WARSAW PWA INDOOR WORLD CUP!

For a brief moment 30,000 spectators are thrown into darkness as the lights dim in the Polish National stadium bang on schedule at 8pm. They have come to witness one of the most insane windsurfing spectacles in this awesome arena and the atmosphere is buzzing as we wait in anticipation for the show to kick off. Down on the pitch, thirty four massive fans connected by thousands of metres of electric cables to huge generators  overshadow the ninety by thirty metres pool containing 3000 cubic metres of water.  Everything is calm right now but in fifteen minutes time, there will be a cauldron of man-made wind and choppy water; a gladiator pit for the remaining warriors to fight it out for the victory. It is time for them to to step up to the plate, be brave and outwit their opponents; no guts, no glory, its all or nothing from now on!

Story & Photos JOHN CARTER

(This feature originally appeared in the October 2014 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 10 x issues a year!)

“ When your turn comes to jump, you cannot ignore that everyone is watching you but at the start ramp it is only you and that one chance you have to entertain all those people, now or never ’’ ^{Thomas Traversa}

LOGISTICS
A couple of days earlier I had jetted into Warsaw, Poland late in the evening the day before registration. The next morning the crew were at the stadium at 7am for a full day ofmeetings which would outline the schedule and every detail for the two main nights of the show. One thing for sure, this event was on an unprecedented scale and a huge logistical challenge. My first glimpse of the stadium was from the taxi window en route from the Hotel, with its majestic red and white circular structure dominating the surrounding part of the city it certainly was a bold architectural statement. This was the very stadium that had embarrassingly flooded prior to the England versus Poland world cup qualifier back in 2012 after officials ignored the forecast for heavy rain. The game was abandoned and the stadium subsequently earned  the nickname of the ‘National Pool’  ! So it was a slightly ironic venue for an indoor windsurfing event but an excuse nonetheless for the stadium to restore its reputation!

“ I was pumped and fully focused! I just kept telling myself  ‘You’ve got this.. you just need to nail the start, stick the gybes and you’ve got this..  come on! ”   ^{Ben Proffitt}

The moment I stepped into the stunning interior ofthe national stadium through the player’s tunnel, the realization struck that this was ‘one mother of an event’ and possibly a make or break moment for the windsurfing world. The whole scale of this place was ridiculous compared to anything I have experienced before in my twenty years of following the PWA world tour as we were about to be part of a show in the Polish equivalent of Wembley Stadium. Our offices were based right next to the players changing rooms, and behind the scenes,  hundreds of people were working meticulously to make sure everything would go ahead without any glitches, the pressure was on!

The next day we were back at the stadium at 7am to prepare for the trials which were due to kick off at 8am, plus the first show which would take place at 8 through until 11pm. Bearing in mind the fans had barely been tested by this stage, the pressure was on Fred Beauchene and his crew of electricians to make sure the thirty four fans were all working and at the correct angle to provide the best wind. There were a lot of worried faces around by 8.30 am, the fans were finally on but around a third of them were not working, plus there were over sixty windsurfers hungry for some much needed practice. We were also well behind schedule but by the end of the day, somehow it all came together and we had completed all the trials, put on the first show and everything was set for the grand finale on Saturday night. There was still a few snags though,  Friday’s show looked a little empty in the stands, the freestyle kind of dragged on and there were no finals to really rev up the crowds.  I’d also heard through social media the commentary had been drab and uninspiring on the live stream,  with some even comparing it to something you might hear at an indoor bowls tournament!  We were now banking on the final show to deliver and believe me, it did not disappoint!

