efpt-finals - Rebel-TV

Day 0 - Supersession in the port of Naxos- by helicopter

Day 0 - best trick contest in the port of Naxos

Day 1 - Double elimination in the laguna

Day 2 and 3 - Single elimination in the laguna and supersession in front of the beachcafe

preparing for the efpt-final
by Tilo Eber and Adrian Beholz

The island of Naxos, they say, is addictive, the island of love oft he Olmpic God Zeus, die biggest island of the Cyclades and most spoiled by the. To reach the island, you have to take the sea route, same as the first settlers in 3000 B.C. Starting from Athens the ferry boats go daily to this green and fertile island of orgy.
Romans, Spartan, Venetians, Ottomans, from the very beginning Naxos was piloted by sailors of all nations, captured, released, cultivated or the armada was stolen. The more than 30 sailors who piloted Naxos from the 7th to the 11th of October were as well on the prowl. The point was the crown of the "Prince of the Wind" and the mastery of Freestyle Windsurfing in Europe 2009.
They came from all over Europe and even from Brazil to fight in the final of European Freestyle Pro Tour (EFPT) to find the best Freestyle Windsurfer of Europe.

So the opening of the "Rip Curl Prince of the Wind" at 07th of October took place in the historical inner harbour of Naxos, with the scenery of the medieval old town.
Around 5 pm the signal to go was given. Under the waving flags all riders started at the same time for the Best Trick Contest. Filmed by a crew in an helicopter the riders pushed their selves to the limit, attended by the applause of the audience and great music. Big moves, spectacular, next to the audience - the atmosphere like in rock concert.

The winner of the Supersession Best Trick contest:

1. Steven Broeckhoeven

2. Davy Scheffers

3. Nicolas Akgazciyan

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Day one of the Efpt finals 2009 at the Rip Curl Prince of Wind on Naxos, Greece started in the middle of the night. Breakfast was set for 6.30h by organizer Flisvos Sportclub, who sponsored the riders as well free accommodation in the Flisvos Sportclub Hotel. A tight schedule was given on this day, as some of the riders just arrived in the night. The majority of the riders decided to start into the single elimination with an empty belly. The small group of riders at the breakfast behaved like mummies waking up after 1000 years of being buried in the sand.

At the time of the starting shot of the first single elimination some of the riders didn’t believe their tired eyes. What they saw was a perfect flat-water spot - a dream for every Freestyle rider. Protected by a reef the Lagoon next to Flisvos Sportclub offers unique conditions. As unique the spot as windy started the first round. In a top-class show the riders reduced to 4 of them after just a few hours.

The Slovenian Andraz Zan and Yarden Meier from Israel hit the small final. Two good known rivals forged ahead: The European Champion of the year 2008, Andre Paskowski from Germany and his challenger the Belgian Steven van Broeckhoven. Steven van Broeckhoven could even improve his performance in the final heat, showing a perfect Culo and a Burner. The decision was unanimous and so speaker Roberto Hofmann could announce Steven van Broeckhoven as the winner of the Single elimination on thursday morning

After the single elimination and a one hour lunch break all systems were on go for the double elimination. Where all riders got a second chance to reach the final. Especially the French Nicolas Akgazciyan was ambitious to correct his bad result in the morning after his surprising defeat aginst the Estonian Christopher Kalk in the second heat of the first Single Elimination. Kalk was thrilled to beat the favorit.

Nicolas Akgazciyan had still the possibility to gain the 3rd palce of the all over evaluation of the EFPT 2009 where as well Davy Scheffers (Holland) was still a favorit. With two wins Nicolas finished on the 7th place of the "Rip Curl Prince of the Wind" and achieved the 3rd place in the overall standings. Scheffers gained in spite of a great show only place 13 and finished in 2009 tour evaluation on the thankless 4th place.

With the only 17 years old Dieter van der Eyken another Belgian fighted fort he 3rd place, but succumbed in the decision for place two the German Andre Paskowski. Because the wind was not strong enough anymore, the last heat for the day, the final between Andre and the Belgian, was postponed by the race direction to the next morning.

