The  Surf World Cup in Podersdorf/Austria started with a glorios first day. With temperatures hitting close to thirty degrees and sunshine throughout the day, the crowds and sailors took the opportunity to bask in the sun, whilst absorbing the electrifying atmosphere surrounding Neusiedler See.
Austria sprung into life on the second day of the PWA Surf World Cup Podersdorf as the action began shortly after 10:30am. The stunning sunshine was replaced by a much moodier scene as the clouds moved in, but more importantly the sailors were greeted with 25-30 knots of wind, making for epic freestyle conditions.

Single Elimination

Winners’ Final
Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo and Kiri Thode came face-to-face once more as the pair continued their duel for the top spot. The reigning world champion successfully defeated Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different) in the semi-finals to secure his place in the opening winners final of the year, whilst Thode stopped an on form Anthony Ruenes  to book his place in the final. So despite strong competition, Steven managed to reach a great 3rd place in the single elimination!

Steven in action

Double Elimination

Winners’ Final
Steven Van Broeckhoven showed he’s a man on a mission as he battled back in the double elimination to book a place in the second winners’ final of the day. In the semi-finals the Belgian produced a near perfect heat – receiving several tens for diversity and style from the judges – to set up a mouth-watering battle with Gollito, having defeated Kiri Thode. The final was a spectacle to behold as both sailors threw caution to the wind and unleashed their most explosive repertoire of tricks. The Belgian supremo announced his arrival in the final with a superb one handed air funnel before also landing a stunning planing culo and a perfect shuvit spock. Unfortunately for him, the reigning world champion was in no mood to be beaten and the twenty-four year old soon responded with a plethora of mind-blowing tricks. Gollito turned on the style factor as he delivered an one-handed burner  before popping an outstanding one-handed flaka. Knowing that the battle was not over yet, Estredo didn’t rest on his laurels as he exploded into a divine one-handed shaka before finishing off the heat with a one-handed bob. Gollito did also try an audacious no-handed shaka, but even he couldn’t pull it off this time around. Despite a close final, the five-time world champion had done enough to convince the judges that he was the worthy winner as he successfully defended his single elimination crown.

Steven van Broeckhoven’s shaka

Man on the Move
On his way to sixth Scheffers defeated Andy Lachauer (JP / NeilPryde), the super talented Youp Schmit (JP / NeilPryde), before taking two Bonaire scalps in the form of Taty Frans  and Bjorn Saragoza. Scheffers was simply on fire as he reveled in the evening winds, the Dutchman consistently landed radical culos and konos, huge air funnels and amazing no-handed burners. Scheffers could have continued his rampage through the double, but unfortunately for him in his final heat against Ruenes he landed a couple of moves outside of the competition area, which proved crucial as his French rival came out on top.
Taty Frans and Amado Vrieswijk enjoyed a close fought battle in heat forty-five as Frans eventually just edged to competition after a 2:1 decision in his favor. A ridiculous backloop and a powerful, clean one-handed ponch were the separating factors as Frans marched on.

Youp Schmit in action

Results After the Single Elimination
1st Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo
2nd Kiri Thode
3rd Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different)
4th Anthony Ruenes
Results After the Double Elimination

1st Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo
2nd Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Different)
3rd Kiri Thode
4th Anthony Ruenes
5th Davy Scheffers
9th Youp Schmit (JP / NeilPryde)
17th Andy “Bubble” Chambers (JP / NeilPryde)
17th Andy Lachauer (JP / NeilPryde)
17th Yegor Popretinskiy (JP / NeilPryde)
25th Vladimir Yakovlev (JP / NeilPryde)
25th Tony Mottus (JP / NeilPryde)
33rd Alexander Seyss (JP / NeilPryde)
33rd Rasmus Oegelund (JP / NeilPryde)

Congratulations to Steven and all other JP riders in Podersdorf!