German Windsurf Cup (DWC)

The DWC is the highest national regatta series in windsurfing. In 2009 it is held for the 17th time. It emerged from the union of the Vereinigung Deutscher Regattasurfer VDR (German Regatta Association) and the German Wind Surfers Association GWSA. Since 1999 the DWC is coordinated and organized by the German Choppy Waters GmbH. The DWC can be counted to the most important and successful Funsport-Series in Germany.

: Photo Stevie Bootz

: Photo Katja Bürgelt

: Photo Stevie Bootz

German Championships Series

Since August 2008, the German Windsurf Championship is held as a competition series (before that the title was fought for only at the last tour stop). Now all DWC tourstops are relevant for the overall winner of the German Windsurfing Championship. The DWC series starts at August until July of the following year, when the German Champion will be crowned at the final tourstop at Sylt.

Events

The DWC tour calendar includes 6-8 tourstops annually at the coasts of the northern and eastern sea and also in the midland. The German windsurfing elite can be met during this time span for example at the Steinhuder Meer, the islands of Fehmarn, Rügen, Norderney but also in Boltenhagen and Kiel. The summit of the DWC season, the German Championship, takes place every year at Sylt in July.

Disciplines
The DWC is synonym for first class windsurf-sport. There are three disciplines at the start. Racing is the tactical and technical discipline where the windsurfers reach velocities up to 50 km/h and are crossing the starting line all at the same time. Eight wind forces are necessary for the start. Then up to 80 competitors simultaneously on the regatta field. Per each sailor only one series board, three appending fins and three sails are admitted.

In the discipline slalom the sailors reach velocities up to 70 km/h. The race starts at a minimum of four wind forces. In this spectacular discipline most important are speed, well done buoy maneuvers and hard position fights. Here also the allowed material is limited. Only two boards and four sails can be registered at the beginning of the competition.

Wave-Freestyle, the combination of wave riding and flat water freestyle, is started at a minimum of five wind forces. In a fixed heat-duration the windsurfers show spectacular jumps, fascinating waverides and extreme tricks which are judged by a jury. Exciting fights men towards man in a k.o.system are to be expected here.

Regatta entry
The competitions in the DWC offer themselves as a perfect entry into regattas. Rookies get some more advantages: no material restrictions, loosened registration regulations, reduced registration fee. Moreover: a lot of know how of the professionals of the windsurfing scene.

The German windsurfing scene
The DWC events are the meeting point for the German elite in windsurfing! 40 to 80 competitors take part in one event. Also a lot of international sailors appreciate these competitions as an ideal platform for performance comparisons. Sponsors, windsurfers, interested people and insiders make contacts during the DWC. Besides, the DWC supports German talents. Klaas Voget in waveriding, and Andre Paskowski in freestyle managed the rise from the DWC into the PWA World Tour and showed that the support concept worked out. In 2008 windsurf-legend Bernd Flessner not only won his 13th title as German Champion but could also decide the annual DWC overall valuation for himself. Close to his heels is the upcoming talent Vincent Langer form Kiel.

Links

The event series:

Deutscher Windsurf Cup (DWC)

The disciplines:

Wave

Freestyle

Racing