Thursday, December 19: France has long been held in high esteem in the world of aquabiking with a large following for the sport and a succession of champions across numerous racing disciplines. While the likes of François Medori, Jessica Chavanne and the Poret family continue to set targets for others to match and follow, the small Baltic state of Estonia is rapidly-emerging as a major force in the sport.

The 2024 UIM-ABP European Continental and World Circuit Pro Aquabike Championships were cases in point. Mattias Siimann only tackled one round of the world series in Sardinia but the talented young Estonian won his opening Runabout GP1 Moto and finished second to the eventual World Champion Samuel Johansson in the second one. Siimann’s consolation was three straight Moto wins to secure the Runabout GP2 world crown.

Jasmiin Ypraus was the model of consistency throughout the Ski Ladies GP1 season and finishes in each of the nine World Championship Motos, including four victories, earned the Tallinn-based rider a second world title after a final Moto decider with Chavanne.

There is talent throughout the age groups as well in Estonia. Young Ander Hubert Lauri won the Ski GP3 Junior 3.3 World Championship at the Grand Prix of Hungary in Győr. Further world success for Estonia came at the Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy, where Mattias Reinass earned two Moto wins and a second place to secure the Ski Division GP2 title. Marlon Tiik finished fourth to add to his sixth place in Ski Division GP3. Reinass also won the Ski Division GP4 world title after a tie-breaker with Yoni Hamelin of Belgium. Ander Hubert Lauri was fifth.

Estonians filled three of the top five places in the Runabout GP4 World Championship standings: Karl Keskula claimed the title with Arti Molter taking the bronze medal position and Henri Koppas finishing fifth. Annemarie Randla, Ester Rosin and Carmen Roosmaa were classified second, fifth and seventh in the Runabout GP4 Ladies World Championship, while Katrina Sepp finished as runner-up in Runabout GP4 Juniors.

Missing the final round of the UIM-ABP European Continental prevented Ypraus from challenging for a World and European double. She eventually finished fifth in the points’ standings in Ski Ladies GP1.

Marlon Tiik was classified fourth in the European Ski Division GP2 rankings and fifth in GP3, while Koppas only entered the opening Runabout GP4 round in Hungary and earned two Moto wins and a second place.

Rihard Leinsalu and Katarina Sepp scored points in the European Runabout Juniors GP4 category and Ander Hubert Lauri finished sixth in the European Ski Division GP4 standings, despite only tackling three of the nine Motos.