IKA News:
Bridge and Kalinina IKA 2014 European Formula Champions
The final day of the 2014 Formula Kite European Championship was meant for medal races of the top ten competitors from men’s and women’s fleet, but the wind was too weak to run any races all day long. In the afternoon the official closing of the Championship took place.
Despite the wind speed that was varying between 1 and 5 knots, the day was anything but boring to the spectators at the beach. There was a wakeboarding contest, in which some of the competitors took part. Others packed their equipment and tried to catch the last sun rays. At 5 pm all officials, organisers and competitors gathered in front of DUNE apartment building to celebrate the 2014 European Champions.
Magdalena Węgielnik opened the ceremony by thanking everyone for the great event and summarizing it shortly in her speech. After that, Olga Roszak-Pezała, representative of Mielno community, said a few words, followed by Markus Schwendtner, the CEO of the International Kiteboarding Association. They both expressed their contentment with the Championship and congratulated all the competitors and organisers.
Oliver Bridge (GBR, North) was crowned European Champion in three categories: men under 18, men under 21 and men open. The Vice-Champion’s title in the open category went to Florian Trittel (ESP, TMV/Ozone). The last competitor to stand on the podium was Riccardo Leccese (ITA, ML/Ozone).
The women’s division was won by Elena Kalinina (RUS, UC/Elf). Agnieszka Grzymska (POL, ML/Ozone), is the Women’s Vice-Champion after the competition in Mielno and Tatiana Sysoeva (RUS, ML/Ozone) finished third.
Final Results:
MASTERS
1. Tomek Janiak (POL, RRD)
2. Viktoras Seputa (LTU, North)
3. Erwin Gruber (GER, TMV/Ozone)
OVERALL WOMEN
1. Elena Kalinina (RUS, UC/Elf)
2. Aga Grzymska (POL, ML/Ozone)
3. Tatiana Sysoeva (RUS, ML/Ozone)
OVERALL MEN
1. Oliver Bridge (GBR, North)
2. Florian Trittel (ESP, UC/Ozone)
3. Riccardo Leccese (ITA, ML/Ozone)