Event Summary: An incredible weekend as indoor windsurfing returns with a massive bang

After an eight year absence of indoor events, Poland’s National Stadium provided the perfect stage for indoor windsurfing to return with a bang. Over the duration of the weekend over 40,000 cheering fans packed into the stadium to be treated to an exceptional display of windsurfing, consisting of three disciplines - slalom, freestyle and jumping.

Indoor Freestyle

Nicolas Akgazciyan defended his world indoor crown, after his previous victory in Belgium. The Frenchman was in invincible form once again as he saw off competition from Taty Frans, Rafael de Windt and Max Matissek. Meanwhile, Sarah-Quita Offringa proved unbeatable in the pool in the women’s freestyle as she wowed the crowds to defeat Arrianne Aukes, Maaike Huvermann and Oda Johanne.

Indoor Slalom

Ben Proffitt reminded the windsurfing world that he is much more than just an amazing commentator as he saw off some stiff competition in the slalom to be crowned the King of the pool, after defeating Nicolas Akgazciyan by 2 heats to 1 in the super final. In the women’s slalom Lena Erdil seized the opportunity to claim victory, as she caused an upset with the home crowd by seeing off Zofia Klepacka in the final.

Indoor Jump

Onto the jumping and there was no stopping Thomas Traversa. The Frenchman landed an incredibly tweaked tabletop and a bolt upright forward to keep Ricardo Campello, Jules Denel and Antoine Martin at bay. Campello had entered the final as the favorite, but couldn’t find his best form until his final jump where he landed an insane pushloop to score 29 points out of a possible 30, but it wasn’t enough with two different jumps to count. Amanda Beenen defeated Justyna Sniady, Arrianne Aukes - who finished on the podium in every discipline - and Lena Erdil. The Dutch girl threw caution to wind as she rotated through a radical forward loop.

An amazing weekend in Poland’s National Stadium was concluded with the Red Bull Speed Challenge with Bjorn Dunkerbeck, which was eventually won by Taty Frans with a speed of just under 25 knots, whilst Maciek Rutkowski ended the weekend on a high after winning the Polish Indoor Championships.

We’ll see you again from the 15th September as the elite of the wave sailing world head to Denmark’s famed Cold Hawaii Coast for the fourth edition of the KIA Cold Hawaii PWA World Cup.

Day 3: Taty Frans is officially the fastest man of the pool

After yesterday’s amazing conclusion to the first PWA Indoor event in eight years, the spotlight shifted to the Red Bull Speed Challenge on the final day of the weekend, which saw sailors blitzing their way down the pool through two speed gates as they battled it out for the honor of being crowned the fastest man in the pool.

Sailors were given three runs a piece to set their fastest speed and eventually it was Taty Frans, who set the pool alight with a speed of 45.7km/h - almost 25 knots - to steal the victory from under the nose of Nicolas Akgazciyan on his final run as the Bonairean took the final title of the weekend.

That wraps up an amazing weekend here at Poland’s National Stadium as indoor windsurfing returned with an emphatic bang in front of thousands of fans. We’ll see you again next week for the next event as the elite of the wave sailing world head to Denmark’s famed Cold Hawaii Coast for the KIA Cold Hawaii PWA World Cup, which begins on the 15th September.

Day 2: Poland’s National Stadium explodes into life as the winners’ are crowned to cap a brilliant evening

With the National Stadium waiting to erupt, the scene was set perfectly for the finale of the first indoor event in eight years. From the word go, the atmosphere within the stadium was amazing, but as the evening progressed the crowd became more encapsulated, and vocal, by the minute as the world’s best left nothing on the line to produce an exceptional night for windsurfing on the whole.

Indoor Freestyle

The freestylers were unleashed into the pool first tonight, but just as eight years ago Nicolas Akgazciyan proved unbeatable. The Frenchman clearly excels under the pressure of performing in front of a crowd, and he didn't disappoint tonight either as he rotated through a trademark switch chachoo and a big shaka 360.

