The year 2005 started well for Windsurf Team The Bunch. Team member Ben van Hooydonk went to Fuerteventura, Niek van der Linde went to Cape Town and after that to Bonaire together with Paul van Overloop. Half March we got back in the cold. Back to business again, back to work. In May temperatures were getting better and we also had our first competition (Dutch Freewave Competition). We had a lot of wind, we sailed 4 eliminations, some on our smallest sails. Niek won the first and got 2nd three times. Ended up on the 1st place, together with Ben van der Steen. Paul had bad luck because someone else damaged his board.

The 10th and 11th of May we organized our own "no-nonsense-freestyle-event" called "King of the Dam". We started organizing this contest 5 years ago and since then it is a big success. High level of competition, and also a lot of young rippers make it a success every year. Again we had really good weather conditions. Windy and sunny. Four eliminations for the men and four for the kids in = two days! At the end Niek ended up first by winning every single heat, Paul got second. Ben winning the Masters made the success complete. Our "King of the Dam" is also part of the Belgian National Freestyle Competition. In the months after we had two more eliminations. The first in the south of Belgium on the North Sea. Paul missed this event because of an injury, Niek was too busy teaching. The last contest was at Bredene (EFPT Spot). Shifty and gusty winds made it a weekend of waiting. At the end Paul didn't loose his nerve and won the competition!

Although summer wasn't very windy, we had some good sessions. Niek was very busy with his own windsurf school (www.surfinfo.nl). Paul participated in his first ever EFPT freestyle event in Bredene, Belgium. First heat was a tough one, Andreas Olandersson, number 4 of the overall EFPT ranking. Paul won! Second heat was a tough battle against Tom Hartman. Paul lost, although it was close!

At the end of August we were invited to help organizing The Mission. An amateur/ kids/ fun-slalom event. Over 250 people came to race, learn, see the pro's ripping and to party. A huge success, and for us always a pleasure to help!






Now it is fall and temperatures are getting lower. But also some nice storms passing the North Sea! So guess what we are doing...... ENJOYING THE WIND AND WATER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!!

Hope to see you on the water!

Aloha

Team The Bunch - www.teamthebunch.com
Ben van Hooydonk, Paul van Overloop, Niek van der Linde

2005 Dutch Championship Freewave:
1. Niek van der Linde (Fanatic/ MauiSails)

2005 Belgian Championship Freestyle
1. Niek van der Linde (Fanatic/ MauiSails)
2. Paul van Overloop (F2/ Maui Sails) (First Belgian and officially Belgian Champion)

2005 Belgian Championship Freestyle Masters
1. Ben van Hooydonk ((AHD/ Maui Sails)

Photos by Dedephoto.com