Un breve report dal Dakla Festival 2010.

Thursday, february the 25th, around 4.30 pm, nearly 25 selectionned riders were on the starting line for this first long distance race of the 2010 Dakhla Festival. The forever leader Bjorn Dunkerbeck was leading from the beginning of the race, and logically he finished first of this Moroccan competition. Bieuzy Mauffrey, from France, took the 2nd place closely followed by the young french slalomer Pascal Toselli. In the kitesurf discipline, Alex Caizergues, french kitesurf world record owner, very glad of this opportunity to challenge the windsurfers.
All the competitors talked about the particular nature of the course. The lagoon of Dakhla gives us a unique place to ride. "On the water, in the middle of the bay, we can glance at the sand dunes background, says Sarah Hébert, 1st women rider finishing the race. We even hesitate to stop on the coast to see this landscape closer." Besides this incredible environment, we can see a complex course, "physical, long and hard" in Bieuzy's words when he arrived on the beach. "This is the most difficult long distance I've ever known" said Bieuzy. Sailing on very large legs, the riders are finally evolving in an extreme environment as they is still a risk for them to sail the wrong course! Once arrived, Bjorn explained : "Even if we didn't sail for 80 km today, we can already imagine that the course will be very long when feeling the result of 40 km in our legs!" Even the great racing experience of the world champion was challenged, and he confided us : "I tried to stay close to the sailors' group so that I don't lose myself, with keeping a certain distance to win the event."
Sjoukje Bredenkamp, Speed Sailing Recordwoman, had to give up. She said she was completely lost on the water, and that it would have taken too much time for her to try to catch up with the group! But whatever happens she just keeps smiling and enjoying the trip. Anders Bringdal, greatest Bjorn's rival, had to give up too because he broke his equipment on the first leg... you'll have more info from him soon.
Ranking:
1- Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Windsurf)
2- Bieuzy Mauffret (Windsurf)
3- Pascal Toselli (Windsurf)
4 -Ludo Jossin (Windsurf)


1st kitesurf : Alex Caizergues
1st women: Sarah Hébert (Windsurf)

Out of competition for nearly than 10 years now, our Swedish rider honoured the invitation of the Dakhla Festival. "This almost virgin land is fascinating" said Anders to our reporter. Touched by the "mix of the waves and of the lagoon" offered by this thin peninsula, Anders likes the relaxed atmosphere of the competitions. "Even if the long distance is very hard physically, the ryhtm of life is less stressing than usual."
Yesterday, Anders was not able to compete with his long-standing opponent, Bjorn Dunkerbeck. Because of a technical problem, the swedish champion has broken a batten of his sail, and has nearly ripped off his boom. It seemed that the helicopter, who was carrying the photographers, was a little bit too close to the sailors, disturbing Anders' wind and race. Though, the windsurfer did began his race very well. On the first leg, the two champions are fighting very close. Bjorn, equiped with a smaller gear, kept the advantage during the first 10 km. "I thought the wind will drop at the end of the race, and then I chose a bigger sail." At the last minute, Bjorn followed the wrong course. Anders tried to take advantage of his rival's mistake and overtook him down wind. All of a sudden the drama occured and Anders felt in the water. With calm and self control, Anders is hoping only one thing : wind for the end of the week, Inch'allah !

Long distance men :

1- Bjorn dunkerbeck
2- Bieuzy Mauffret
3- Pascal Toselli

1st kite: Alex Caizergues

Long distance women:

1-Sarah Hébert
2-Ainoha Garcia
3-Fabienne D'Ortoli

Windsurf Waves (International):

1-Thomas Traversa
2-Fabrice Beaux
3-Soufiane Sahli

Windsurf Waves (Morocco):

1- Soufiane Sahli
2- Abde Louahed Labdi
3- Faycel Hmidi

Surf Morocco Short Board :

1- Abdelkhalek Elharim
2-Yassine Ramdani
3- Saad Errami

Surf International Short Board:

1- Abdelkhalek Elharim
2-Alexis Deniel
3- Yassine Ramdani

Surf Longboard (International):

1-Alexis Deniel
2-Ben Skinner
3-Damien Castera

Stand Up Paddle Men :

1-Alexis Deniel
2-Alex Grégoire
3-Ronan Chatain

Stand Up Paddle Women:

1-Fabienne D'Ortoli
2-Sarah Hébert
3- Ainoha Garcia