The question many people were asking tonight was whether the queen of freestyle could be defeated in the pool? As it turned out Sarah-Quita Offringa was as cool, calm and calculated as ever as she wowed the crowds to be crowned the champion, after stomping a stylish one-handed spock and a super quick double flaka.

Indoor Slalom

Many people may have forgotten that Ben Proffitt is more than just an amazing commentator for the PWA. The Brit is now known across the globe for his unrecognizable enthusiasm and expertise when it comes to the world of windsurfing, but many have forgotten that Proffitt is also one of the best windsurfers in the world, such is his unbelievable dedication and passion towards the sport. However, tonight Proffitt returned to his competitive ways and the Brit was rewarded with a brilliant victory over Akgazciyan by way of a 2-1 victory.

Lena Erdil saw off the local competition - Zofia Klepacka - in the women’s final as the Turkish beaut successfully defended her better seeding, meaning that the Turkish lady claimed an emphatic victory by way of 2-0 decision.

Indoor Jump

Thomas Traversa showed exactly why he is not just one of the best storm chasers in the world, but also one of the finest jumper. The Frenchman opened with an incredible tweaked tabletop, before backing it up with a bolt upright forward, to defeat the likes of Ricardo Campello, who eventually had to settle for second place.

Meanwhile, Amanda Beenen claimed the victory in the women’s as she threw caution to the wind to throw herself into a big forward loop. The women’s competition was also verging on the line of life or death, but all of the female sailors must be rewarded for the bravery that they showed to face the ramp again!

Day 1: An intense day of furious racing, frantic freestyle and radical jumping

After a full morning and afternoon of competition to decide which trialists would proceed in the main draw, the main event kicked off at 8pm in front of thousands of fans in Poland’s National Stadium, as indoor windsurfing returned with an emphatic bang.

Indoor Slalom

The slalom sailors took center stage first on the opening night of competition and after several intense heats Nicolas Akgazciyan, Andrea Rosati, Ben Proffitt and Matteo Iachino were able to navigate their way into the semifinals. Tomorrow will see the top two advance, before a best of three heats final.

Meanwhile, in the women’s division, reigning PWA Slalom World Champion - Delphine Cousin - advanced into the top four alongside Lena Erdil, Arrianne Aukes - who is better known for her freestyling expertise - and local girl Zofia Klepacka.

Indoor Freestyle

Nicolas Akgazciyan made a seamless transition from his racing equipment to his freestyle setup as he stole the show in the freestyle. The Frenchman was simply in a league of his this evening as he rotated through a super stylish switch chachoo, a big shaka flaka and an absolutely amazing regular chachoo. Joining Akgazciyan in the final will be Taty Frans, Max Matissek and Rafael de Windt, who did brilliantly to qualify, but there were a few shocks too as Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo and Ricardo Campello - who hold eight world titles between them - both missed out on a place in the final. As did Anthony Ruenes, who unfortunately couldn’t quite replicate the form he showed in the warm-up.

Indoor Jump

The best was saved until last in the jumping category as Antoine Martin stole the show with the final jump of the day, after immediately bettering Ricardo Campello’s fantastic planing pushloop. However, with nothing to lose Martin launched into an absolutely amazing, planing backloop to earn 28 points out of a possible 30. Also advancing into tomorrow’s show are Thomas Traversa, Jules Denel, Alex Mussolini, Jamie Hancock, Andrea Rosati and Ben Proffitt, with the latter two featuring in both the jump and the slalom tomorrow.

Tomorrow will see the conclusion of all three disciplines, across the men’s and women’s fleets - with the women entering the water for the first time for jumping and freestyle. The incredible action will being again from 8 PM and you’ll be able to see how the evening unfolds by tuning into PWA World Tour. Who do you think will come out on top?

- Text and pictures are courtesy of John Carter / PWA World Tour -