Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam – the end!

Gran finale per la tappa di Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam, tappa in cui il vento non ha “bigiato” neanche un giorno, regalando cinque giornate piene ai freestylers e altre cinque agli slalomisti.
Nel week-end si sono giocati altri due tabelloni completi che hanno visto la rimonta di Matteo che con la vittoria nell’ottavo slalom si “accomoda” al 4° posto di tappa che lo conferma al secondo del ranking 2016, dietro al suo ex compagno di squadra Mortefon.
La tappa ha registrato anche il grande ritorno di Antoine Albeau alla vittoria e ha confermato che quando c’è vento forte è veramente difficile superare il francese che oltre alla classe, ha anche un’esperienza e una dose di nervi saldi che gli altri forse ancora non hanno…

La vittoria di Antoine arriva forse un po’ troppo tardi per poter dire la sua per la corsa al titolo 2016, ma visto il passato anche recente… fossi nei quattro atleti che lo precedono nel ranking… non dormirei sonni troppo  tranquilli!

Classifica della tappa di Fuerte 2016

Ranking 2016 slalom dopo Fuerte

A Fuerte, oltre le conferme di Matteo e Pierre che sono il futuro di questa disciplina, si è visto anche un superbo Ross Williams che tra i tre litiganti si è infilato al secondo posto di  tappa ed insegue i due giovani al terzo posto del ranking slalom 2016.

Ranking che vede al 4° posto uno sfortunato Pascal Toselli, motorizzato tutto italiano, che nel week-end si è lussato la spalla ed ha chiuso la tappa di Fuerte al 10°, ma l’infortunio sembra meno grave del previsto e avrà tempo di tornare al 100% per poter dire la sua negli ultimi tre appuntamenti dedicati allo slalom: Hvide Sande, in Danimanrca a inizio settembre, Sylt in Germania ad inizio ottobre e la Torche in Francia a fine ottobre.

E in chiusura arriviamo alle note meno positive legate agli italici concorrenti perchè dopo il 4° posto di Matteo bisogna fare un balzo di ben venti posizioni in classifica per trovare un altro nostro compaesano… un regolare Andrea Rosati coglie il 24° posto finale, Andrea Ferin è 30°, Malte Reuscher 32°, Andrea Cucchi 37°, Bruno Martini 47°, Francesco Scagliola 49°, Massimo Colombi 59° e Max Brunetti 62°

Foto PWA/Carter
Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam – Event Summary

10 days of epic windsurfing as Fuerteventura delivers
Slalom Men’s
The opening two events of year had proven tricky for Antoine Albeau, but the reigning world champion was back to his very best over the last 5 days to dominate proceedings. AA claimed 4 bullets and qualified for all but two winners’ finals as he claimed his opening event victory of the year, which sees him rise to 5th in the overall rankings.

Antoine Albeau celebrates

Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic / Shamal Sunglasses) continued his great start to the season as he too qualified for every winners’ final bar two. The Brit finished 3rd here last year and was able to go one better this time around as he claimed 2nd place. Williams showed brilliant pace and gybing throughout and he remains in 3rd place overall — firmly in contention for the world title.

Ross Williams

Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / NorthSails) still holds control of the 2016 title race after completing the podium. The Frenchman failed to win an elimination this time, but showed the level of consistency required to challenge for the top and he remains the man everyone has to catch.

Pierre Mortefon

Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Point-7) made a flying start to the week as he secured the opening bullet after an enthralling finish against Antoine Albeau. The Italian was able to clinch a further victory in Race 8 to secure 4th place here to maintain 2nd place overall.

Matteo Iachino

Julien Quentel produced a brilliant set of results to record his second top 5 finish of the year and is currently 7th in the world rankings, while Cedric Bordes (Tabou / GA Sails) and Ben van der Steen (Tabou / GA Sails) achieved their first top 10 finishes of the year with the latter winning the final elimination of the week.

Ben van der Steen

The top 10 is completed by Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic), Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne) and Pascal Toselli (99NoveNove / Challenger Sails), who hangs onto 10th place after having to withdraw from sailing on the last day due to a shoulder injury sustained on Day 9.

Taty Frans

The last 5 days of racing produced some of the most exciting slalom in year’s with the sailors skills and tactical awareness being tested with a variety of courses, while there were thrilling finales and brutal crashes to make it a show you couldn’t take your eyes off.
Thanks to René Egli for once again organising a fantastic event, which will be remembered for a long time, and to everyone who was involved with the event. The PWA looks forward to returning again.

Overall Ranking 2016 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam Men’s Slalom
1st Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde)
2nd Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic / Shamal Sunglasses)
3rd Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / NorthSails)
4th Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Point-7)
5th Julien Quentel (Patrik / Avanti)
6th Cedric Bordes (Tabou / GA Sails)
7th Ben van der Steen (Tabou / GA Sails)
8th Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic)
9th Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne)
10th Pascal Toselli (99NoveNove / Challenger Sails)

Current Ranking 2016 PWA Slalom World Tour Men’s
1st Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / NorthSails)
2nd Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Point-7)
3rd Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic / Shamal Sunglasses)
4th Pascal Toselli (99NoveNove / Challenger Sails)
5th Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde)
6th Arnon Dagan (RRD / NeilPryde)
7th Julien Quentel (Patrik / Avanti)
8th Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne)
9th Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic)
10th Steve Allen (Patrik / Severne)

Overall Ranking 2016 PWA Women’s Freestyle World Tour
1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Maaike Huvermann (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Oda Johanne (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)
4th Arrianne Aukes (Fanatic / NorthSails / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Maxime van Gent (JP / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)

Overall Ranking 2016 Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam Men’s Freestyle
1st Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne)
2nd Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde)
3rd Gollito Estredo (Fanatic / NorthSails / MFC)
4th Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne)
5th Phil Soltysiak (Starboard / Sailworks)
6th Nico Akgazciyan (99NoveNove / Challenger Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
7th Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins)
7th Kiri Thode (Starboard / GA Sails)
9th Jacopo Testa (RRD / RRD / AL360)
9th Tonky Frans (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg / AL360)
9th Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Shamal Sunglasses)
9th Balz Müller (Patrik / Severne)

Current Ranking 2016 PWA Freestyle World Tour Men’s
1st Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne)
2nd Gollito Estredo (Fanatic / NorthSails / MFC)
3rd Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde)
4th Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard / Severne)
6th Kiri Thode (Starboard / GA Sails)
7th Phil Soltysiak (Starboard / Sailworks)
8th Balz Müller (Patrik / Severne)
9th Steven Van Broeckhoven (JP / NeilPryde / Shamal Sunglasses)
10th Adrien Bosson (Fanatic / NorthSails / Maui Ultra Fins)