Antoine Albeau. Image credit PWA/JC.

Antoine Albeau became World Champion in the men’s slalom fleet, ahead of last year’s Champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck. Whilst, in the women’s fleet, Valerie Arrighetti and Karin Jaggi finished on joint points (with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd each). Antonine Albeau also has a brand new website, with all the latest news from the now 20 time World Champion, check it out here.

Gollito Estredo showed his dominance in the men’s freestyle fleet, with three event wins to take the title, with Kiri Thode in second. As Sarah-Quita, won the only women’s event to take another world title for herself, with Laure Treboux.

In the waves, Philip Koster again became World Champion ahead of rival Victor Fernandez. Whilst in the women’s fleet, Iballa to the win ahead of sister Daida.

PWA trophy winners 2012. Image credit PWA/JC.

All 2012 rankings available here. Which includes full results for every fleet, plus the constructors standings.

Score sheets from Williams vs Ojeda and Traversa vs Koester.

Good morning from another windy day in Pozo. Conditions are looking a little flatter this morning, so we are waiting for the tide to push in and the waves to ramp up.

PWA Gran Canaria. Judges hit the water early morning before the waves come through!

Competition will then resume with the mens elimination, which will run from heat 17 up to 22. After this the finals will take place; women’s losers, followed by men’s losers, then women’s final and the men’s final.

Still going strong in the men’s fleet from the UK are Robby Swift, Phil Horrocks, Ross Williams and John Skye. They’ve all got tough heats ahead, especially Horrocks on takes on the formidable Koester and Swift who will go head to head with Browne.

Iballa flying high. Image credit PWA/JC.

The women’s finals look like they will be tight between Laure and Karin, and of course the winners final is sure to produce some incredible action from both of the twins.

Watch all the action Live on Mpora – plus get involved with the discussion, ask Proffitt and the other commentators questions and vote in the polls here. 

Keep up to date with the elimination ladders:

MEN’S ELIMINATION LADDER: http://pwaworldtour.com/index.php?id=1732

WOMEN’S ELIMINATION LADDER: http://pwaworldtour.com/index.php?id=1740

In a repeat of Day Five’s weather, the final day in Reggio Calabria saw the wind turn on late in the afternoon. The conditions were good enough to finish the men’s first elimination and complete the ladies second.

Women

After dominating the first elimination, Karin Jaggi was in a strong position going into the second round. With a bullet in the first heat, she headed straight to the winner’s final. Not ready to give up, French sailor Valeria Arrighetti put in an outstanding performance in the final and edged ahead of Jaggi. Local sailor and PWA debutante Laura Linares sailed a smart heat and finished in an excellent third position.

Karin Jaggi cruising to overall victory at Reggio Calabria

Overall results:

1. Karin Jaggi

2. Lena Erdil

3. Valeria Arrighetti

4. Alice Arutkin

5. Laura Linares

Men

The mens final was an exciting finish to what has been a frustrating week in Italy for many of the racers. With the conditions turning on, the battle for the top spot was taken right to the finish line. Trailing at the start, Dunkerbeck stepped on the gas and chased down the top three, overtaking Antoine Albeau and Jimmy Diaz. Neck and neck with Gonzalo Costa Hoevel down the final straight, Dunkerbeck squeezed ahead by inches to take the win in a photo-finish. A solid start to the year for Bjorn as he attempts to defend his world title.

Antoine leads Bjorn, but for how long?

1. Bjorn Dunkerbeck

2. Gonzalo Costa Hoevel

3. Antoine Albeau

4. Peter Volwater

5. Jimmy Diaz

The winners in Italy

To see the full results, elimination ladders and race report, head to the PWA website.

PWA Turkey Slalom

The 2011 Pegasus Airlines PWA World Cup Alacati Turkey – Event Summary:  Supreme conditions bless the beautiful bay of Alacati for six days of slick slalom sailing allowing eleven dramatic eliminations to be completed and two world titles to be awarded.

