The boards will slide on the body of water of the interdepartmental sports park of Choisy-le-Roi, for three days. Since Thursday and until Saturday, the facilities of the Kable, the water ski lift of the new Guy Leprince National Technical Center of the French Federation of Water Skiing and Wakeboarding (FFSNW), host the 24th European and African Championships. A first in Ile-de-France.
"We are expecting a hundred competitors, details Patrice Martin, the president of the FFSNW who is delighted in advance: The France received this competition for the 1st time in 2012 in Toulouse. " Sixteen countries will be represented and seven titles are at stake, six individual and one team.
Athletes pulled by a cable at a speed of 30 km/h
For athletes, both able-bodied and disabled, the objective remains the same, to obtain the most points by chaining the imposed and free figures on their board, towed with a cable at 30 km / h. "They must do tricks, take springboards, rails as in skateboarding, details the boss of the federation. The difficulty of the figure and finally the commitment to the obstacle, not to mention the quality of the execution are taken into account in the final score. A total of 16 obstacles await them.
On the menu of these competitors, three different categories with wake board, wake skate, "as on a skateboard the feet are not attached to the board", as described by Patrice Martin, and finally the seated category, for people with disabilities. "In the context of future World Championships, people with disabilities, men and women, are an integral part of the team with the able-bodied," adds this sliding enthusiast. It is an inclusive sport. »
Fans of this sport - the federation has nearly 22,000 members - or simple neophytes will be able to enjoy the place, with the establishment of a stand of 350 seats, not to mention stands to eat.
Le Kable, at the Parc des Sports de Choisy, nautical base at the Plaine Nord, in Choisy-le-Roi. The semi-finals start on Saturday at 9 a.m. and the finals in the early afternoon. Demonstrations and tests are also on the program. Free admission.
