Curacao Challenge | Slalom and Freestyle Windsurfing Event » Photos & Reports http://www.curacaochallenge.com Windsurfing Competition in the Caribbean Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:40:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Curacao Challenge 2012 will be hosted on May 17-20! Save the dates! http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/12/19/curacao-challenge-2012-will-be-hosted-on-may-17-20-save-the-dates/ http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/12/19/curacao-challenge-2012-will-be-hosted-on-may-17-20-save-the-dates/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:17:19 +0000 admin http://www.curacaochallenge.com/?p=1015 Windsurf Challenge Curacao 2012To all fans, followers, surfers and viewers out there! We are excited to anounce the new dates for the Curacao Challenge 2012!]]> Windsurf Challenge Curacao 2012To all fans, followers, surfers and viewers out there! We are excited to anounce the new dates for the Curacao Challenge 2012! The event will take place on 17-18-19-20 of May!

Last year the Curacao Challenge was honoured to host the IFCA Slalom World Championships. Even though there was not a lot of wind, the event was a succes. It turned out to be a funfilled event for both participants and viewers! This year the event is again for surfers of all ages and all levels. We hope last years event inspired surfers to improve their skills and viewers to attempt a new sport? We look forward to your participation in the 2012 Curacao Challenge.

This year the races will be a real challenge for the participants, so get ready! Check our website regularly for new updates and follow us on facebook and twitter.. Pass on the info!

]]> http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/12/19/curacao-challenge-2012-will-be-hosted-on-may-17-20-save-the-dates/feed/ 2 Photos Rookie Race http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/23/photos-rookie-race/ http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/23/photos-rookie-race/#comments Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:32:36 +0000 marketingcuracao http://www.curacaochallenge.com/?p=926 img_6931While the big guns couldn't go out on the water, the pros of the future had no problem surfing the course right in front of the beach.]]> img_6931
While the big guns couldn’t go out on the water, the pros of the future had no problem surfing the course right in front of the beach.

Tomorrow there are more heats on the Spanish Waters and then the final results will be posted.

]]> http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/23/photos-rookie-race/feed/ 0 Day 3: The wind was late, but a great day with big crowds! http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/22/day-3-the-wind-was-late-but-a-great-day-with-big-crowds/ http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/22/day-3-the-wind-was-late-but-a-great-day-with-big-crowds/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:08:57 +0000 marketingcuracao http://www.curacaochallenge.com/?p=916 dsc_8686We were able to hold a funrace with 70 competitors all starting at the same time!]]> dsc_8686
Still no official IFCA races today due to lack of wind. We were able to hold a funrace. All competitors were asked to participate, and it was a surprise that there were approximately 70 contestants. Everybody is eager to go surfing!

With 70 competitors starting together at the same moment, the chaos at the first gibe marker couldn’t be avoided. The first price for participants above 18 was a six-pack of Polar beer, so all the surfers went crazy.

Ben van der Steen was practically leading the race from the start. But, just a couple of meters ahead of the finish, the wind dropped. At that moment Jocelyn de Souza (17 years) took his shot, but he was already too late. Van der Steen finished first and can proudly receive his six-pack of Polar. Runner up, de Souza, deserves some credit for defeating a lot of great surfers. The third place was for Amado Vrieswijk, the sixteen-year-old racer from Bonaire. Very nice Amado!

Results Funrace:
1 Open Class and overall: Ben Vandersteen – NED 57
1 Youth: Jocelyn de Souza – FRA 873
1 Junior: Amado Vrieswijk – NB 20
1 Master: Patrik Schmelzer – GER 127
1 Women: Monique Meyer – NB 28

We are hoping for a lot of wind tomorrow because want to see some great surfing. Luckily we could give the big crowds (hundreds visited Surf Town today) a taste of what slalom windsurfing is all about.

More race photos of Day 3 on Facebook.

]]> http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/22/day-3-the-wind-was-late-but-a-great-day-with-big-crowds/feed/ 0 Fun while waiting for wind! http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/21/fun-while-waiting-for-wind/ http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/21/fun-while-waiting-for-wind/#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:20:45 +0000 marketingcuracao http://www.curacaochallenge.com/?p=901 dsc8643Day 2 no racing, instead: Freestyle Windsurfing behind the jet-ski and SUP races!]]> dsc8643
The wind speeds are picking up but today still not enough for a solid race. The next three days are looking good.

Meanwhile, some competitors, who are normally more into freestyle, got behind the jet-ski for a session right in front of the beach. Afterwards a SUP race was organized.

More pictures of this photo report can be found on Facebook.

]]> http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/21/fun-while-waiting-for-wind/feed/ 0 Day 1: No races yet http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/20/day-1-no-races-yet/ http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/20/day-1-no-races-yet/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:53:54 +0000 marketingcuracao http://www.curacaochallenge.com/?p=883 dsc_8404Relaxing, waiting, perfecting, making photos, some interviews, enjoying the outdoors.]]> dsc_8404
There haven’t been any races on Day 1. The wind stayed steady around 8 knots (a minimum of 11 knots is needed). Predictions for the next couple of days are looking good though.

