PRESS RELEASE  -  AUG. 7, 2005   by Louise Hayes, from Hood River OR


Canadian windsurfers win two Worlds titles and test the new Olympic windsurfer

HOOD RIVER, OREGON, USA  -- At this high-wind location on the Columbia River Gorge, North Vancouver woman Nikola Girke won for Canada the Women`s title at the World Formula Experience Championships (August 1 – 6th), alongside Toronto sailor David Hayes(16), who won the 16 and Under Youth title.

Eight Canadian sailors competed in the two fleets totaling 60 sailors from nine countries in 23 races over 5 days in winds ranging from 16 two 26 knots. With gusts to 30 knots upwind in challenging Gorge waves, the embattled Race Committee often had to delay racing because of high winds for the largely youth sailors of ages as low as 10 who braved the conditions.

In the under 34 Youth, Espoir and Seniors fleets, Zachary Plasvic (22) of North Vancouver, despite missing the first three races managed an impressive 4th place finish in his fleet of 39 men and women, Ian Matthews (21) of Toronto placed 13th., Thomas Soltysiak (17) of Markham ON finished 19th ,Josh Wood (17) of Markham ON finished 30th, and Masters class Rob Robson of Vancouver finished 31st.

Alain Bolduc of Montreal, one of Canada`s premier Olympic windsurfers, successfully tested the new Olympic board, the RS:X, for the first time in a major event with high winds, finishing 6th. This new windsurfer will appear in the 2008 Beijing Olympics for the first time.

Nikola Girke and David Hayes added their Formula Experience World Championship titles to their first place finishes in their classes at the US Windsurfing Nationals held July 25th – 30th in Hood River.  Both will be joining Alain Bolduc to train on the RS:X Olympic board en route to the Canadian Windsurfing Championships to be held on the Magdalen Islands, Quebec, from August 28 to September 3, 2005.    


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Event website: www.vmgevents.com