So let’s fast forward to 8pm on Saturday evening. The arena is in darkness like a rock concert, as if the likes of Bon Jovi are about to hit the stage. There is a hush in the crowd and then boom. The music cranks in, lights and dry ice fill the stadium while thousands of orange balloons are dropped from the roof. Two jet boarders set the pace, wet suits coated in neon lights as they twirl through the spotlights throwing plumes of water in their wake. Already the show is on a whole new level to the Friday performance. Now it is time for stars of the windsurfing world to shine in the spotlight. Like rock stars they are introduced one by one in front of 30,000 plus spectators.  I am sure they must have felt pretty special being part of such a spectacle and probably nervous as hell considering expectations are there for them to perform.  At 8.15 precisely there is a countdown as the fans are switched on, and then one by one, they roar into action, slowly whipping streaks of wind across the pool until we have a solid thirty knots. The noise of the fans is deafening when you are close but it all adds to the atmosphere as we build up towards the first action of the night.

TEASER!
We kick off with freestyle, it’s the warmer upper so to speak, the opening set of the night, like a band slowly working up the crowd. Girls first with two runs apiece and then the men with the likes of Max Matissek crashing out of the pool and saluting the audience as the atmosphere builds with each move. Both Gollito Estredo and Steven Van Broeckhoven failed to qualify allowing French sailor Nicolas Akgazciyan to be the star of the show and judging by his reactions when he pulls his moves, he is hungry and he wants this win. The Frenchman punches the water as he nails each move and the crowd erupt for the first time of the night. I had spoken to him in the dressing room just before the show and he was so fired up not just to win but to also do it in style. The freestyle is over in twenty minutes or so as the fans shut down and we move straight over to the main stage for the prize giving. It is now time to celebrate as Akgazciyan brandishes the tricolour as he charges up onto the podium, this is his moment and he is determined to milk it all the way. Once again it’s a slick show filmed all live on TV by multiple cameras all over the stadium. Word is also out that the commentary is much better tonight so it looks like this show is the real deal at last!

THE RACE IS ON
There is barely a moment to regroup before another countdown and the fans crank up for the slalom, with Ben Proffitt flying the flag for the Brits and firm favourite according to the time trials. A day or two before the event Ben dropped in at Boardwise on his way to Poland, and actually found an old JP 100 litre freestyle board identical to the one he won on at the London indoor. With a proven winner stashed in his van he headed to Poland to compete in the trials with no expectations and nothing to lose. In a display of true British grit and using all of his early Olympic racing experience, Ben has  charged  all the way to the two man final. And guess who is in it with him? none other than slippery Akgazciyan, who is obviously well adept to navigating his way round the indoor pool style of sailing. The racing actually works way better than the freestyle for the crowds;  it’s easier to follow and there is a clear winner at the end of every heat. In the women’s final Polish Olympic sailor,Zofia Klepacka was in the mix against Lena Erdil and with a local heroine to cheer along this was exactly what was needed to get the stadium on their feet. Now it’s Bens turn to step up and he has the opening advantage with the slot that releases first into the water. Ben is obviously hungrier than ever, we know he is ultra-competitive and now he is in a position to win.  The pressure is on for him not to blow it at the last hurdle. One thing we have learned from the slalom is that race sails, race boards and heavyweight riders that compete on the real tour have absolutely no advantage over the likes of Proffitt and Akgazciyan who are both using fast planing old freestyle boards and regular wave and freeride sails. After two out of three super finals it is one apiece between Ben and Nicolas with both sailors at the top of the ramp ready to slide down into the pool for the grand finale. Ben slips into the lead straight off the bat and holds off the charge from Akgazciyan who is hell bent of spoiling the party for Proffitt and going ‘gung-ho’ for the victory himself. Ben though holds on to his nerves and steers round the course flawlessly to take the win, while his girlfriend Justyna is pretty much having kittens, overjoyed that Ben has crossed the line in first. The emotions of all the sailors on stage, is already something that is coming across very strongly. Like a big family, they are all cheering each other along, helping with rigs and almost working as a team if that makes any sense.

