Grazie Mille Torbole!
Lake Garda - the most legendary inland sailing spot in the world in a stunning location, has welcomed yet again the Techno293 Class. This time it was special, as we had 300 competitors from Asia, Africa and Europe and being a Junior and Youth Class, it meant it was a first major event for many of the sailors coming to Torbole.
We’ve been here for 10 days of Techno, opening with the TWF 130 International Championships, then moving swiftly on to these 2021 Techno293 World Championships, as guests of the hugely experienced and superbly well organised local club, Circolo Surf Torbole, working hand-in-hand with the IWA (International Windsurfing Association) to ensure yet another successful event. And this has been the biggest windsurf championships in the world in 2021.
The IWA classes took this opportunity to thank the host and dedicated to Circolo Surf Torbole the Ceri Williams award in recognition of those who, like Ceri Williams, demonstrate that they are seeking excellence and stand at the service of the sport of windsurfing and the kids who love it. Circolo Surf Torbole represents all the values of excellence pursued by IWA in its institutional activity. Especially in 2020 and 2021 the club guaranteed a very high level of sporting, educational and didactic activity, despite the enormous difficulties encountered in the pandemic.
It's been a challenging week for all the windsurfers too, congratulations to all of them for coming to compete, for their good humour, their skills, and for carrying the baton for this amazing class. Everyone here is a winner, but it’s all about the World Champions.
U17 Boys were the first to complete their allocation of (15) races. Federico Alan Pilloni (Italy) kept his nerve and gave Italy something to cheer, his two 2nd places on the final day assuring him of the title, well deserved after an unflappable week’s sailing. Meletios Kalpogiannakis (Greece) paid the price of one bad day to finish 2nd, while Britain’s Boris Shaw finished in 3rd place. The U17 Girls also made 15 rounds, and it was the late mover Nela Sadilkova (Czech Republic) who improved her lead to claim victory. Long time leader Kristyna Chalupnikova (Czech Republic) gave them a 1-2, with Barbara Winau Ordinas (Spain) holding to 3rd.
No change at the top of the U15 Girls, with Maria Rudowicz (Poland) holding on for her gold medal, ahead of Azul Sanchez Vallejo (Spain) and Anna Polettini (Italy). In the U15 Boys it was Itamar Levi (Israel) who led from start to finish, beating Dmitrii Nesterenko (Russia), 2nd, with Rocco Makana Sotomayor (Italy) 3rd.
The new category of U13 was the tightest result of all, but the long-time leader Mathias Bortolotti (Italy) clung on by less than a point to become the first ever U13 champion, ahead of teammate Pierluigi Caproni, and Emir Mercanoglu (Turkey), sneaking into 3rd place.
Another amazing Techno week, another set of worthy winners, and 300 very happy young windsurfers making their way home.
See you next year for more of the same!