The 2018 IWWF European & African (E&A) Cable Wakeboard Championships for Junior and Senior categories were officially been opened during a great ceremony on a stage in Idroscalo last Sunday night. The event is currently being organisedplace at Wakeparadise Cablepark Milano, a Rixen 5-tower Cableway situated on the south shore of lake Idroscalo, a former water plane runway next to Airport Milano Linate, which was later redesigned to a recreational area for the citizens of Milano. The 11m high cable delivers an enormous pull and in combination with the top-level features setup, spectators are able to witness the highest level of riding ever seen at any IWWF European & African Championships.
243 riders from 25 different nations have registered for the event making this event the biggest ever IWWF European & Afrian Championships with regards to the number of attending competitors and also the number of represented nations.
The IWWF European & African Championships are divided into two competitions, with the first four days dedicated to Youth and Senior Categories. From today, the stage belonging to riders in the Open categories with the finals scheduled on Sat, 18th August 2018.
Throughout the whole competition, people on site have witnessed a very impressive level of riding – especially among the Girls, Boys and Juniors. Several of the youngsters performed a range of insane tricks, leaving the judges thinking hard and most of the older riders in awe.
In the Girls (U15) finals, 13-year old Irina Ignatieva (RUS) managed to finish on top after putting down solid feature hits combined with hard airticks like Frontflip to Blind and a Mobe, leaving the reigning IWWF European & African Champion Aurelie Godet (FRA), who impressed the judges with sick rail transfers and a Railey Frontside 360, in second place. Jolina Thormann (GER) placed 3rd.
In Boys (U15) it was the multi talented boat and cable rider Maxime Roux (FRA) dominating the finals by putting down an insane run with amazing rail tricks, followed by an outstanding Front Blind Mobe to Mobius 540 combination and a Heelside Frontside 900 off the kicker. Kareem Ahdy (EGY), who just started riding two years ago and never been to any other cable park but his home park, placed 2nd with consistent runs throughout the whole event, even landing a backside 315 in the finals. Luke Carrick (GBR) ended up in 3rd position with clean rail tricks and an insane Frontflip backside 360 to Mobe 5 combination in front of the judges.
In Junior Ladies (U19) it was Italian ripper Claudia Pagnini (ITA) grabbing Gold with a standup run including the highest-level feature hits, such as an backside 270 transfer from the kicker to the Streetseries rail. 15-year old, former IWWF European & African Champion, Marina Kacheeva (RUS) fell early in her first run, but then managed to fight herself back into 3rd position with a great second run. Her team member, Maria Volgina (RUS) came 2nd, performing a nice and clean run including inside and outside Mobe mixed with solid feature tricks.
With 40 riders competing in the Junior Men’s (U19) category, it was again unpredictable who was going to win. In the end it was Riccardo de Tollis (ITA) who took Gold with an absolutely insane run, showing great feature skills, including a Heelside Frontside 900 over the kicker plus high-intensity airtricks in the form of a Crowmobe, Railey Backside 360, Frontmobe 540 Nose Grab and Mobe 5. Phillip Koch (GER) ended up in 2nd place by performing an impressive series of airtricks, leaving Oliver Orban (HUN) in third place, who performed inside and outside Toeside airticks.
In the Masters Ladies’ (Over 30) category it was Julie Domer (FRA) winning with a standup run, leaving Steph Caller (GBR) in 2nd and Alisa Naugolnova (RUS) in 3rd place.
The Masters Men’s (Over 30) category was won by legendary Daniel Fetz (AUT), showing his best run when he needed it, including clean rail hits and a well as a composed series of inverts. Reigning IWWF European & African Champion Robin Leonard Jensen (DEN) ended up in second place and Dale Crossley (GBR) came in 3rd.
One of the most senior riders of the event was Piero Pierani (ITA), who took home the third Gold medal for the host nation by winning the Veterans (Over40) category with a well-balanced ride. Alexander Kacheev (RUS) got 2nd and former IWWF European & African Champion Raphael Menconi (FRA) ended up on 3rd spot.
The Wakeskaters in Junior Ladies and Junior Men categories were showing great skills on the water. Several riders performed big transfers on the features and lots of flat-tricks at a very high technical level. Among the female competitors it was Telma Cester (ESP) who took the top spot on the podium, leaving Martyna Andrzeejczak (POL) in 2nd and Nina De Groot (NED) in 3rd place. In the Junior Men Wakeskate finals Theo Balsar (FRA) won the bronze medal, edged out by Maxime Giry (FRA) who took silver. Netherlands’ Daniel Smits put down a clean run including kickflip and frontside flip as well as some solid feature tricks to win the gold medal.
Event Information, Starting Orders & Results: http://myzone.cablewakeboard.net/en/116/?sub=6&comp=1603
Live-Stream: https://www.facebook.com/IWWFED/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IWWFED/
Hashtags: #eawakechamp2018, #wakeparadisemilano, #iwwf
Wakeparadise Cablepark:http://www.wakeparadise.it
IWWF: http://www.iwwfed.com
