2001 Canadian Windsurfing Championships  -  PRESS RELEASE SEPT. 15, 2001

Warm and windy conditions assured the success for 2001 Canadian Windsurfing
Championships held on the Magdalen Islands, Quebec, from August 27 to Sept. 1.

Two of Canada's top professional sailors won the major trophies:  Sam
Ireland (from B.C.) won the Men's Overall Championship and Quebec native
Martin Van Geenhoven won the Freestyle Championship for the third year
straight (and winning 2nd Overall). Sam is making a name for himself at
present in Formula competition largely in Europe, while Martin is making a
big impact as a newcomer on the world Freestyle circuit in Europe and
around the world.  

Quebec's talented "Air Force" also fnished high in Overall (Formula, Slalom
and Freestyle):  Eric Girard 3rd; and with 4th Overall going to Nicolas
Boucher.  Likewise, Quebec's Swanie Grégoire won the Women's Overall Trophy
away from 2nd place finisher Nikola Girke of B.C., last year's trophy
winner. Anick Violette placed 3rd Overall in Women's Pro fleet. 

Medal winners in the large Gold Amateur fleet were:  Barrie ON native Geoff
Mitchinson, 1st Place Overall (1st Formula, 3rd in slalom and Freestyle);
Quebec's Daniel Lefebvre, 2nd Overall (1st in Slalom, 2nd in Formula, 8th
in Freestyle);  Nova Scotia's Shane Hawkins, 3rd Overall  (4th in Formula
and Freestyle, 12th in Slalom); Ottawa resident Rick Collins, 4th Overall;
and Quebec's Mario Cornellier, 5th Overall. 

A standout was Gold Amateur Master (45 & over) Jan Wroblewski of
Mississauga ON who won 1st place with a stunning 3rd Overall in Formula
among 8 Pros and 13 Gold Amateurs (outpaced only by Ireland and Van
Geenhoven).  Jan also won 4th in Masters Freestyle and 4th in Masters Slalom.

Warm and low winds were the norm for the first two days of Formula and
Elimination Slalom, but the wind picked up for the next round of both
Formula and Round Robin Slalom, the last being held in prime conditions
with 3 sets of 7 downwind heats.  Pros and Amateurs alike got a great
chance to test their speed and skill, as is possible "sans pareil" on the
Magdalen Islands!

FREESTYLE:  A great day in SW 12-18 knots provided quite a show for the
crowd on the beach at Gaspard's on Havre Maison -- 4 rounds of 7 heats!
Sam Ireland followed up Martin Van Geenhoven's dazzling Spocks and
Willyskippers, with his own amazing variety of 360s,  duck tacks, loops and
other tricks to take 2nd place in Pros, with Olivier Matte pulling off a
3rd. Swanie Grégoire won the Pro Women's Freestyle.
Many of the Gold Amateurs entertained the crowd as well:  Guy Trudeau
taking 1st in Mens, Louis-Philippe Généreux 2nd, Geoff Mitchinson 3rd and
Shane Hawkins 4th. 

SLALOM:  A challenging 5-gybe course was set in both marginal North then
strong South winds  -- the first time for the "Canadians" in many, many
years.  In this popular Amateur discipline, board shaper Daniel Lefebvre
proved over 11 heats in 4 races to be Number One, with Guy Trudeau 2nd,
Geoff Mitchinson 3rd and Louis-Philippe Généreux 4th. First Madelinot was
Léon Boudreau in 5th.
Pierre Tremblay was first Silver Amateur Man.  Top Masters Amateur was Mark
Munro, and Michel Rioux was 2nd.  Kim Martin and Jocelyn Talbot competed
alone as Women Adult and Masters in their respective categories.  Van
Geenhoven (Senior - Jacques) won the Gold Grandmasters fleet, with Yvon
Lefebvre 2nd and Antoine Ciociola in 3rd.
Among the Pros, Sam Ireland was first, with Eric Girard 2nd, and Nicolas
Boucher 3rd.  The Pro Womens' fleet was won by Nikola Girke.   

FORMULA:  The first day's 4 races skirted the 7-knot minimum (8-11 knots)
but the second day's saw the whole fleet happy in 5 more races of 12-18
knots, with Ireland taking it easily continuing his recent victories in
Europe.  Several Gold Amateurs followed Martin Van Geenhoven's 2nd: Jan
Wroblewski and Geoff Mitchinson followed by Yvon Lefebvre, 5th and Daniel
Lefebvre, 6th.  Pierre Tremblay took first place in Silver Amateur.

Windsurfing Canada, which sanctioned the event as the "Canadian
Windsurfing Championships," thanks the organizers of "La Coupe des Iles"
for the magnificent organizational job,  not to mention the unparalleled
Pro purse of $20,000 and the rich giveaway of over $10,000 of prizes to top
place Amateur winners (and many more draw prizes). 

Results for the "Canadians", as well as for the following "The King of the
Islands" international Freestyle and Kitesurfing events will soon be
available at www.coupedesiles.com .  Results also of the "King of the
Islands" 25 km long-distance race featuring over 90 competitors across the
ocean Baie de Pleasance in up to 20 knots SW, a highlight of the second
week, will also be available.  

Windsurfing Canada was proud to be involved with "La Coupe des Iles,"
proven again to be one of Canada's very best windsurfing competition sites
(and one of the best in North America).  Thanks go to the all people of the
Magdalen Islands, whose hospitality and devotion and skills made our
"Canadians" possible.  WC also thanks senior CYA judge Mel Preston and his
wife Helen for their indispensable help with documentation, judging,
scoring and more during the event.  

The date and place of the 2002 "Canadians" will be announced soon -- keep
your summer free for this event!  Information:  416-928-3086
<johndarling130@hotmail.com>

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2001 Canadian Windsurfing Championships Notice of Race

at

Les Iles de la Madeleine / The Magdellan Islands

 

==============================

 

CHAMPIONNAT CANADIEN 2000
Quebec City - Aug. 30-Sept. 4  2000 (Labour Day)

Alain Fournier of Swiss Peak in Montreal has reported that Quebec City
officials have responded with a warm welcome to news that the 2000
Windsurfing Canada Canadian Championships will take place at Battures de
Beauport, just minutes from the beautiful, historic old city.

Alain expects that up to 40 Pros and 300 Amateurs will register for this
event, with slalom and course racing to be held in the windy port area, and
freestyle/waves at nearby St-Jean on picturesque Ile d'Orleans a half-hour
drive away. This will be the largest-ever Championships, with Pro native
sons Léon Belanger (who does the highest loops in the world) and radical
big-wave artist Pascal Hardy in attendance.

Good news for competitors: the Amateur entry fee will be very low
(perhaps as low as $25), and acres of free camping are available close to
the event site. Already $15,000 of prizes in gear are pledged, with local
shops such as Sport Radical pitching in big time. Plans for Quebec City's
largest restaurant/bar to be the after-racing event HQ are under way.

The 2000 Championnat promises to be a very big, warm and fun event. The
NOR and entry-form will be available soon. Make plans now to attend and
complete with Canada's keenest windsurfers EN MASSE!

Call Alain at 450-565-5588 <almi1@sympatico.ca> (that's "almi-one"), or
Windsurfing Canada 416-928-3086 <fwdsail@idirect.com>

mnmnmnmnmnmnJohn Darling, WC Chair
fwdsail@idirect.com