There’s no question that mega-yachts are the reason BOOT Düsseldorf, the biggest boat show in the world, exists. But this year, something else stole the show: The Wave, and Starboard riders were all over it.
Although for several years BOOT has showcased recreational equipment such as Standup Paddle, windsurf, diving, kitesurf and wakeboard, this is the first time we’ve seen real live surfing action at the show, thanks to the City Wave. Huh? See video above. The new artificial indoor static wave (the first of its kind to have a deepwater system that allows for fins to be used with the boards on the wave) can reach a staggering 1,8 meter when fully powered – or be regulated to be smaller and friendlier for beginners, and in the case of kids, with a special bar placed above the 7,5 meters wide wave to hang onto while trying it for the first time.
247,000 visitors from 52 countries and 1,800 exhibitors were present in 2016 and this year is expected to be even bigger.
With a booth showcasing all the latest 2017 equipment to the German and European public, Starboard gear made a big impression on the German and international crowd present, thanks to Starboard’s German distributor APM, led by Florian Brunner.
International Starboard Dream Team riders Zane Schweitzer and Fiona Wylde joined local river surf pro Carsten Kurmis to compete in the short technical (indoor) race as well as in the SUP Wave contest.
The SUP World champions had to compete against the top European riders in the first ever indoor wave SUP comp in the world. For the judging, BOOT organizers also obtained celebrity support from the latest Dream Team rider to join the team: local Sonni Hönscheid, Molokai2Oahu queen and daughter of surf legend Jürgen Hönscheid, who sponsored the indoor wave and contests.
“There is no simpler, safer and faster way to learn how to surf! This is a tremendous way to familiarize a wider public with the most beautiful sport in the world.” said Sonni Hönscheid.
In the men’s wave division, Airton Cozzolino took the win in front of Zane Schweitzer who made the trip from Hawaii and in third position local SUPing legend Carsten Kurmis.
On the women’s side of things, it was a particularly sweet weekend for Dream Team Rider, Fiona Wilde, the reigning SUP World series champion. No only was it her birthday – she won both the SUP Wave women’s masters but also the Short Technical race in the BOOT’s indoor pool.
For the men’s short race, local Starboard rider Ole Schwarz took the win rounding a nice winning weekend for team Starboard with 6 podium spots.
Wave Practice Day
The BOOT show will be open to the public until the 29th of this month if you have the chance to go. This coming weekend will see the surf wave contest in the new deepwater artificial wave.
Girls Wave Final
You can check our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/starboardSUP) for most of the SUP Wave Master’s heats as well as the races that were transmitted live on the social media platform.
Complete results:
SUP Wave men:
1. Airton Cozzolino
2. Zane Schweitzer / Starboard
3. Carsten Kurmis / Starboard
4. Guido Meier
5. Moritz Mauch / Starboard
5. Kai-Nicolas Steimer
7. Bernd Felsing / Starboard
7. Denny Kambs
9. Valentin Illichmann
9. Ole Schwarz / Starboard
9. Kimo Kersting
9. Dirk Worrmann
13. Dirk Herpel / Starboard
13. Daniel Weiß
15. Robert Glöckner / Starboard
SUP Wave women:
1. Fiona Wylde /Starboard
2. Bowien van der Linden
3. Paulina Herpel
4. Maren Lutz
5. Ariane Wittmann
5. Milanka Linde / Starboard
SUP Race Men:
1. Ole Schwartz / Starboard
2. Normen Weber
3. Kai-Nicolas Steimer
SUP Race women:
1. Fiona Wylde / Starboard
2. Paulina Herpel
3. Julia Schneider / Starboard
