Gabriele Steindl: Professional Kitesurfer & Freelance Writer - Action, Lifestyle & Travels

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Austrian Championships, 20-22 June 08

This weekend the first part of the Isuzu Austrian Kitesurf Championships took place at the beautiful lake Traun in Upper Austria. The Austrian kite-scene united and put up a great event which forms the first part of the National Championships, that are held in 2 disciplines – freestyle and race – second part in September at the lake Neusiedl.

The weekend was blessed with the most fantastic weather, summer, sunshine, hot temperatures … the only thing missing: the wind !?  My main sponsor O2alive supported the event with unlimited power-kicks for everyone, i.e. as much 2alive power water as one could only wish for, nice!

During the third and last day a light breeze set in and the race committee decided to do a ‘Jam Session’, in which Heinar Brandstoetter won the ‘overall impression’ and Bernie Faschingleitner ‘best trick’. After 2 races in about 8 knots, the event had to be stopped as the wind dropped more and more…

Nevertheless it was a great fun weekend, well organised and lots-a-fun…the best about it all was the ‘alternative-no-wind-entertainment’, some SICK wakesurfing behind a FAT wakeboard-pimp-boat… i n s a n e, the feeling of riding a wave surrounded by huge mountains was totally unreal and surely the biggest fun I’ve had in Austria in a loooong time 🙂

Also thanx to North and Boards & More, we had some sweet SUP boards to cruise around on the lake…and some fun gladiator-fights 🙂

Check out the latest Kiteboarding.de-Magazine, where I published a nice event-report with pics!