2002 PWA Freestyle Special King of the Lake Registration Day

It was a perfect preparation day for the world's most prestigious windsurfing Freestyle event. On that beautiful warm and sunny day loads of spectators found their way to Conca d Oro at Torbole, Lake Garda to see their favorite riders.

The world's best Freestyle riders rigged their sails and tuned their boards to be prepared when the wind kicks in. At least once per day the so-called pit lane opens up and the spectators have the opportunity to see the racers and their gear face to face in the racer's tent.

Not only the superstars like Matt Pritchard (King 2001) (AHD/Gaastra), Nik Baker (Mistral/North Sails) from England, two times Freestyle World Champion Josh Stone (JP/Neil Pryde), Web Pedrick (AHD/North Sails), Remko de Weerd (AHD/Gaastra) and the Jensen brothers (Orjan: Proof/North Sails, Vidar: North Sails) but also the very young riders like Alexis Zabala, Douglas Diaz, Colin Sifferlen (Mistral/North Sails), Kauli Seadi (Naish Sails)and the Bonaire Kids Tonki (AHD/Gaastra), Tati Frans (AHD/Gaastra) and Keke Dammers (Starboard) want the crown badly.

The level of Freestyle exploded in the last year and the youngsters are expected to give the pros a hard time and it's maybe the first time in windsurfing history that 15 different riders could win the event.

Bad luck for 16 year old top-seeded Venezuelan rider Ricardo Campello (JP/Neil Pryde), as he unfortunately slipped on the beach and broke his toe and therefore will be out of the race. We wish him from here a very quick recovery!!

As much as four world champions, Daida Ruano (Mistral/North Sails), Iballa Ruano (Mistral/North Sails), Colette Guadagnino (JP/Neil Pryde) and Karin Jaggi (F2/Arrows) are fighting for the ladies crown…so a lot of excellent freestyle action is guaranteed there as well.

The second discipline as we call it, the nightlife, will be as spectacular as the action on the water. Brian Talma (F2/Arrows), the action man from Barbados, the man who wants to live forever invites all the people to join him wherever the action is. And there will be plenty of it during this week. On Thursday, it was on a boat where all riders and journalists were invited for dinner and then the whole fleet moved on to the famous Moby Dick and the Winds Bar and had a drink or two in order to start the wind machine for Friday…
Dr Beat E-69