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DAY 1 / Thursday, June 17thThe concept
of an international fr The first day of the 1999 King of the Lake started at 11.30 with the first official Skippers Meeting and a very warm welcome to the 48 intentional sailors representing 12 different countries. All the top names in pro-windsurfing are here including, the 11 times time World Champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Australian wave world champion Jason Polakow, Hawaiian Josh Stone, British No 1 Nik Baker, local hero Jesse Dossi, as well as Rush Randle, Marcos Perez, Vidar Jensen and many other stars. All were here early this morning, busy rigging and trimming their equipment. Due to a delayed flight from Hawaii, the French sailor Robert Teriitehau was not able to attend the registration procedure in time therefore has been ruled out of the event before a heat was sailed. After a week of no wind and two days heavy rain, the skies finally cleared on the northern side of the lake and the sun also broke through, which in turn brought the breeze. At 13.30, Race Director and Head Wave Judge Sergio Cantagalli gave the signal for the official warm-up sessions and at 14.00 the first heat was held in a light and gusty southerly breeze. In heat 1
was, Hawaiian waterman, Rush Therefore, no official competition could be held today. At 16.00 the head Judge announcend the end of competition for the day and sailors packed awat their kit and made for the Conca dOro DiscoClub and the official opening ceremony. Tomorrow's weather report is looking promising for a day of strong Ora wind as a high pressure is heading towards the Alps. DAY 2 / Friday, June 18thPerfect weather and a fresh northerly breeze opened this second day of the 4th Red Bull King of the Lake held at the Hotel Pier, Lake Garda. As scheduled the first skippers meeting was held at 11.00am keeping sailors, judges and the very interested public on stand by and praying for more wind. While the DJ was kicking the beats, suddenly at 01.00 PM (precise as a swiss watch) the nothern breeze switched into Ora wind and spread excitement among public and sailors. Although judges were ready to score the action, the wind did not reach a sufficient speed to let the sailors perform and the stand-by flag was kept up for the rest of the day. No problem for the spectators as talk shows and stars presentations as well as poster signing, autographs and photoshoots at the SURFERs Magazine booth, were only some of the activities of the day that kept the crowd busy and interested in socialising with their windsurfing heros. For more than an hour the crowd was fascinated of the riders and their stories. With the 04.00 PM announcement this 2nd day of competition was officially closed reminding all the sailors of the early morning appointment with tommorrows skippers meeting at 06.00 AM as the northern wind called Peler ususally blows very strong from sunrise onward. Anyway, the spectators left the event site looking forward for tonights big party at the Parco Pavese in Torbole where the local tourism board APT together with MISTRAL and the event organisor finish the day with free pasta party, live music and italian atmosphere. After the luck of wind that had followed the previous events of the PWA WorldTour the RED BULL King of the Lake becomes even more important in terms of points for the overall ranking and the organization will try as hard as possible to have a Crowning for this event. DAY 3 / Saturday, June 19th The third day of the RED BULL King of the Lake
starte As the wind got stronger Australian Jason Polakow climbed all the way to the finals, as well as Michi Schweiger, young and talented Andy Wolff, and last years´ King" Robby Seeger who was ready to do anything to defend his precious title. The breathtaking eight minute final was full of incredible board and sail spins, fully controlled by the top performers. Seeger was pulling extreme Vulcans/air jibes and Spocks as the Australian Polakow answered with radical spin-loops and willy skippers. The crowd went mad and cheered to the latest and hottest moves ever seen on flat water. Then the judges decision was made: Once again 29 year old German Robby Seeger won the first elimination, being followed by his fellow countryman Andy Wolff. Third place for world wave champion Jason Polakow and fourth for local hero and windsurf instructor Michi Schweiger. After starting the second elimination, the wind unfortunately dropped and even after waiting until late in the afternoon there were no further heats possible. So, the race direction decided to stop the competition, confirming Robby Seeger once more as the King of the Lake. Absolutely happy and totally satisfied with the judges decision, racers as well as the spectators will meet at tonight´s party at the Conca D´ Oro Surfcenter, including the crowning of the king of the Lake 1999. DJ performance as well as Seb the Rapper will keep the crowd busy until the very morning. Tomorrow we´re expecting great conditions for the super session that will be held at 11.00 a.m.. King of the Lake '99 Freestyle Results1 SEEGER,
Robby G-307 Simmer Style,RRD, Pro-Limit, Target ©SSM Freesports / Dan Atkins |
eestyle competition on the Garda Lake was born 4
years ago from the idea of a group of windsurfers lead by freestyler Alex
Humpel, who wanted to introduce this new windsurfing discipline to the
world.
Randle, Peter Garzke from Germany, local
sailor Paolo Biondani and Austrian Mike Graupp who had to maintain their
composure as the fluky conditions caused the competition to be halted
several times due to insufficient breeze. 
d with
clear sky and a good Peler breeze. Wake-up calls and alarms for the
world's top windsurf freestylers were set for 5.00 a.m. because chances
were high to compete in the early morning. Skipper´s meeting was held at
6.00 a.m. at the event site at hotel Pier. The square course was set in
the most windy area in the center of the lake and the Peler wind showed
his power at sunrise. After a few heats of the first elimination race the
wind suddenly stopped due to upcoming clouds, leaving the sailors and
organizers disappointed, especially because of the early wake-up call.
Within an hour the Peler wind turned from east northerly direction to
southern Ora blowing in gusts with more than 20 knots -- and the race was
restarted at 9.30 a.m. Unfortunately, Spanish MISTRAL rider Marcos Perez
missed his heat. From the very first heat on, extreme freestyle
windsurfing with exiting manouevers was performed in choppy waves.
Selection began from the judges tower as heats were running. Each 5 minute
heat brought two competitors out of four towards the finals. The most
famous names of the windsurfing world were battling for the Crown in
spectacular fights. Judges were looking for style, radical manoeuvers and
variety of moves. World champion Björn Dunkerbeck lost his place in the
second round in a very tough heat against Austrian Frank Lewisch, German
Wolfgang Wiefling (ending in 5th position) and Web Pedrick for USA (ending
in 9th position). Great performances for the Jensen brothers, both in 7th
place and Alex Humpel was 5th. Local hero Jesse Dossi was stopped in 9th
position as well as Chris Wyman.