Full results (booklet) here:
http://slalomskateboarder.com/slalomran ... esults.pdf
Video made by Ville de Massy (by George Dabbour):
https://youtu.be/ATFM4BCNzQM?si=VUuW8UtUPKKnOTur
Photos by Gérald Lebranchu (Gégéping)
https://tinyurl.com/2xl7bmah
The new European champions are crowned
For two days over 50 riders from 10 countries took part at European championships in Massy, France. Despite heavy rains that strongly affected the race schedule, majority of groups managed to do all three disciplines.
In men’s PRO group it was a Latvian dominance – in hybrid slalom top honours went to 2023 hybrid slalom World champion Gustavs Gailītis, followed by Artūrs Liskovs, Toms Dreiblats and Czech rider Petr Matouš. Due to the rain, the tight slalom was held indoors, and 18-year-old Latvian Kristaps Mirčenko surprised everybody, by clocking the fastest time. Gailītis took 2nd, Dreiblats 3rd, but Louis Selby from Great Britian was 0.01 sec shy of a podium. After the weather cleared, it was time for the shortened giant slalom. 2019 giant slalom World champion Artūrs Liskovs showed his skills and managed to take the top spot. Just like in tight slalom, Gailītis was 2nd and Dreiblats 3rd. Gailītis took the overall top honours, Liskovs was 2nd and Dreiblats 3rd. They were followed by Mirčenko, Matouš and Christoph Baumann.
In women’s group current junior World champion Emily Martinu had an almost perfect race – a win in straight and giant plus a 2nd place in hybrid, that secured overall victory. Fight for 2nd overall was fierce between another young Czech talent Tereza Dvorakova and experienced German Kathrin Sehl. Tereza was 3rd in hybrid and with 3rd also in giant secured 2nd place overall. Kathrin was 3rd in tight slalom and with two 4th places it was enough to secure 3rd overall. Latvian Endija Līga Rūja was the fastest in hybrid, 2nd in giant, but had to skip tight due to an injury. Her countrywoman Dominika Adriāna Ozoliņa got her first European championships podium with 2nd place in tight slalom.
Due to weather restrictions, Masters only managed two disciplines. With 1st in hybrid and 3rd in tight, Lars Tuexen from Germany took the top honours in overall. Fabio Luiz Sprovieri from Brazil was 4th in hybrid but managed to secure a 2nd place in tight and 2nd place overall. Czech Masters took the next two overall positions – Stepan Vojta was 2nd in hybrid, 8th in tight and 3rd overall but Dan Syrovy Sr was 3rd in hybrid, 6th in tight and 4th overall. After several year hiatus from international racing, Swedish legend Peter Klang was back with a bang, taking top honours in tight slalom.
In amateur group there was a great battle between Czech and Brazilian riders. In tight Matej Stefka took the win, followed by Petr Martinu (both Czech Republic) and Pedro Frangulis (Brazil). In tight it was Pedro who was unstoppable, leaving Matej in 2nd and his fellow countryman Howard Weiss in 3rd. In the last discipline, giant slalom, it was Petr Martinu’s time to shine – he become European champion in giant slalom. Stefka was 2nd and Pedro 3rd. In overall rankings, Matej secured top spot, followed by Petr and Pedro.
In junior boys Jindrich Voves won the hybrid and tight, with Lukas Martinu 2nd in hybrid and 3rd in tight and Tomas Mach 3rd in hybrid and 2nd in tight.
In junior girls it was a race between Czech, French and Latvian young talents. Anna Rezkova won both hybrid and tight. Anna Safrankova was 2nd in hybrid and 3rd in tight, with Marie Maderova taking 3rd spot in hybrid making it all Czech podium. Meanwhile Latvian Keita Zorgevica took 2nd in tight and earning 3rd place overall right after Rezkova and Safrankova.
The season will continue with several national competitions all around Europe with the next big event being the legendary ‘’Skate ‘n’ Chill’’ competition in Polička, Czech Republic.