The stunning bay of Alacati provided six days of incredible slalom conditions for the sixth stop on the men’s 2011 world tour and the women’s fourth and final showdown. The PWA’s elite slalom sailors were treated to a whole variety of wind speeds ensuring the sailors were tested to the edge of their ability as they raced down the four mark downwind course, and only the most consistent sailors shone through. An astounding eleven eliminations were completed on the turquoise waters, full of thrills and spills from the world’s best that left the results open until the final intense minutes of the competition.

Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear) led the charge in the men’s fleet from day one as did Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) in the women’s fleet, but it was by no means an easy ride, however both sailors persevered on the testing waters and emerged victorious as the 2011 Pegasus Airlines PWA world cup winners. The glory continued for Dunkerbeck as he earned himself the 2011 world slalom champion title with one event to go having had an extremely successful season on the water. With four event wins in the bag he has enough points to put him far enough ahead on the scoreboard to overthrow Antoine Albeau’s (JP / NeilPryde) five-year stronghold on the top spot. Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic) sailed a cool set of races throughout the week to secure the women’s world slalom title and her second world title in 2011.

Day 1

The newly crowned world champions, Dunkerbeck and Offringa took charge on the first day of competition, powering their way through the first elimination and obviously enjoying the flat water in Alacati. Around thirteen knots of wind fuelled the world’s rapid racers, allowing Finian Maynard (RRD) to slip into second place with Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North) in third. Unfortunately for Albeau he suffered his first major blow in the competition as he failed to qualify for the winners’ final in the semi-finals of elimination one. Over in the women’s fleet, Jaggi finished fourth on the first day with Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft / AL360) in second and Lise Vidal (Exocet / North) in third.

Day 2

A lighter day of wind for the second day of competition saw the sailors take to the water on their largest equipment. However it didn’t slow down the pace of competition and two more eliminations were completed allowing Dunkerbeck to secure his advantage with two more bullets and Jaggi to rise to the top of the table with two of her own victories. Albeau suffered his second and third blows in the competition as he failed to reach the finals, as did Offringa knocking both parties out of the top ten.

Day 3

The Meltemi wind continued to blow for the third day of competition, combined with glorious sunshine allowing elimination four to be completed. Dunkerbeck’s first mistake of the week saw him lose out on a qualifying position in the first round, as he failed to match the amazing speed of Brit Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra) down the final leg. Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Fanatic / North) and Alberto Menegatti (Starboard / Gaastra) were the ones to watch on the third day as they consistently nailed their starts and led the fleet in the lighter winds. But Maynard was the man on fire in Alacati as he stormed his way around the course in the winners’ final to claim his first place finish, with Albeau coming in fourth. The women’s fleet also witnessed a new contender take first place as Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde) flew ahead of the fleet in the women’s winners final.

Day 4

Wind reaching thirty knots left the sailors reaching for their 5.5m sails and their smallest boards on the fourth day of competition. The crowds were treated to a particularly exciting day of full throttle crashes, ferocious straights and dangerous gybes. Taking advantage of their high wind experience Maynard, Micah Buzianis (JP / NeilPryde), Peter Volwater (Fanatic / MauiSails), Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun / Dakine) and Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North) were the standout sailors on the fourth day as they all steamed through three more eliminations. It was a mixed day on the water for Dunkerbeck as he went down in two races and claimed the win in the third; Albeau claimed his first win in Alacati pushing him from ninth into fifth place. Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / North) closed the day on a high with his first win. Jaggi nailed two more races to put her in an unreachable lead in the women’s fleet and Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North) sailed the race of her life to win her first race. It was a tough day for Offringa as she was unable to hold onto her 6.2m sail on the course and she went down on the gybes.

Day 5

The wind continued to blow for the penultimate day of racing, but by that point the sailors were tuned into the high winds. Offringa was back on form and sailing better than ever to steal two more wins in the women’s fleet, boosting her back into second place. Volwater barged his way to the front in men’s elimination nine as Albeau went down at the final mark. Dunkerbeck was the worst hit on the last day as he was caught up in the pile-ups at the marks, allowing Maynard to creep up behind him on the results table, leaving everything open until the final dramatic day of racing.

Day 6

The pressure was on for the final day of racing in Alacati, If Dunkerbeck pulled through the final two races he would be crowned the 2011 world slalom champion, however if things didn’t go his way any of the top five were in with a chance of walking away as the winner of the 2001 Pegasus Airlines PWA world cup, and the world champion title would be left to be decided at the final slalom event of the year in Sylt.

