22 May LANGENFELD OPEN | May 20th 2017
The first edition of the LANGENFELD OPEN presented by O’Neill is in the books and marks a highlight of the early contest season. World class athelets from 15 different countries battle it out on a unique setup featuring UNIT Parktech hacks and wavebreakers. Unstoppable were US Riders Anna Nikstad and John Dreiling, both taking there first win at a major international event.
LANGENFELD OPEN presented by O`Neill: Highlights 2017 from Wasserski Langenfeld on Vimeo.
After a long abstinence, the world’s largest Wakeboard Center „Wasserski Langenfeld“ returns as a host of international Wakeboard Contests. 60 riders from 15 different nations took part in the first edition of the LANGENFELD OPEN.
Due to the high level riders field, the pressure was on from the first run of the day. Just 16 of 46 Men and 8 of 14 Women would advance in to the head to head finals. Even a few top-class riders like Dominik Gührs, Lior Sofer, Steffen Vollert and Dylan Miller, were already eliminated after qualification.
Pic: Chris Lehnert
An audience of 2.800 spectators pushed the excitement to the limit before the head to head finals started. In qualification, local hero Nick Schäfers accomplished the unthinkable and put himself in front of thai super hero Daniel Grant. In the first Head to Head round Daniel and Nick had to go against each other again. But this time the thai struck back and saved his seat in the “round of 8”.
After intense battles in the „round of 8“ ,John Dreiling, WWA World Champion Gunther Oka, Daniel Grant and Australia ́s Aaron Gunn advanced into the super final. In two runs, the four athletes stepped up their game once again to get the best share of the 10.000$ prize money.
Pic: Stephan Eigner
Guenther Oka was amazingly consistent all day but couldn’t put it together in his final runs. Daniel Grant layed down a save run at first, and put it all on the line for his second run. Unfortunately he fell on a „switch KGB 5” and couldn’t raise the bar even further. John Dreiling however went for the best run of his day and executed every trick in perfection.
Winner John Dreiling was stoked about his win: „I am super happy, that was a perfect day for me. The contest covered every aspect of wakeboarding. At the typical events that I attend, I don’t get to ride against Air Trick focused riders. It was nice, that with the alternative Kicker, it was possible today.”
Pic: Chris Lehnert
After a stunning performance all day, Courtney Angus got unlucky in the final an fell in both of her runs. Maxine Sapulette from the Netherlands was in control of the course all day and made it to 3rd place at the end.
The question was, if odds-on favorite Julia Rick could claim first place.
Pic: Chris Lehnert
But Anna Nikstad wouldn’t surrender that easy. She put down a perfect executed and technical run with rail to rail transfers and stomped a big “KGB” of the Kicker, which stood against Julia’s “313”. At the End Anna Nikstad claimed her first win at a major international event at the first edition of the LANGENFELD OPEN .
Pic: Stephan Eigner
Anna Nikstad: „This is overwhelming! I am so happy to win this unique event. I am looking forward to the second edition of the LANGENFELD OPEN 2018.“
LANGENFELD OPEN
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