September 23, 2024
Yentel Caers (JP/NeilPryde) takes the Tow-In discipline to new heights, literally. The Belgian wins the 2024 FPT Tow-In competition with an insane performance in front of the Tropical Corner today. Lennart Neubauer (Starboard/Severne/Maui Ultra Fins), thanks to his win in Vieste, takes the overall European Championship title, while in the women Maaike Huvermann (Severne/Maui Ultra Fins) dominates all over. The 2024 Foilstyle Champion was also crowned today, although without any action. Check out the highlight video from today, as well as a full account of the final day of the event below.
The final day of the Freestyle Pro Tour event in Geneva was all about the Tow-In Finals. In the days prior to this conclusion, a total of 8 men and 2 women managed to secure themselves a spot in this session. With pristine Tow-In conditions the final soon started with the first runs of the Goofy footers. Check out the full livestream of the finals below.
In the women, the battle was between Lisa Kloster (MB-Boards/Sailloft) and Maaike Huvermann. Kloster has been improving rapidly lately, regardless of the freestyle discipline of choice, which meant that she could be a real threat to Huvermann’s collection of event wins. Kloster impressed in the final with an Air Funnel and a Culo attempt. She came within a point of her rival, but unfortunately did not manage to pass her.
Maaike Huvermann was not super happy about her performance, but as always, managed to come out on top. Impressing the crowds with a big inverted Burner off of the wave, she felt the pressure of Lisa after a failed flat water combo run. Nevertheless, the European queen of freestyle prevailed again, adding the European Tow-In trophy to her collection.
In the men’s, Tim Gerdes (Severne) and Tigo Kort (JP/NeilPryde) were both happy to have made it into the final at all, and were quite relaxed on the water. Gerdes showed off a beautiful One Handed Burner, and also attempted a Skopu. Managing to invert the board expertly, he had to settle for a lower score due to the judges being harsh on the quality of landings. Kort also took some risks. Despite a very nice Culo that gave him the majority of his points, he was not able to back up his score later on. The two Dutchies closed out the ranking list for the final.
Ending with a lower score than he would have wanted was Foivos Tsoupras (Duotone/Maui Ultra Fins). The german rider always puts on one of the best Tow-In shows, and today was no different. With an excellent Flaka Shaka style flat water run, he then continued to attempt a new move. What can only be described as a Cana Brava Pasko, did not materialise into solid points.
Fellow Duotone rider George Grisley was defending his 2023 Tow-In title in Geneva this year. He was disappointed with his performance so far, but it all came together in the final. With a big Double Air Funnel and a Air Funnel Burner on his flat run, the Brit was clearly happy with his performance. On the last run he attempted something creative, doing an Air Funnel before the wave and then taking off of the wave for a second rotation. In practice he managed to succeed at this, but unfortunately in the final he caught a rail before making it to the wake. It yielded him a 5th place and a big smile nonetheless.
Another brit to put together a solid final was Jamie Howard (Severne). With a huge Pasko, one he knew was good judging by his claim, he solidified his 4th place. More importantly, thanks to his success in Vieste, the Brit graced the overall Tow-In podium for the season in 3rd.
The last three podium spots were wildly contested. As always in Geneva, its the same three names at the top. Sam Esteve (JP/NeilPryde) put in a Triple Funnel to then send it on the wave. Taking his hand off during his signature Samair as well he secured himself the third place.
Lennart Neubauer started his final with a world class Air Funnel Burner. Popping the second rotation to an unusual height, he put himself into contention for the event win straight away. He then added a perfect Pasko to his repertoire, stomping the landing and sailing away. With 17 points out of 20 on his score he seemed to be securing himself the event win. He did not account for what Yentel Caers was about to do though.
There is no discussion as to Yentel Caers’ Tow-In prowess. The winner of the 2021 edition of this event, once again proved his abilities with the wake boat wave. There is no one else that hits it as aggressively as Yentel does, with every take off leaving the crowds gasping. The highlight of his final has to be the full triple air rotation, stomped and at a height never seen before. He rotated even further than Sam Esteve’s signature Samair, completing all three rotations in the air, and leaving himself time to cushion the landing and look at the crowds to claim his move. He also went for a Double Air Culo, but lost the strap on the takeoff. This resulted in the most spectacular bail we have seen in a while, entertaining to say the very least.
Caers accumulated 17.5 points, edging in front of Neubauer and taking the official event win. Despite that, Neubauer still had a better overall ranking thanks to winning in Vieste, which does make Neubauer the 2024 European Tow-In Champion.
As there was no wind to complete the Foilstyle, the final rankings were also confirmed for this season, with Lennart Neubauer taking the trophy off of the back of his Vieste victory. In the Women’s, Maaike Huvermann took first in the European Tow-In rankings as well, with Lisa Kloster in second and Anina Heimoz in third.
That’s it for the 2024 FPT Geneva! The Tropical Corner once again provided for the best Tow-In action in the world this year, and with the event coming back next year, the Freestyle Pro Tour cant wait to be back in 2025!
Official Results:
Women Tow-In
1. Maaike Huvermann
2. Lisa Kloster
3. Anina Heimoz
Men Tow-In
1. Yentel Caers
2. Lennart Neubauer
3. Sam Esteve
4. Jamie Howard
5. George Grisley
6. Foivos Tsoupras
7. Tigo Kort
8. Tim Gerdes
9. Bodhi Kempen
9. Julien Mas
11. Leander Halm