Aware of the pressures Dunkerbeck sailed a spectacular set of races to secure the victory in elimination ten, guaranteeing him the title and the event win with one race to spare. Maynard was the sailors that buckled and he had a particularly tough day on the water as an over early in elimination ten put in him the losers final and he failed to qualify in elimination eleven. Having stuck in second place for the whole week Maynard’s score plummeted into fourth and a very on form Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic) moved into second place. Jaggi sailed a faultless race in elimination ten to secure her place in number one and to finish the event on a high.

The final race of the week saw Angulo and Offringa claim the final glory. Offringa finished in second place, and after a particularly successful season on the water she walked away with her second world title in 2011.

The sailors were awarded their trophies at the prize giving later that evening as the gorgeous sunset over Alacati Bay marked the end to a remarkable competition.

Next Stop

The men’s wave fleet are next up on the PWA world tour, as they embark on their third stop on in 2011 taking place in Klitmoller on the 12^th-18^th September. Denmark promises insane stunts, aggressive wave rides and radical action, so make sure you tune into www.pwaworldtour.com.

The 2011 Pegasus Airlines PWA World Cup Men’s results

1^st Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear)

2^nd Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic)

3^rd Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde)

4^th Finian Maynard (RRD)

5^th Micah Buzianis (JP / NeilPryde)

6^th Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun / Dakine)

7^th Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North)

8^th Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde)

9^th Peter Volwater (Fanatic / MauiSails)

10^th Pieter Bijl (JP / NeilPryde)

The 2011 Pegasus Airlines PWA World Cup Women’s results

1^st Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)

2^nd Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)

3^rd Valerie Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic)

4^th Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft / AL360)

5^th Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde)

6^th Fanny Aubet (JP / NeilPryde)

7^th Lise Vidal (Exocet / North)

8^th Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North)

9^th Marion Mortefon (AL360)

10^th Cagla Kubat (Starboard / North)

The 2011 Men’s Overall Slalom Results (after 6 events)

1^st Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear)

2^nd Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde)

3^rd Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic)

4^th Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / North)

5^th Finian Maynard (RRD)

6^th Micah Buzianis (JP / NeilPryde)

7^th Peter Volwater (Fanatic / MauiSails)

8^th Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde)

9^th Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun / Dakine)

10^th Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North)


The 2011 Women’s Overall Slalom Results (after 4 events)

1^st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)

2^nd Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)

3^rd Valerie Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic)

4^th Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North)

5^th Fanny Aubet (JP / NeilPryde)

6^th Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft / AL360)

7^th Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde)

8^th Lise Vidal (Exocet / North)

9^th Cagla Kubat (Starboard / North)

10^th Greta Benvenuti (Patrik / Point-7 / AL3360)

Scope the action

For more information on all the entrants, and to keep up to date with every piece of the action, click on www.pwaworldtour.com

Here you can use our:

- Live ticker service for heat-by-heat bulletins

- Check live elimination ladders

- View results

- Read daily news summaries

- Browse awesome action photo galleries

Check out the awesome photos on the dedicated website at www.surfnsound.org

Or for more information, please contact the PWA office via info@pwaworldtour.com

Bjorn in charge

The 2011 Pegasus Airlines PWA World Cup Alacati Turkey – Day six: An emotional day for Dunkerbeck as he secures the men’s PWA world slalom title in Alacati. In the women’s battle Jaggi takes the victory in Turkey but the glory goes to Offringa who claims the slalom world title.

The tension could be cut with a knife as the sailors prepared their equipment for the final showdown on Alacati’s azure water. As the men entered the final day, the event title was in reach of any of the top five. However having led the fleet for the whole week, Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear) was in the most secure place to take the win, as was Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) in the women’s fleet.

Race director Juan Antonio Aragon announced just two more eliminations separated the sailors from their final results and that racing would commence at 11:30am.

