Gruber and Moroz claim gold in Doha
Words by IKA / Ian MacKinnon and photos by Alex Schwarz
Former world and European champion Florian Gruber (GER) won two consecutive races in the final to become the first men’s Kitefoil Racing ANOC World Beach Games champion. The women’s saw Daniela Moroz win six out of a possible eight races at the Annual World Beach Games to take home the gold medal. All of this comes shortly after her World Series Championship win, where she showed her dominance over both foil racing formats.
As the second-placed qualifier, Gruber had to win two races before highest qualifier Nicolas Parlier [FRA] won one in order to fulfil his gold medal dream.
In a tight first race, the German edged past Parlier at speeds of around 50 kilometres per hour to keep himself in contention, with just six seconds separating first and fourth place.
In the second, Parlier missed a mark and had to tack back, leaving the race open for the German to speed past and claim a sensational victory.
Speaking after his win, Gruber said, “I wouldn’t believe it if someone had told me before the race. Nico had a really good regatta and I had also some really good races so we were battling a lot, and then to start with a win in the final, we were tied, so it was all for the last race.
“I just had a good start and I think almost a perfect race, no single mistake, and it was nice to have a close fight until the last round.”
Meanwhile Parlier admitted he had hoped for better in the final after a stunning week of racing. The Frenchman outperformed Gruber throughout the opening series races, taking four bullets and a second place to the German’s one bullet, two second and one third places, but nonetheless said he was pleased with his result. Great Britain’s Guy Bridge came in third in both races to collect the first medal for Great Britain at Qatar 2019, while in fourth was Alexander Bachev from Bulgaria.
Final Mens’s Results AWBG 2019:
1st Place: Florian Gruber
2nd Place: Nico Parlier
3rd Place: Guy Bridge
After a stop-start week of competition, on finals’ day there was no holding back for American Daniela Moroz, who stormed to victory in the women’s Kitefoil Racing.
The four-time and defending Formula Kite world champion dominated all three days of competition at the ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019, winning five of seven opening series races earlier in the week to enter the final as the highest qualifier.
This meant she only needed to win one race to grab the gold, which she did in style, leading from the outset to romp to victory over second-placed Julia Damasiewicz (POL).
Final Women’s Results AWBG 2019:
1st Place: Daniela Moroz
2nd Place: Julia Damasiewicz
3rd Place: Elena Kalinina
Click here for the full results tables and more