, on Sunday 30th of April, approximately 13 knots of northerly wind came through to the event-site and let the freestyle windsurfers show their skills on the water. Almost a complete single elimination was held on this day.
As one of the 38 riders from 9 nations, i was set against my good friend and very good sailor Tom Hartmann, also from Austria, in the first round. The conditions were pretty light as expected - i was using my 5,8 m² Loft 360 Free and my I-Style 94. Through a larger amount of moves and less crashes i took the advantage and won this heat, which put me against last years third in the overall ranking, Andreas Olandersson from Sweden. It was on the border between 5,8 and 5,2 meters - i decided to go with my 5,8 and it was the right choice. I had a pretty good heat and some difficult moves like Flaka diablo, Funnell and Eslider and Andy crashing more times, i could advance into the third round. Here i met Andrea rosati from Italy, one of the most experienced riders on the tour - we've met several times in the past years already. We had a tough heat, the super light wind conditions helped me as my setup 5,8 and I-Style 94 is planing very early and Andrea is a bit heavier than me. Again i had some pretty difficult moves and could advance into the final!!
I was super stoked already and had to go against Nicolas Akgazcyan from France now. He showed very good moves throughout the whole competition and was planing even earlier than me on his 6,3 m² sail. I lost this heat and was set into the loosers final for the fight about the third and fourth place against European Champion 2006 Andre Paskowski from Germany. With the wind dropping even more and more, it was very difficult for all us finalists to get a fair result, but we did our best. Andre won the heat and put me onto the 4th place in the single ellimination.
Later this day the wind allowed a supersession, also using a 2 meter high jump-ramp which was placed right into the event area, allowing some nice and high forwardloops.
I am very happy to be best austrian with a great 4th place on this -biggest EFPT Event of the year - in my homecountry Austria. As i missed the first Event in Tarifa / Spain, this sets me to a 9th place in the current overall ranking. The tour continues to Lefkas and Rhodos in Greece and Alacati in Turkey.
Keep you updated!
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