2019 Red Bull Storm Chase | Final Highlights

Australian windsurfer Jaeger Stone has taken out the 2019 Red Bull Storm Chase, after 131 kilometers per hour wind gusts and eight-meter waves battered the Irish Coast.

Eight world-class windsurfers traveled from all corners of the globe to Magheroarty Beach, in County Donegal, to take on the full force of a massive North Atlantic storm.

The competitors and crew had waited over three years for a storm sufficient enough to compete in.

The riders were judged on jumps, wave riding, and execution of tricks.

The windsurfers took part in a warm-up day on Saturday and a first day of competition on Sunday, but the harshest storms were saved for "Big Tuesday" when the winner was crowned.

Philip Köster led the standings at the beginning of the day but could not hold off the charge by Stone.

"It was absolutely insane to compete in these conditions. It was ballistic, massive, and freezing. Winning the contest feels unreal, and it still hasn't sunk in yet – I'm still just trying to warm up my hands!" said Stone.

The eight riders headed out in pairs for 20-minute heats, but as the wave size increased and wind direction changed, they moved to another part of the beach for one final round of short heats with winds gusting to 131 km/h.

Highlights from the water included a nearly-landed double push-loop from Ricardo Campello, an incredible Air Taka from Köster, and several seriously large aerials from previous event winner Thomas Traversa.

A helicopter and a safety crew team on jet skis kept the riders safe.

"Of all the Storm Chases we've done, this was the hardest. The conditions were radical, and it was just so cold," added Klaas Voget, the event's sports director.

"Temps were just 5º C - I didn't think we'd see such high-performance sailing in these temperatures. That was impressive. And finally, today was the windiest day that many of these guys have ever sailed in."

2019 Red Bull Storm Chase | Results

1. Jaeger Stone (AUS)
2. Philip Köster (GER)
3. Leon Jamaer (GER)

Footage: Red Bull

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