Thursday, May 14, a Tramontanesque day!
After the briefing of the Wind Challenge guru, Philippe Bru, which took place at 1pm, the 1200 participants set off on the 40 km course. 1200 windsurfers? Well, no! The tramontana, which had been absent all morning, suddenly rose, exceeding 50 knots during this first day of the event re round. As a result, only 1,084 sailors dared to take to the water, but only 377 windsurfers managed to cut the course. It was a first on the Wind Challenge! At the end of this day, a duel opposed Pierre Mortefon and Nicolas Warembourg, but it is finally the 1 er who won. Pierre Mortefon is the winner of the 2010 edition and current second in the world. Alexandre Cousin takes the 5th place e place, Pierre Moretti the 6 e antoine Albeau arrived 7 e and Björn Dunkerbeck, 13 e . In the women's category, Marion Mortefon, sister of, came in 1st re position. The 2 e place is taken by the world champion, Delphine Cousin. On this day, the falls were numerous and the tramontane did not spare anyone.
The amateurs' point of view
Gilles Rabetaud, an amateur who took part in this gigantic challenge confided in us about this day " I thought the devil lived in Port-La-Nouvelle (laughs). I went into the water with a 5-meter Blade, a 92-liter Patrik Diethelm and a 30 cm fin. The wind was still reasonable at the start, but after the Ayrolles pond, the gusts became extreme! You have to recognize your limits and I stopped after 20 kilometers." William Huppert, another rider of the band explains his feeling " When we saw Antoine Albeau get laid, we started to worry (laughs). I was in 5m slalom and I couldn't even tuck anymore! I fell three or four times and got passed by girls, respect to them!"
Friday, May 15, a calmer round and Mortefon still in place
This second round saw a tramontana wind remaining at around 40 knots, but a reduced number of starters. Indeed, only 687 competitors took the start and 545 completed the course. All of them kept in mind the apocalyptic day of the day before and were not very hot to take the start of this 2 e round. The race was relocated in front of the beach of the chalets and Pierre Mortefon, immediately, took the lead of this round shortened to 20 km with two round trips between the beach of the chalets and the mouth of the Ayrolles. Finally, after a tight final between Pierre Mortefon, Nicolas Warembourg and Antoine Questel, it is still Mortefon who wins this 2nd round e round. In the women's category, this time it was the two-time defending world champion, Delphine Cousin, who won the round.
Saturday, May 16, Albeau makes a great comeback
The tramontana was still raging for this third day of the Wind Challenge with gusts over 60 knots. The 3rd e the 4th round was launched in the morning on a reduced course of 20 km, but the 4th round had to be cancelled for security reasons. This time, there were more than 800 riders on the reduced course, including Antoine Albeau, who was determined to win, not very satisfied with his performance. As in previous races, Pierre Mortefon took the lead from the start, but Albeau's determination was not to be counted out as he made a meteoric rise, recording speeds of over 37 knots. That's how he got the 1st place re place of the round, followed by the champion of the 2010 Challenge. In the women's category, it was Lena Erdil, who won the heat just ahead of Marion Mortefon.
The Gran Canaria Dunkerbeck Wind Speed Challenge
Organized by Björn Dunkerbeck, this challenge took place during the 3 e round of the Wind Challenge and consecrated the windsurfer having realized the best 500 m run. The winner of the day, Antoine Albeau, the current world record holder in windsurfing speed, naturally won this challenge. He achieved his best 500m run at an average speed of almost 35 knots (34.8 exactly). Nice performance in strong winds blowing at 50 knots and among 800 competitors. Piéter Bijl takes the 2nd place e step of the podium and the organizer, Björn Dunkerbeck, the 3rd e . In the amateur category, Damien Nico, with a speed of 32.19 knots, took 4th place e
Sunday May 17, final day and coronation of Pierre Mortefon
For this last day of the Wind Challenge, we expected a weaker tramontana, with the conditions of the first three days, but it was not the case. 35 knots of wind accompanied the windsurfers to the starting line. Pierre Mortefon won this last race, just ahead of Nicolas Warembourg, 2 e and Antoine Questel, 3 e . Björn Dunkerbeck, Thomas Goyard and Diony Guadagnino followed them at the finish line. Antoine Albeau had a bad fall and was forced to retire.
It is therefore Pierre Mortefon, 26 years old, who won this Wind Challenge 2015, which gathered the greatest champions of the last 20 years. The performances of Nicolas Warembourg and Antoine Questel, outsiders at the start, are also to be highlighted.
In the women's race, this last round was won by Delphine Cousin, but this victory did not allow her to take the expected title. It is therefore Marion Mortefon, who like her brother, wins the Wind Challenge 2015. Delphine Cousin climbs on the 2 e step of the podium and Lena Erdil on the 3rd e .
