Reptile Team Rider Michele Laurenza dominates the stage of the Youth Italian Slalom championship

The second stage of the Italian youth and absolute slalom fin and foil championship has just taken place in Messina. As always, Sicily gives us fantastic conditions for racing, sun, wind and flat water. On the first day the wind direction was not constant, so the committee decided to set up the race course with two buoys, a figure eight course with three gybes, but they were unable to even give a start, thus wasting the all day. On the second day the direction and intensity of the wind seemed to be much better, with a maximum peak of 15 knots. At 13.30 they called us out in the water with the hope of racing, this time with a down wind field consisting of four gybes, but sadly the race committee was unable to place the buoys in the correct position, after waiting five hours in the water gave the first start to the under 20s and the absolutes, I participated in both, finishing in the first position.
On the last day the judges tried to make up for the time lost in the previous days, being found with the field set up correctly, already in the morning, we went out at 12.00 with a wind of 10 to 13 knots which held throughout the day making us conclude four tests in foil, both for the under 20 and for the absolute, concluding, in both categories, in first position. Having reached the maximum daily tests in foil, the regatta committee decided to call us in the water in fins, with a wind in my opinion too weak for the discipline, but despite this they made us do a test by category, in the absolute, unfortunately , I wasn't able to get a good placement due to the weak wind, while in the youth classification I managed to place myself in the first position.
In general, I conclude the event satisfied with my performances and the placements obtained, it has been a long time since I felt so fit and confident with my equipment! I thank the Windsurf Club Messina for the hospitality and for the splendid organization, now I will continue with the hard workouts to get even more performing at the slalom world championship which will be held in Sardinia in a few days.

PROtagonist: Michele Laurenza