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In an exciting race with conditions that proved to be quite challenging for some of the athletes the experienced paddlers took the wins in their respective events. In women's senior SS1 event Judit Verges Xifra from Spain defended her title from last year when the European Championships was held in France. It took her one hour, 15 minutes and 54 seconds to conclude the course from Cagliari Poetto beach to Geremeas, where the finish was located.

 

The 28-year-old paddler was very excited after becoming European Champion again: "It feels so good to be here, to have the race. I am so happy."

 

"The conditions were amazing. I did not expect this kind of downwind. I was surfing all the time. I enjoyed it a lot."

 

"I felt really strong and I had a good start. Until the last kilometre we were surfing and I was just trying to focus on the wave not to have any mistakes."

 

The second place also went to Spain thanks to Chloe Bunnet, while Sweden's Emma Levemyr won bronze medal.

 

In men's senior event Valentin Henot won the race with the time of one hour, seven minutes and 53 seconds. 28-year-old French paddler came back to European competitions after three years of absence.

 

"I did not really expect a gold medal, but I knew I was fit and rested. I was hoping for it," said Henot.

 

"It was not as technical as I would have hoped for, but we had great downwind conditions and I am glad we were able to race in these conditions."

 

"I knew I have to get in front from the start. I was in the different line than the main group. I had my own line from start to finish and it ended pretty good."

 

"The last five kilometres were the hardest, because I was already tired. I knew I need to keep pushing, because I could see Gordon and Walter on my right side. We were in the same direction and I knew I need to get in front. It was hard, mentally I knew I need to keep pushing and pushing because they were right next to me."

 

Germany's Gordon Harbrecht won silver medal and Walter Bouzan from Spain, who was the defending champion from 2021, this time won the bronze medal.

 

In men's U23 event Bernardo Pereira from Portugal won the European Champion title, after producing an excellent race. In the absolute standings of the race he crossed the finish line in third place which secured him a gold medal in the U23 age group. Two French representatives Pierre Vilella and Hector Henot were second and third respectively.

 

In women's U23 race Ireland's Roisin Cahill defended her 2021 European Champion title and again showed the best skills on the sea. Thais Delrieux from France was second and Rosemary Edwards from Great Britain third. Women's U23 and junior races were combined this time, as the junior race would not be an official European Championships event, because not enough different European countries were entered in this event.

 

However, there was a men's junior official European Championships event and French team celebrated a triple win. It was Marin Lanee winning the race ahead of his colleagues Mathis Roudaut and Kael Menez.

 

The next ECA Ocean Racing European Championships will be held in 2024 in Azores Islands, Portugal.In an exciting race with conditions that proved to be quite challenging for some of the athletes the experienced paddlers took the wins in their respective events. In women's senior SS1 event Judit Verges Xifra from Spain defended her title from last year when the European Championships was held in France. It took her one hour, 15 minutes and 54 seconds to conclude the course from Cagliari Poetto beach to Geremeas, where the finish was located.

 

The 28-year-old paddler was very excited after becoming European Champion again: "It feels so good to be here, to have the race. I am so happy."

 

"The conditions were amazing. I did not expect this kind of downwind. I was surfing all the time. I enjoyed it a lot."

 

"I felt really strong and I had a good start. Until the last kilometre we were surfing and I was just trying to focus on the wave not to have any mistakes."

 

The second place also went to Spain thanks to Chloe Bunnet, while Sweden's Emma Levemyr won bronze medal.

 

In men's senior event Valentin Henot won the race with the time of one hour, seven minutes and 53 seconds. 28-year-old French paddler came back to European competitions after three years of absence.

 

"I did not really expect a gold medal, but I knew I was fit and rested. I was hoping for it," said Henot.

 

"It was not as technical as I would have hoped for, but we had great downwind conditions and I am glad we were able to race in these conditions."

 

"I knew I have to get in front from the start. I was in the different line than the main group. I had my own line from start to finish and it ended pretty good."

 

"The last five kilometres were the hardest, because I was already tired. I knew I need to keep pushing, because I could see Gordon and Walter on my right side. We were in the same direction and I knew I need to get in front. It was hard, mentally I knew I need to keep pushing and pushing because they were right next to me."

 

Germany's Gordon Harbrecht won silver medal and Walter Bouzan from Spain, who was the defending champion from 2021, this time won the bronze medal.

 

In men's U23 event Bernardo Pereira from Portugal won the European Champion title, after producing an excellent race. In the absolute standings of the race he crossed the finish line in third place which secured him a gold medal in the U23 age group. Two French representatives Pierre Vilella and Hector Henot were second and third respectively.

 

In women's U23 race Ireland's Roisin Cahill defended her 2021 European Champion title and again showed the best skills on the sea. Thais Delrieux from France was second and Rosemary Edwards from Great Britain third. Women's U23 and junior races were combined this time, as the junior race would not be an official European Championships event, because not enough different European countries were entered in this event.

 

However, there was a men's junior official European Championships event and French team celebrated a triple win. It was Marin Lanee winning the race ahead of his colleagues Mathis Roudaut and Kael Menez.

 

The next ECA Ocean Racing European Championships will be held in 2024 in Azores Islands, Portugal.