(machine translated in 2023) NK Lelystad (2nd day) My first Dutch Championships: cold and heavy
There was a nice but cold North wind predicted, perfect for slalom. NK was in Leystad on the Markermeer, I had never been there before. It was going to be my first National Championship, pretty exciting. I know that there is a man or 20 to 30 in the Netherlands that I really can't reach. But I can probably give the boys behind that a nice race. After arrival, quickly register and set up. What a beautiful spot, open water everywhere and free wind. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get into the water because of the large stones.

For people who do not know how a Slalom race is sailed at this level a short explanation:
The group is divided into groups of 8 to 10 people. Those groups all sail 1 game, the first half can go on to the next round (in this case directly the semi-final, the rest is usually out, but fortunately we had a Loosers Final (with a relatively large group)
After the semifinals, the first half of each semifinal advances to the final and the other half to the runners-up. And then the points are known. Today we sailed 2 eliminations, due to the cold (wind chill -2) there is no 3rd danger.

1st Elimination
I was in the 2nd group, a kind of pool-of-death, 5 toppers in my group, only if someone messed up well I can get through. I had a reasonable start, 6 seconds late, but 5th at the first buoy. I had Alexander Verhage (NED-75) in my neck, and he is really faster, I managed to stay 3 shackles ahead of him, but then he really passed me. All my gybe-jes stood, but only 1-bit planned. I was 6th, so I didn't advance to the semifinals, straight to the Loosers Final.
In the Loosers final I was way too early, was counting down in my head, always went very well last year, just checking a few meters before the line... 5 seconds left. I could never brake that much again. False start, end 1st Elimination: Last!

2nd Elimination
For round should be easier, start a bit late again, 1 person overtook at a buoy, therefore 6th, no. 5 was already far away, so again 6th, so again directly to the Loosers Final.
In the Loosers Finale I was very early again, together with the young Lars van Someren (NED-800), we were both cheating the first time, so both full on the brakes, we came in the middle of the other surfers, both out of plane and I was the last to leave, bad start. Fortunately, this was the Loosers Finale and I can still surf a bit. At the buoys it was always very busy, many people falling out of plane or even going swimming. I didn't fall, always did my best to avoid everyone, outside, or a hole inside by the buoy. On the last rak very close behind someone, but he was just a little higher and I couldn't get hold of it. I think 5th, just waiting for the results.

It was certainly not easy in the swell of the Markermeer, and the cold only made it heavier. And my starts really weren't at the level of late last year, bit rusty, need to practice more again.
Learn goals after this competition:
- Practice starting on open water where you have no reference points in the start area (how far is it to the start line?)
- My gybes practice in higher waves (grevelingendam/brouwersdam outside)

It was heavy, cold, educational, fun and very fun.

Lelystad - Houtribdijk

10:30 3 hour Wind: N 12/20 kts
Board: Starboard iSonic 111 - C3 Venom v2 40cm
Sail: North Warp F2011 7.8 - North Platinum(b) 460cm - AL360 E3 Carbon 210-270
  (machine translated in 2023) Set ran well, fin could certainly be small at times, waves were heavy, gyben did not go completely smoothly, but did not fall in the match.