The delay gave the volunteers and organization the time to relax after the big opening ceremony. The Surf Town has been perfected for the expected crowds this Easter weekend. The competitors enjoyed themselves with some wake-boarding and Stand UP Paddle-boarding (offered by local windsurf school Windsurfing Curacao).

If you want to know who is competing in which class, check the complete Entry List.

Our photographer Bea Moedt still could make some nice shots to give you an impression of the day.

]]> http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/20/day-1-no-races-yet/feed/ 0 Surf Town Almost Open! http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/18/surf-town-almost-open/ http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/18/surf-town-almost-open/#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:41:19 +0000 marketingcuracao http://www.curacaochallenge.com/?p=869 5With the help of over 30 people the event location is almost ready to open its doors this Tuesday night. ]]> 5
What a great weekend it was. With the help of over 30 people the event location is almost ready to open its doors this Tuesday night. Underneath you will see some pictures of the build-up. We will not show you the final result just yet, you have to come and see for yourself!!!

The Surf Town will be an area of about 300 meters long where bars, entertainment, shops, relax areas, VIP lounge, beach and of course great view points of the race will be present. In the Surf Town competitors, spectators, family, friends, press, everybody can hang out and enjoy the great Curacao Windsurf atmosphere.

A special thanks to the ‘Weekend Warriors’, AH, Coca-Cola, Polar, AA Drink and the Oldschool Windsurfers.

More photos here

]]> http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2011/04/18/surf-town-almost-open/feed/ 4 Day 5 last year: Freestyle – Report & photos http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/06/day-5-freestyle-report-spectator-photos/ http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/06/day-5-freestyle-report-spectator-photos/#comments Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:59:59 +0000 marketingcuracao http://www.curacaochallenge.com/?p=622 img_8773The final day of freestyle competition. What a fun and exciting day!]]> img_8773
That Freestyle competition heated up on the final day on the Spanish Waters. The wind was finally waking up and showed everybody that Curacao is one of the best windsurfing spots in the world.

Worker of the day was Youp Schmit from Bonaire competing in the Under 18 category as well as the 18+. The big boys proved a bit too much as Bjorn Saragoza and Hendryck Balentien showed they have an awesome arsenal of tricks.

The result of all the categories will go up on the website tonight.

A spectacular competition like this also attracts a lot of photographers in the crowds yesterday and today. Some of them gave us some of their pictures so thank you for that!

Photos by Didier van der Horst

Photos by Stephan Kogelman

]]> http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/06/day-5-freestyle-report-spectator-photos/feed/ 2 Freestyle is on! Watch the pics http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/05/freestyle-is-on-watch-the-pics/ http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/05/freestyle-is-on-watch-the-pics/#comments Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:29:30 +0000 marketingcuracao http://www.curacaochallenge.com/?p=601 img_5978All the talent from the ABC islands are competing in Curacao]]> img_5978
For the first time in Curacao Challenge history a freestyle competition is added to the program. This afternoon the first heats. Tomorrow a full day of competition in this exciting double elimination.

Do you know who is who on the pictures?

Pics by Bea Moedt

Pics by Ilse Bonne

]]> http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/05/freestyle-is-on-watch-the-pics/feed/ 0 Sunday Slalom Expression Session http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/04/sunday-slalom-expression-session/ http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/04/sunday-slalom-expression-session/#comments Mon, 05 Apr 2010 02:52:40 +0000 marketingcuracao http://www.curacaochallenge.com/?p=578 img_5503No race but still some great pictures during a nice photo session.]]> img_5503
So we had gusty winds with wind holes and a wrong wind direction so we couldn’t make sure the buoys could be held in place. That meant no racing for the Sunday, but it did mean we had a lot of competitors going out to show off their skills in front of the press and sponsors.

The result was wind surfers having a blast and enjoying the Caribbean Sea.

After the slalom surfers came in the young freestylers treated the beach spectators on some low wind freestyle moves.

Check out the photo session by Ilse Bonne.

]]> http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/04/sunday-slalom-expression-session/feed/ 0 Sunday Beach impressions http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/04/sunday-beach-impressions/ http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/04/sunday-beach-impressions/#comments Mon, 05 Apr 2010 01:56:28 +0000 marketingcuracao http://www.curacaochallenge.com/?p=551 dsc_6301Did we have spectator crowds and a full working event organization? Of course! Check it out]]> dsc_6301
The action doesn’t only take place on the water but also on the beach. And what better beach then a white sandy Curacao one with clear turquoise waters. People having fun, the volunteers of the organization working to make this event great, and of course the competitors excited to get first place in the heats.

Enjoy.

Photos by Bea Moedt

Photos by Ilse Bonne

]]> http://www.curacaochallenge.com/2010/04/04/sunday-beach-impressions/feed/ 0