The top 3 winners on stage Matteo jibes close to the mark (Pic: Carter/PWA)

The top 3 winners on stage, Matteo Iachino in 1st, Ross Williams 2nd  & Antoine Albeau 3rd (Pic: Carter/PWA)

 

The Italian Matteo Iachino (25) wins the second PWA Slalom tour stop at Costa Brava in front of Ross Williams (35) and Antoine Albeau (43). Antoine Albeau, reigning Slalom World Champion from 2014, arrived as the tour leader at Camping Ballena Allegre and still holds the lead in the overall ranking in front of Pierre Mortefon and Ross Williams. 

3 full eliminations got completed in total and Italian Matteo Iachino won his first PWA Slalom in his career at the Costa Brava. The Italian has been the most consistent rider in really light conditions, made it into all three winners finals and won the second elimination. It’s a clear victory for Matteo with 13,3 points ahead of Ross Williams, who returns back on the podium again since Sylt 2012, where he made it in 2nd place, too. Antoine Albeau is always there, even if he has a not ideal elimination and struggles with light wind conditions: “One of the lightest events since long time, but I finished in the podium!”  The big French man made it in 3rd with a solid performance in the third elimination (5 th place winners final).

 

Matteo Iachino won elimination 2 and the event, too (Pic: Carter/PWA)

Matteo Iachino won elimination 2 and the event, too (Pic: Carter/PWA)

 

DAILY

  • Day 1, June 9: 63 riders registered for the event at Costa Brava, but no wind arrived, no racing
  • Day 2, June 10: the first elimination got completed and Arnon Dagan took the first bullet, Matteo Iachino made it in 2nd and Antoine Albeau in 3rd, a second elimination got started and the first round was completed, with a few upsets: Arnon Dagan and Antoine Questel had an over early, Steve Allen and Finian Maynard did not qualify for round two. Any other highlights: Young German Nico Prien made his first losers final in one of his first PWA events and is currently ranked in excellent 12 position. Congrats Nico! That’s a big surprise. Ethan Westera from Aruba  and Nicolas Goyard from New Caledonia, both are young sailors, too, are just behind Nico on the places 13 and 14. The young riders definitely surprised  during the first elimination. Amado Vrieswijk and Mateus Isaac are the next young ranked riders. Both are in 27th place.
  • Day 3, June 11: no racing on day 3, the wind started , but got blocked by huge clouds during the afternoon, Arnon Dagan keeps the lead
  • Day 4, June 12: cloudy, strong rain, no racing during the entire day, two more days remain to get more eliminations completed, Arnon Dagan keeps the lead still
  • Day 5, June 13: no wind, no competition. Arnon Dagan keeps the leading position
  • Day 6, June 14: final day, wind returned. It’s an exciting final day. Italian Matteo Iachino wins the second winners final, Malte Reuscher in 2nd and Jimmy Diaz in 3rd. Matteo Iachino takes the event lead after two eliminations. Cyril Moussilmani won ahead of Ben van der Steen. Arnon Dagan lost his event lead and Antoine Albeau actually is off the podium zone. French Defi Wind winner Pierre Mortefon wins elimination 3 just ahead of Steve Allen and Alexandre Cousin. Antoine Albeau in 5th. Matteo Iachino keeps the clear lead after 3 eliminations. Ross Williams in 2nd and Antoine Albeau back on the podium in 3rd again. A fourth elimination got started, but the wind dropped after 3 completed heats. Matteo Iachino is the winner at Costa Brava 2015, Ross Williams in 2nd and Antoine in 3rd, the reigning PWA Slalom World Champion, who keeps the lead overall after two events.

 

Matteo Iachino reflects on maiden victory and remembers the late and great Alberto Menegatti (interviewed by PWA / Chris Yates)

 “It’s an unbelievable result – I can’t believe it. The racing itself was tough with the gusty conditions making timing the start difficult. In the final I took advantage of a small gybing mistake by Malte Reuscher and from there I managed to hold onto the lead. Afterwards a new race was announced and my stress levels were super high. I went for it again and everything went well – finishing fourth – on the way back to the beach I was counting and thought that maybe I had a chance of winning, so I couldn’t believe it when it was real. It was really nice to win and the whole time I was also thinking about Alberto. I just want to take the opportunity now to thank Alberto because without him I would’ve never believed that I could be where I am right now. Basically it’s thank to him that I am here – he’s the one that made me start to believe that my dream could come true. Thanks, Alby.” Matteo Iachino

 

Matteo jibes close to the mark (Pic: Carter/PWA)

Matteo jibes close to the mark (Pic: Carter/PWA)

Ross Williams has fun in the surf (Pic: Carter/PWA)

Ross Williams has fun in the surf (Pic: Carter/PWA)

Antoine Albeau is ready for more (Pic: PWA / Carter 2015)

Antoine Albeau is ready for more (Pic: PWA / Carter 2015)

 

Watch the action of day 2 with light wind racing

Lightwind Slalom action from elimination 1 at Costa Brava 2015
play-sharp-fill

Lightwind Slalom action from elimination 1 at Costa Brava 2015

Error: Google Developer Key required.

 

Overall result Costa Brava 2015:

1. Matteo Iachino (6.7 points)

2. Ross Williams (20.0 points)

3. Antoine Albeau (26.5 points)

4. Pierre Mortefon (28.2 points)

5. Cyril Moussilmani (29.0 points)

6. Julien Quentel (32.0 points)

7. Alexandre Cousin (36.5 points)

8. Cedric Bordes (39.5 points)

9. Ben van der Steen (40.5 points)

10. Adriaan van Rijsselberghe (43.5 points)

 

16. Nicolas Goyard (best Youth, 63.0 points)

Matteo's team mates celebrate his victory in their style (Pic: Carter/PWA)

Matteo’s team mates celebrate his victory in their style (Pic: Carter/PWA)

Matteo Iachino on solid form (Pic: PWA/Carter 2015)

Matteo Iachino on great form (Pic: PWA/Carter 2015)

 

Share