Kitebuggy Eurocups

Buggyracing the Eurocups last weekend of April, Gravelines, Stephen Schapman and Koen Schepers report.

Stephen:
I arrived saturdaymorning at 10 and the wind was already blowing so I prepared my 6.5, 7.8 & 9.4 Vapors.
Soon after the briefing was held and this was also an oppurtunity to catch up with my teammates.
The racedirector prepared a great course with lots of bouys promising an interesting race.
I started the first race with the 7.8 Vapor and although I was battling with Arjen v/d Tol the whole race I finished first.
Second race, again with the 7.8, again battling with Arjen, winds again picking up so I was overpowered but still managed to take the win.
The third round I started with the 6.5 and had a very good start which helped me take the win again.
During this ropund the race director drove next to me on the downwind leg and my speed was about 85Km/h.
Round 4 and 5 saw some exiting battles but in the end I won them both.
By the time I was packing it was already 19:30 and the race director briefing was planned for 09:00 the next day, early!

Koen:
The days before the event i found myself daydreaming. Did you ever had that feeling? Busy at work, taking care of the family
Friday evening we were packing up 4 buggies and gear into Ozzie’s van with trailer and the next morning 6 o clock we were on our way. Normally I would spend this day day celebraing our Queens birthday at a fleamarket or festival, this time it was only my orange PL shirt and orange sweater that reminds me of the Netherlands. I exchanged the drunk talk in a Dutch pub for French, English and some Dutch shouting at the starting line. Now I can say I haven’t looked back.

Upon arrival we spent some time on the parking shaking hands and watched people assemble their buggies.
we started slowly with a first briefing at 11am. At this time I did not expect that we would do 5 races in one day!

Actually there were 6 starts but one of the races was cancelled due to a minor accident, which was the only moment of adversity this weekend and it was also a time when the organisation was able to show what they do best. they took good care of Ruudje (Xxtreme) and after an hour the next race was scheduled. Chapeau!

Back to the race. It was my first time starting in a race with some 60 competitors, really impressive!
And how is it posible that Stephen, Arie & Ozzie were so far ahead of me within a few minutes? The second race I managed a good start too and learned that this can really make a difference for the rest of the race.

Stephen:
Back at the beach at 9am, winds were not yet on so I prepared my 9.4 and 11.2 Vapors.
After the briefing a course similar to the one from before was set out and I decided to go with my 11.2 which turned out not the best choice as the winds built up and after 10 minutes in the race I was really overpowered, luckily the Vapors are pretty forgiving and I managed to come in 4th.

Second race, the winds have really picked up now so I decided to start with the 6.5 which was a good choice as I came in first.
The last round was an endure which was to last 45 mins which meant I was battling with Arjen for the entire length of the race only to finished 2nd.

At the end of the weekend 8 rounds were driven, a top organisation, drivers of all backgrounds came down to ride which was awesome, more than 180Km of riding, top speeds of nearly 90Km/h, Vapors in the wind and a podiumplace.
I finished first in the ranking and the Vapor has again showed it’s potential.

Au revoir,
Stephen Schapman

Koen:
All ingredients to make a great raceweekend were present, The beach was huge and the racemaster used this to put down some interesting routes.
During both days winds picked up around noon and the sun and the enthusiastic participants made it a memorable weekend.
I ended 22nd overall which was very satisfying for me as this was the first time I started with so many masters.
Sunday afernoon we drove home and i couldn’t believe the weekend was already over.
A big thanks to all that made this weekend so memorable now I’m off for a couple days of kitesurfing at the Brouwersdam!

Cheers,
Koen Schepers.