World Cup off Gran Canaria - Windsurfers Köster and Erpenstein on the podium
Pozo Izquierdo (dpa/lno) – German professional windsurfer causes a stir again: At the Men's World Cup in Pozo Izquierdo on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, five-time world champion Philip Köster finished third in his comeback year after a severe foot injury. The 30-year-old missed the final entry by a hair's breadth. The World Cup was won by the Spaniard Gil Marino.
Köster caused a storm of cheers in the small final with a not quite cleanly landed triple-loop. The world premiere of the jump with three rotations in the air was just missing. "Philip put on an incredible show. That was the best triple-loop attempt we've ever seen," said Kiel windsurfer Lina Erpenstein.
Erpenstein aims to become World Champion
The 27-year-old Erpenstein finished even better in the Women's World Cup. At the third of five Five-Star World Cups this year, she came in second place behind the 22-time world champion Sarah-Quita Offringa from the Caribbean island of Aruba. Erpenstein leads the season ranking in the Wave discipline after her podium finish and her win earlier in Chile.
The World Championship titles will be awarded after the World Cup on Sylt from September 27 to October 6 and the final at the end of October in Hawaii. "I'll finish my medical studies in October and then be a doctor. Originally, I wanted to completely attack the WM title afterwards. The WM chance comes earlier than expected," said Erpenstein.
- Despite finishing second in the Women's World Cup, Lina Erpenstein is excited about the upcoming World Championship titles in Sylt and Hawaii, as she will become a doctor in October.
- Erpenstein's second place finish in the Women's World Cup at Pozo Izquierdo was on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, the same location where the Men's World Cup was held.
- While Philip Köster narrowly missed the final of the Men's World Cup and finished third, the event was won by a Spanish windsurfer, Gil Marino.
- Lina Erpenstein's impressive performance in the Women's World Cup was not the first time she made headlines in windsurfing events. She also won a podium finish earlier in Chile.