ENCORE
Now it was time for the much anticipated jump ramp, all I can say is rather them than me. Earlier in the morning the girls had their first practice and you could tell by their ashen faced look they were all petrified at the prospect. Flying down the pool for a freestyle move or to race is tricky enough but throw in trying to steer towards a solid hunk of metal and plastic knowing if you miss, (a) its going to smash your board and (b) it could result in a serious injury, and that is a far more daunting prospect. In the morning session, Sarah Quita, was first down the ramp, she badly  timed her run up, smashed straight into the slot and flew over the handlebars. Luckily she survived unscathed, but that was enough for her. Justyna Sniady and Arrianne Aukes were next up and both chose to avoid the ramp completely at the last second. Courage gradually built and after a few nervy straight jumps, Amanda Beenen threw down the first forward. Now the bar had been set, Justyna, Lena Erdil and Arrianne started to charge and despite a few close shaves, nobody was hurt!

“ This shows how cool windsurfing can be, colours, radical action and a stadium with over 20,000 people watching ! ’’ ^{Ricardo Campello}

I think a lot of the crowd secretly were hoping to see some blood but when Arrianne Aukes wedged her board into the guide rail of the ramp with her foot stuck in the strap there was a deathly silence after the most horrific of wipe outs. I was sure she had snapped her leg but after a few moments lying in the water surrounded by medics she stood up and saluted the crowd. That is a sight you don’t really want to see when you are next up on the ramp, but fair play to Amanda Beenen who went straight out and busted a forward loop. That’s certainly one way to calm the nerves ! Two jumps later it was Justyna Sniady’s turn for a cringing smash into the ramp and  a terrifyingly close shave as she somersaulted through the air and just missed the ugly metal at the end of the ramp; phew! The girls were getting battered and bruised that is for sure, not to mention the damage to their precious boards but that didn’t deter Arrianne and Justyna, when their turn came up for their third and final jump they both went for it. Justyna  even threw her  first ever starboard forward loop ! Amanda Beenen however was the eventual winner delivering a courageous forward and a one handed table top to clinch the victory. The action was one thing but those emotions on the stage were almost equal in the drama. Fear, determination, courage followed by relief, joy and jubilation for the winners, that was truly special to witness first hand.

Now it was time for the men. With all the money spent on slick TV productions, advertising and even making custom stickers for the transport vehicles, you would have thought somebody might have thought of giving the ramp a lick of paint or adorned it in sponsors stickers for the final night? My gripes aside, Ben Proffitt came straight out of the blocks with a huge stalled forward loop which actually ended up bagging him a fifth place and another hefty prize cheque.  One by one the men charged at the ramp but with no extra fans in place at the height of the jumps, sailors were finding it difficult to boost any rocket airs or find any control in backward rotations. Jamie Hancock went all out for a big push loop but could not match his amazing effort from the Friday night qualifying and you could see the disappointment in his face when he failed to spot his landing.

With three jumps each and the best two counting for the final four men, the game seemed to be a safe forward and then two shots at landing a back loop or push loop. Before the event everyone was backing Ricardo Campello as the firm favourite for this type of show but he showed no compromise and crashed two push loops to leave the door open for his rivals. In the end the surprise winner was Thomas Traversa,  who stuck a sick tweaked table top and a bolt upright forward loop to steal the show. Not a bad year for the 60 kilo French sailor who romped home to win the Red Bull Storm Chase back in February in Cornwall and now in completely opposite conditions, the indoor in Poland.  If there was a prize for most all round wave sailor Thomas would win hands down.

LOOKING BACK
For all the sailors that made the effort to enter and make it through to Saturday night, they were lucky enough to be a part of a special night in windsurfing history. Like I said before,  I have been around in this sport over twenty years and this was one of the high points for me. It was not all about the action, it was equally about the sailors clubbing together, helping each other out and inspiring and encouraging others to perform. Sure we missed some of the big names like Philip Koester, Victor Fernandez, Antoine Albeau and Brawzinho who chose not to come for fear of being injured but for those who were there, the general vibe was that this night was one of the highlights of their windsurfing careers to date. Whether Indoor windsurfing will become a regular thing or not is another question. Sometimes the impact of a one- off show, makes the next one have less impact and believe me this one will be hard to beat especially with the grandeur of the stadium and the polished TV presentation. Either way congratulations to all the winners and all those that took part in the competition as in my books, on these two special nights in Poland, everyone was a winner !  JC

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