Brazilian riders head north
Three Brazilian Formula riders Wilhelm Schurmann, Gabriel Browne and Mateus Isaac, chose Denmark as the destination for training and tuning of their NeilPryde racing sails prior to the Formula Worlds in Latvia 20-26th August.
During their stay in Denmark they also managed to help Neilpryde Scandinavia distributor Torben Kornum with a number of club events and local races.
Wilhelm Schurmann, Formula world ranking leader, had this to say:
“We wanted to train and test in typical European conditions and we knew from other international Formula windsurfers that the club in Skive had what we needed. Besides excellent conditions for sailing, we did also have a big and safe grass area for rigging and a very nice place to stay just next to the water. Last, but not least, we could train with Skive’s two youth world champions Sebastian Kornum and Christian Justesen and use their usual setup with boats, buoys and local contacts.”
Pro riders helping out
Neilpryde Scandinavia distributor Torben Kornum took advantage of the visit at a number of activities: “It was fantastic for us to have three international Formula riders supporting us in the local events. They worked daily with the juniors in our local club and they spent a full day teaching beginners in another club that is about to be established. They also took part in the NeilPryde GP event, but most important of all was probably their attitude with the Danish club surfers. It does indeed inspire other windsurfers when they experience pro riders acting this way. In future we will be using our own riders much more in that way."
Local media followed the Brazilians
Local TV and newspapers saw a good story in the three riders choosing Skive for their training, and they brought almost daily updates and pictures. For Danes, Brazil is an exotic place and in many ways quite opposite to the climate in Denmark, so the typical question was – why did you come to Skive for windsurfing? Schurmann went straight through on prime time TV explaining how perfect it all was – and apparently he meant it.
TV link: http://www.tvmidtvest.dk/nettv/?id=16658
National match on RS:One!
The three Brazilians participated in one of the NeilPryde Grandprix Series around an island and ended up having a lot of fun there. One of the highlights at the event was a true national match Brazil vs. Denmark on NeilPryde RS:One equipment with all six sailors on identical equipment. It became a hard, tactical and spectacular match with Denmark winning both races. The Danes worked as a team and managed to pack the Brazilians with no chances left. It all ended up with good laughs and lots of friendly teasing.
The Formula Worlds take place in Liepaja, Latvia 20-25th August. It will be interesting to see if Brazil wins against their friends from Denmark this time.
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NeilPryde Windsurfing 2013