Neubauer Wins Windsurfing World Championship Title in Fuerteventura
Lennart Neubauer from Greece clinched the men’s Freestyle title on the final day of the 38th Windsurfing World Championship in Fuerteventura. He defended his lead from the earlier heats, edging out Belgium’s Yentel Caers in a thrilling final decided by less than a point. In contrast, the women’s competition was postponed due to challenging sea conditions and will resume on Monday, 20 July.
The afternoon session kicked off with a match between Bodhi Kempen (Netherlands) and France’s Sam Esteve, who advanced through the heats despite tough conditions featuring some flat water between waves.
Belgium’s Steven Van Broeckhoven narrowly defeated Japan’s Takuma Sugi, while Jacopo Testa from Italy beat Nicolas Akgazciyan of France. Akgazciyan faced difficulties after his mast broke during a jump, forcing him to call for assistance, which cost him valuable time.
Dieter Van der Eyken (Belgium) ended the run for UK’s George Grisley, who was eliminated in the fourth round.
Esteve then put in a standout performance against Van Broeckhoven, scoring 41.31 points—today’s highest score—allowing him to progress further in the competition.
Testa reached the top four following a strong comeback against Van der Eyken, and then faced Esteve, securing his place among the elite after scoring 37.49 points early in their heat.
In the eighth round, Testa competed against Balz Müller (Switzerland) for third place. Müller secured this slot with impressive moves, including a chebongka and double culo, while Testa ended in fourth.
In the penultimate round, Caers overcame Müller to secure a spot in the final against Neubauer. Caers dominated the heat with high-scoring maneuvers but fell short in the final match-up.
The men’s final showcased exceptional conditions, with Neubauer starting strong and executing a series of complex moves. Despite a spirited challenge from Caers, Neubauer’s final score solidified his victory, reclaiming the Fuerteventura title without needing a super final.
Meanwhile, the only women’s heat of the day had Germany’s Helena Derya Lale lead against Isabel van Noesel (Netherlands), earning her a place in the next round before the competition was halted due to worsening conditions. The women’s champion will be determined once the competition resumes.
Maaike Huvermann (Netherlands) remains in the lead for the women’s title following her win in the initial elimination round. She’ll need to fend off a determined Sarah-Quita Offringa (Aruba) to secure her victory.
Men’s Final Standings:
- Lennart Neubauer (GRE)
- Yentel Caers (BEL)
- Balz Müller (SUI)
- Jacopo Testa (ITA)
- Takumi Moriya (JPN)
- Sam Esteve (FRA)
- Dieter Van der Eyken (BEL)
- Steven Van Broeckhoven (BEL)
