1. Remembering Alberto Menegatti
On the first day of the competition the slalom sailors paid their tributes to Alberto Menegatti, who passed away unexpectedly and much too soon earlier this year. Josh Angulo, Jimmy Diaz and Arnon Dagan spoke a few words about the rising Italian star. Alberto Menegatti won the last event at Jinha in 2013. (2014 was no event, due to the ferry accident)

Remembering Alberto Menegatti

Remembering Alberto Menegatti

 

2. Rain & Waiting at Jinha
The sailors had to wait four days for the wind to arrive. During the first four days it was rainy and the wind was too patchy, too light, too offshore or just not there to run any races. Day 5 and 6 brought wind and allowed 2 eliminations for the men and 4 for the women. On day 5 the conditions were pretty nice with gusts around 22 knots.

A lot of rain at Jinha

A lot of rain at Jinha

 

 

3. A very tight battle in the ladies fleet
Sarah-Quita Offringa wins the first slalom event of the season after an exciting battle with Lena Erdil from Bodrum, who was leading after three eliminations. In the last elimination Sarah-Quita showed a lot of speed, seemed to feel confident on her gear and took the hammer down in the 4th all important final with a great start. Sarah-Quita about the final: “Lena has improved her jibes so much. In the last final I started full speed. Delphine was charging in the end and she tried to get a bullet and I heard her coming closer behind me. I am super happy with the event. We had three different winners.”

“The highlight of course was winning the 3rd race and believing at least for 10 minutes that I had managed to win my first PWA slalom event! Actually couldn’t quite believe it and then it was already over, haha. But yeah, great feeling and I hope I can win an event this year!” Lena Erdil stated after the event

Fulya Ünlü (19 years-old) from Izmir, Alacati, who was Youth world champion in 2014 in the Slalom discipline, completes the podium with her first top 3 finish. Fulya is pushing hard and trains with Cagla Kubat at Alacati. Both are on the same gear. 2014 world champion Delphine Cousin needed a few rounds to find her pace and secured a 4th place at Jinha.

 

Sarah-Quita and Lena Erdil

Sarah-Quita and Lena Erdil

 

4. Antoine Albeau is Mr. Consistent
The Frenchmen and multiple world champion in Slalom, Formula and Freestyle won the event without winning an elimination. He is fit, was again very consistent, seems to be always on the right equipment and gets all gusts. He did not risk everything, but made it twice in the winners final. Antoine Albeau: “I had a good speed, I was really there. Pierre was fast, Pascal was fast, Arnon was fast, there are a lot of guys, who go quick and we had one of the best days ever at Jinha, South Korea. The course was over 4 minutes long. In the past the Slaloms were 2 to 3 minutes long and we had good wind until 7.00 pm. It was really tactical this time, the first final was tricky, Pierre was really consistent, Cyril is really fast as well and Julien as well, but sometimes you easily can get kicked out in the first or second round or a few guys push hard at the starting line and drag you over, too. I am super happy about this year as I did not do so good in South Korea in the past. Now I will focus on the Defi Wind with more than 1000 people at the starting line.”

 

Antoine Albeau wins at South Korea

Antoine Albeau wins at South Korea

 

5. Matteo Iachino wins his first winners final
The fast Italian won the second elimination at Jinha. It was his first victory of an elimination on the PWA tour and he dedicated this victory to Alberto Menegatti.

Matteo Iachino wins his first winners final

Matteo Iachino wins his first winners final

 

6. Fallen favourites
The Vice Worldchamp 2014 Cyril Moussilmani finished on place 20. Julien Quentel got 18th, Ben van der Steen 22nd, Finian Maynard 32nd, Andrea Rosati 35th and Cedric Bordes 42nd. The slalom level is high and you are not allowed to make any faults, if you want to finish in the top. 

 

7. Josh Angulo on the podium
After being the last time on the podium in 2011 (3rd place Korea), the 40 year-old slalom sailor finished in 3rd. He seems to be well prepared this season, after a hard working winter with Pieter Bijl and Renato Morlotti (Gun Sails sail designer). 3 guys from the 40 years + club made it into the top ten: Antoine Albeau, Josh Angulo and Steve Allen (41). Björn Dunkerbeck finished his career last season at the last event in New Caledonia at the age of 45.

 

8. Austrian Marco Lang is the new shooting star
Marco had his PWA Slalom debut in Austria in 2009. And now Marco Lang made it for the very first time in a winners final and finished the event on a great 9th place. After finishing the PWA tour on place 32 overall last year, it seems his hard winter trainings pay finally off. Marco Lang: “It’s hard to find the right words. I am super stoked. I worked the last year quite a lot to get there. 4 years ago I was still a passionate freestyler, but then I jumped on the Slalom and I was surprised how much fun it is! The first year was quite hard for me. I had no ideas about racing and the equipment. I was lucky that one of the best guys on the slalom tour, Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, helped me that year so much to improve my slalom skills! After that I spent so much time on the slalom stuff to get a feeling for it!! Thanks to all my sponsors as well, I am so proud to be in the FANATIC/NORTH TEAM!! And I hope I can continue with the performance!!”

Marco Lang leading in front of famous names

Marco Lang leading in front of famous names

 

 

9. Youth power in South Korea
PWA female youth Slalom world champion from 2014, 19 year-old Fulya Ünlü from Turkey, won her first winners final and made it for the first time on a podium in a PWA slalom. Océane Lescadieu is as well 19 years-old and finished in 12th in the ladies fleet. In the men’s fleet Benjamin Augé, the cousin of Pascal Toselli made it in excellent 21st place and he has just 70 kg. Brazilian Mateus Isaac, 21 years of age, finished in 31st and 18 year-old Japanese youngster Tomonori Anami came in 39th. 

 

Fulya Unlu leads (Pic: Bellande/PWA)

Fulya Ünlü leads (Pic: Bellande/PWA)

 

10. Ladies news
One of the top ladies, French Valerie Ghibaudo, broke her rip, missed day 5 with two eliminations and returned on the Slalom course on day 6 with a seat harness. And we heard she most probably will retire after this season from competing on the PWA tour. 

 

©continentseven 2015

 

 

 

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