Dozens of surfers took off today (Friday, 16/9/22), around 12:00, in the Israeli IQ-FOIL Surfing Championship held in Haifa. The competition is held on the Pacific coast, while in the background there is a difficult and long legal process, which the municipality of Haifa, led by Dr. Einat Kalish Rotem, against the sailing association. Haifa sailing volunteers are not broken and are producing a big event today, with a tremendous effort.
Today (Fri, 16/9/22) six fast cruises were made. At the end of the first day, Tom Reuveni leads the men's category. Maya Morris leads the women's race. Haifa's Naama Gazit is ranked third (Full results here).
The IQFOIL model is also new and will replace the outdated Nile Pride model in the upcoming Olympics. The IQ-FOIL is a surfboard that rises to levitate above the water, using a hydrodynamic wing that lifts the body of the surfboard in the air and allows it to develop enormous speeds, even in a light wind of 10 knots.
(After the event, we will bring more reports here)
► Watch the second leap (Photo: Lior Alfasi)
Report from the preparations for the cruise - Friday morning, 16/9/22
Lior Alfasi, chairman of Haifa sailing, Lahi Fe, straight from the preparations for the competition:
(Lior is currently on the judging boat that leaves Shavit anchorage in Kishon for the competition site)
The Israeli championship that is being held today is in the Olympics model. This is the most important competition before the World Championship in Marseille. Shahar Tzuberi coaches the girls' team. Gal Friedman coaches the boys' team.
In total about 30 competitors. This year young surfers (from the youth team) were also given the opportunity to surf with the adults and experience a professional competition, on an adult surfboard.
Naama Gazit (in the women's race) and Arnon Dagan (in the men's race) will jump from the Haifa cruise.
Among the young surfers, 4 surfers join the competition:
Shir Kravitz, 17
Yuval Godolnik, 16.5
Almog Rajwan, 15
Roman, a new immigrant from Russia, 17
Regarding the production and logistical efforts, Lior Lahi Fe says:
The production looks simple from a distance, but there is a wide variety of topics that require professional and painstaking preparation: the safety arrangements in front of the Haifa port, the floats, the judges, judging boats, the crew in front of the port, beach decoration, trophies and much more. It's a lot of logistics.
Regarding the cooperation with Haifa Municipality, Lior says:
At the moment there is very little cooperation from the Haifa municipality. In previous years, the Haifa municipality helped us with a large number of issues, but this year they only brought us chairs and an amplification system. We wanted advertising on the site, financial assistance with fuel, boats, refreshments, but this time all the funding falls on us, from the club's funds, which is fed by donations from parents and some sponsors.
We do not cry, but work in the field with all our might and hope for a better future.
I, myself, have no more children who are active in the Haifa cruise. My son enlisted and my daughter moved to a popular cruise. I volunteer as chairman of the association because I am connected to this sport.
Sharon Gazit, the father of the Haifa surfer, Naama Gazit, gave a speech
(Sharon is currently on the Pacific coast preparing logistics and in the next hour he will travel to the Sea of Galilee to volunteer in the production of sea salt on behalf of Haifa Cruises).
The women's and men's divisions will be held on separate tracks in Haifa Bay and can be seen from the northern Carmel (Yaffe Nof Street area). The sails are red. The captain of the competition, Gal Samoura, will determine the location of the courses according to the wind and sea conditions.
In total, about 30 participants, men and women, will jump, of which 11 are women and 19 are men.
Among the women will jump Tamar Steinberg, from the Carmel Beach, who holds the title of World Youth Champion
Next to her will jump Haifaite Naama Gazit, 20 years old, who has rich experience in international competitions.
Nimrod Moshiach, the veteran surfer is making a comeback today after a long period in which he did not compete.
Alongside him will also jump the veteran Haifa, Arnon Dagan.
Regarding the participation of his house, Naama, Sharon said:
Naama is competing on her home court today. I feel it helps her.
Naama is experienced, but the entire fleet of girls is very well trained, also at the Haifa court, because they often practice here. Shahar Tzuberi, the girls' coach, prepared the Israeli team in a large number of training sessions, on the Pacific coast, so everything is open.
Photos from the preparations on the Pacific Coast, for the first start of the Israel Olympic Surfing Championship (Photo: Sharon Gazit, Haifa Sailing)
Important article Yaron Karmi. Shabbat Shalom