Kiteboarders Olly Bridge and Dirk Hanel take all glory at the 35th Engadin Wind against a fleet of 130 Sailors
| Being one of the longest running events in Europe, this year the Engadin Wind attracted more than 130 kiteboarders, windsurfers and sailors on Moths.
In the end, both the Marathon and the “Best of 3″ competition (a combination of Speed, Slalom and Course Racing) were dominated by the kiteboarding fleet. It has been the battle for the past years to finally win the Marathon over the windsurfers and this year it was about time. With a two minute ahead Start the Windsurfing Fleet went on the course followed by the Kitesurfers and then the sailors. Throughout the complete 4 laps over the lake it was Dirk Hanel (GER, North) that was always a bit ahead of 15 year old Oliver Bridge (GBR, North) and Martin Mike (SUI North/Ozone). Finally in the last upwind Dirk Hanel did two small mistakes running into a wind hole and giving away the lead to Olly who then won the 35th edition of the “Engadinwind Surfmarathon” in 46 minutes and 27 seconds ahead of Dirk Hanel (GER, North) and Martin Mike (SUI, North/Ozone). Best Windsurfer was Nicolas Warembourg (FRA, JP/NeilPryde) in 48.31 minutes, best Sailor on his Moth was Philip Käsermann (SUI, Mach2/KA). Also Steph Bridge (GBR, North) with a finishing time of 52 minutes and 29 seconds was the fastest lady on the lake. “It was a great match and battle between Olly , Mike and me throughout the race, but when I realized that we had passed the fastest windsurfers that had started 2 minute ahead of us the win was almost secondary for me. I knew we had finally beaten the windsurfers on this lake and in this fantastic race! I was here for the 4th time to reach the goal and Olly, Mike and me where finally faster then the Windsurfers.” Hanel commented after a successful day at lake Silvaplana.  Foto Engadinwind / Marc von Swoll  Foto Engadinwind/ Marc von Swoll |
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