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After Day one of the efpt-finals, the supersession in the harbour and the after-race in the Flisvos Beachcafe and the great organisation of Flisvos Sportclub the direction of the Efpt and all riders were sure that this final of the European Freestyle Pro Tour 2009 at Naxos will keep in mind. Dominique Peck, EFPT direction, comment: "The organizer Flisvos Sportclub managed, to set an EFPT Tour stop at the sam high stage as a PWA Grandslam at Gran Canaria".

The party went on until late in the night watching the videos filmed out oft he helicopter and also directly out of the water.

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The wind conditions were not competition suitable but in the gusts ok for sailsaizes about 5,4sqm. Following this situation the organisation put another Supersession on the schedule. It was set for 30 minutes, all riders on the water the best move of each riders counts. To accelerate the riders to a pleasant speed the Flisvos Sportclub crew provided a motor boat and a jetski in the heat area. A switch Cachoo one handed from Davy Scheffers and a one handed Bob by Dieter van der Eyken (Starboard/Severne) placed the young kids ex aequo on third place. Edvan Souza de Pedro (RRD/Simmer Style) finished 2nd doing a one handed Shaka, and Steven van Broeckhoven (F2) won the Supersession at the Rip Curl Prince of the Wind with a Burner Diabolo.

The crowd at the beach was still blown away by the action from the supersession when the race direction decided to give the final between Andre and Steven another chance. This time the heat brought a result. Paskowski and van Broeckhoven both knew this is "the heat". Once more the dominating riders of the EFPT09 showed their best moves. Two riders sailing a different style of windsurfing, one powerful and very athletic, the other one clean yet stylish. In the end the Belgium rider Steven van Broeckhoven could convince the judges and took the win of the first double elimination at the Rip Curl Prince of the Wind hosted by Flisvos Sportclub. Andre Paskowski became EFPT Vice Champion, Tilo Eber moved as second-best German in the Top Ten with a good place 9. Adrian Beholz became 13th in Naxos and in the ollover standings 14th. Best Greek was Stamatis Promponas, with place 9 in the Overall Ranking.

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After this successful final the video "Four Dimensions" of Andre Paskowski was shown in the flisvos beachcafé on a huge screen. Hundreds of people collected in front of the beachcafe in the sand for the Greek World Later all riders and the crew pushed along the Dogs & Night Clubs of Naxos down town. Frisky and unarrested dancing on top of the bar, the riders and fans got the party going until the early morning with for sure more than one bottle

At the last Day of the "Rip Curl Prince of the Wind" the wind situation was not suitable to start another Single Elimination so the organisation set a Superseesion on the schedule. All participating riders lined up on the water, waiting for boat or Jet Ski to pick them up and accelerate to a speed appropriate to perfrom their moves right in front of the crowd. The competition was on for the best move and the best wipe-out. Amazing 45 minutes made the hearts of windsurfing fans pump faster. The audience was yelling when Steven van Broeckhoven (F2), Yarden Meir (Fanatic/Simmer Style), Davy Scheffers and many more went for big moves like Goiters, Culos and Shakas so close to the beachside the boys and girls watching had to clean their sunglasses from the spray. French rider Nicolas Akgazciyan overdid it with the speed and knocked over one the Rip Curl flags on the beach. He was laughing hard after he was up on his feet again and the crowd awarded his effort with a big applaus But the organizer Flisvos Sportclub could still top the event. In cooperation with Red Bull a BMX- Halfpipe was installed directly at the beach. The Greek BMX- Champion Panagotis Manaras delivered a great show in front of the beach cafe.

At about 16.30h the time has come to do the price giving for the total season ranking. Everybody on the beach was ready to see the top 3 of the European Freestyle Pro Tour 2009 on the stage on St. George Beach on Naxos, Greece.

Steven van Broeckhoven had a perfect season 2009 and gained the title and the crown "Prince of the Wind" as successor of Andre Paskowski (2.).

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Van Broeckhoven: "Sick Event!!! It was a really good organisation and very nice spot for Freestyle! It was a really good season with a lot of eliminations, very professional good party and a lot of fun!" Nicolas Akgazcyien was happy about his title as third-best. Davy Scheffers, 4th place in the EFPT Ranking 2009: "Super! Best EFPT Event ever!!! Keep up the good work for everybody. Was a good season and hopefully next year even better!"

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Comments: Steven van Broeckhoven, Davy Scheffers, Dominique Peck
Text: Christopher Bünger