Windy Days, Choppy Nights and Good Times All Around: FPT x Windy Days Podersdorf Event Recap

The Freestyle Pro Tour’s return to Podersdorf delivered five days of action, community vibes and unforgettable moments on the shores of Lake Neusiedl. While the wind ultimately prevented a result in the Men’s Pro Fleet, FPT x Windy Days Podersdorf showcased exactly what makes freestyle windsurfing special, bringing together world champions, local legends, ambitious rookies and first-time competitors in one of the sport’s most historic locations.

One of the biggest additions to the event was the introduction of the Open Fleet format. Designed to give riders of all skill levels and backgrounds the opportunity to experience competition within a professional event environment, the new division proved an instant success. Four qualification spots into the Pro Fleet were available, creating a direct pathway for local riders and newcomers to compete alongside the world’s best.

The week began with riders arriving in Podersdorf eager to get back into competition action for the first time since the Boot Düsseldorf. Familiar faces reunited on the beach, new competitors got their first taste of the Freestyle Pro Tour atmosphere, and anticipation steadily built as competitors waited for suitable conditions. Day 2 remained largely windless, but the lack of competition didn’t prevent the riders from hitting the water for Tow-In training sessions, with many getting their first opportunity to try the discipline.

Competition finally got underway on Day 3 with the debut of the Open Fleet. Ben Behrendt emerged as one of the standout performers, eliminating FPT returnee Andreas Rossler before eventually being stopped by local favorite Max Brinnich. On the opposite side of the ladder, Austrian legend Max Matissek rolled back the years, advancing all the way to the final. In a closely contested showdown between two returning stars, Matissek narrowly edged out Brinnich to take victory by just over a single point. Alongside Matissek and Brinnich, Michi Czech and Johannes Kratky secured the four available qualification spots into the Pro Fleet, completing a clean sweep for the local Podersdorf rippers.

The Women’s Fleet also reached its conclusion, with Lisa Kloster delivering a dominant performance throughout the competition, winning every heat by more than seven points on her way to victory. Ziva Batis secured second place after overcoming Melina Schutt in one of the closest heats of the event. Bijou Shahmirian also shone in her heats, coming out on top in multiple close heats, once again showing she’s growing into a top competitor in the Women’s fleet.

The Men’s Pro Fleet also kicked off, with the first few heats of the Pro Men’s fleet hitting the water before the end of the day.

With the wind refusing to cooperate on Day 4, action shifted back to Tow-In. As the evening sun dropped over Lake Neusiedl, riders hit the water for a spectacular expression session in beautiful sundowner conditions. Kiril Kirilov continued his progression stomping clean Culos after several days of practice, while Cosmo Pezetti impressed with a series of stylish One-Handed Burners.

The biggest revelation of the session was Arne Jörn. Having only tried Tow-In once before arriving in Podersdorf, the German rookie progressed at an astonishing rate throughout the week. Starting with single moves earlier in the day, he quickly built confidence and by the end of the session was comfortably landing combination moves, including Air Funnel Burners and Triple Funnels that would have scored highly in a traditional competition setting.

As always, however, Tow-In eventually became a showcase for the discipline’s biggest names. Lennart Neubauer and Yentel Caers once again pushed the limits of what seemed possible, feeding off each other’s energy and steadily increasing the difficulty of their runs. The session culminated with Neubauer landing the first-ever Double Air Funnel Burner, with the crowd erupting as he stomped it. More than anything, the session highlighted the atmosphere that had defined the entire week, with riders constantly encouraging each other and progression happening at an incredible pace.

The final day of the event brought one last opportunity for the Men’s Pro Fleet to reach a result. An early 7:00am skipper’s meeting was followed by immediate competition as riders attempted to make the most of marginal conditions. With a steady breeze of around 10 to 12 knots and gusts occasionally reaching 15, competitors were forced onto their largest equipment and faced an ongoing battle simply to complete their heats.

The difficult conditions produced plenty of drama. The heat between Arne Jörn and Manolis Chrysopoulos had to be restarted an incredible eight times as the wind repeatedly faded in and out. Despite the challenges, Takumi Moriya delivered one of the performances of the event, putting together a heat score approaching 30 points against Max Matissek, an incredible achievement given the circumstances.

A new podium was achieved with the launch and success of the Men’s Open Fleet. On the Women’s side, Lisa Kloster claimed victory after a dominant run through the single elimination, whilst the Pro Men’s fleet successfully completed its opening round before the wind ultimately prevented a final podium for the single elimination from being reached. While the conditions denied the world’s best the opportunity to battle it out for the top step of the podium, the event nevertheless delivered memorable competition and plenty of action both on and off the water.

Perhaps more importantly, Podersdorf perfectly embodied the spirit behind both Windy Days and the Freestyle Pro Tour itself. From first-time competitors experiencing their first heats to world champions pushing the limits of Tow-In freestyle, the event brought together every corner of the freestyle community in one place, creating a special atmosphere throughout the entire week.

Stay tuned to the Freestyle Pro Tour website and social media channels for more content from Podersdorf and updates as the tour heads towards its next stop: Turkey.

Final Men’s Open Fleet Podium:

• 1. Max Matissek
• 2. Max Brinnich
• 3. Michael Czech

Final Women’s Podium:

• 1. Lisa Kloster
• 2. Ziva Batis
• 3. Bijou Shahmirian