Young Sebastien Devred from France set yesterday’s high-score at the K1 men’s prelims at the ECA European Freestyle Championships in Lienz (Austria). Britain’s James Weight showed a stunning 2nd run scoring the best single ride. Handicapped by a painful muscle injury defending camp Peter Csonka relayed on his first ride to make it to the quarter final.

Hot temperatures and a super-hot freestyle show today at the men’s prelims at the ECA European Freestyle Championships in Austria: Again, the “sunny city” of Lienz did it’s best to give the athletes a warm welcome in the cold waters of the Drava.

Already in heat 1 Sebastien Devred (FRA) set today’s high-score of 1671,667 points out of two runs. Still a junior in 2010, the young Frenchmen had already showed that he is very confident with the selective hole on the Drava. Today he was the only competitor scoring two excellent runs, including difficult moves such as Tricky Woo, Lunar Orbit and Phonics Monkey. The best single run was scored by James Weight (GBR) at 1042,333 points, showing almost all possible moves in perfect manner. Rankt 3rd after the prelims is reigning world-champ James Bebbington (GBR), who seemed not to get along with the hole in his first run. Joaquiím Fontané (ESP), who won the junior’s championship in 2010, is placed 4ht followed by Andrew Brinkley and Alan Ward from Great Britain.

A moment of shock caused defending European Champion Peter Csonka (SVK) today: The Slovakian suffers from a painful muscle injury keeping him from showing his full repertoire. In his second ride, Peter paddled out the hole, his face contorted with pain. “I had already felt the pain in the first run”, said Csonka afterwards. “I was sure, that my first ride got me to the quarter-finals so I did not want to risk anything more and skipped the second run.” Further Abel Thevenet (FRA), Simon Strohmeier (GER), Thimothee Bernard (FRA), Thomas Andrassy (SVK), Gerd Serrasolses (ESP), Tomasz Czaplicki (POL), Thomas Hinkel (GER), Marcel Bloder (AUT), Martin Koll (GER), Jan Spindler (CZE), Philipp Vorbohle (GER), Andrey Pesterev (RUS) and Bartosz Czauderna (POL) made it to the quarter-finals.

Also the K1 junior women (18 years and younger) passed their prelims today. Most outstanding was young Nuria Fontané from Spain. In the selective hole she showed solid Air-Loops and scored 343 Points in two runs. France’s Jeromine Hervo is placed 2nd followed by Jennifer McGaley and Kimberlee Aldred from Great Britain. Tied on rank 5 are the three German girls Julia Spaaij, Jana Groß and Lisa Hasselwander. As the trio showed exactly the same move, all of them made it to Friday’s final. Good team-work, so to say ;-).

After the lunch break it was time for the squirters again to slide into their boats. First the women started off with their prelims, which did not cause any surprises: reigning world champion Claire O’Hara (GBR) is in the lead, 1288,33 points ahead of runner up Eva Filová (SVK). Also Lucie Horka (CZE), Andrea Kaspers (GER) and Nuria Fontané compete in tomorrows finals.

In the men’s semifinal Tomasz Czaplicki (POL) took the lead at 495 points. Ranked 2nd is Bartosz Czaderna (POL) followed by prelim-winner Ben Aldred (GBR), Michal Wrzal (POL) and Helmut Wolff (GER). Final decision in squirt will already fall tomorrow afternoon.

Today's programme: Starting at 10 o’clock the K1 men’s quarter-final takes off on the Drava. Next are the semi-finals of K1 junior men, C1 unisex and K1 women. Squirt finals start at 4 p.m.

For results, photos, tweets, videos and more visit www.euro-lienz.com.