Men’s Fleet

With the pressure still on, Dunkerbeck shone through the initial races of the day, sailing a slick set of heats to earn his position in the winners’ final. From the outset of the final Dunkerbeck looked like he meant business as he raced down the opening leg and into the lead. Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) and Peter Volwater (Fanatic / MauiSails) challenged him to the second mark, but from then on Dunkerbeck was away, all he had to do was stay on his board and the race was his.

Having won five races in Alacati, Dunkerbeck secured a significant lead that could not be matched therefore granting him the event win prior to the finish of the competition. With four events under his belt and second place to his name Dunkerbeck has earned himself the 2011 world slalom title with one event to spare.

Bjorn Dunkerbeck:
“It has been a very successful year for me, my Starboards and my Severne Reflexes have been going really fast. We have been working for three years on a sail that can win competitions, and so far I won four firsts and a second so its mission accomplished. With one competition to go I am the world champion, it’s been a while. This is my fourth sail maker, I won my first title in 1988 with F2, I won lots with NeilPryde, then a couple with North and this is my first victory with Severne sails so that makes me really happy. It has been a tough week, but the fast course has suited me really well, I had a few crashes but overall it went smoothly. The wind has been fantastic this week and Alacati has shown itself to be an amazing spot.

Having sailed an incredible week in Alacati, Finian Maynard (RRD) had his hands on second place throughout the competition. However the last day of racing saw Maynard go over early in the semi-finals of elimination ten and he was unable to qualify for the winner’s final in elimination eleven. Unfortunately for Maynard, a very on form Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic) and Albeau secured the top spots in the last finals, causing Maynard’s result to plummet to fourth place.

Albeau started the week in twelfth, however a stellar set of races from the many times world champion allowed him to plough his way through the ranks and onto the podium. Albeau secured a third and a fourth place finish in today’s racing, but it wasn’t enough to block Dunkerbeck from taking the title.

Antoine Albeau:
“The first day was a total disaster, I fell a lot and some people crashed into me and I think that really affected my overall result. In the end I managed to make every final but, even in the last finals I spun out at the last gybe and that never happens. I have missed out at this event, I made the podium but I am not sure how. But overall I am pretty happy I have been going fast and I had some great starts and I have been competing.”

Elimination eleven, the final race of the competition saw early exits from key players Alberto Menegatti (Starboard / Gaastra), Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / North) and Volwater as they failed to qualify past the first rounds.

A swift set of heats allowed the big names to shuffle themselves into their respective finals. Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun / Dakine) dominated in the closing winners’ final of the competition to raise himself into sixth position. Angulo opened the heat with a blinding start, and ripped his way down the first leg. Having won the contest and the title a relaxed Dunkerbeck teased the rest of the fleet winding his way down the first two straights. Albeau was pushing hard along with Van Der Steen for the top positions but Angulo and Dunkerbeck were well ahead by the third mark. With clean wind the pair cruised around the remainder of the course, with Angulo fending off an elated Dunkerbeck down the final straight.

Women’s Fleet

Jaggi opened the day’s competition with a huge lead on the rest of her opponents on the results ladder; she would only need to qualify for the winners’ final to secure the competition win. Eager to finish on a high Jaggi stole the show in the elimination ten winners’ final with an amazing gybe at the third mark, allowing her to overtake a flying Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic) who had led the fleet up until that point.

Karin Jaggi:
“I had an easy last day out here, I knew that I only needed a sixth place finish to win the event. I managed to win the very first race so it was a relaxing day from then on. I am really stoked to have won here; it’s my second time that I have won in Alacati. It’s not my favorite conditions as it’s so flat and often really light but we have had some great wind this week, I am really happy with the results.”

A rough ride for Offringa throughout the week saw her drop some critical gybes on the high wind days. However it all came together for the final day. Valerie Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic) led the fleet the whole way around the winners’ final with a charging Offringa in close second. Arrighetti displayed a smooth set of gybes to control the pack all the way to the final mark when disaster struck as she carved her way around the final gybe and she went down, opening up the door for Offringa to slip into first place on the final straight. Having won two of the four women’s slalom events and claimed podium positions at the remaining competitions, Offringa has posted the most consistent scores allowing her to win her second world title of the year.

Sarah-Quita Offringa:
“I am happy I have had a great season competing. I wanted to have a good ending here in Alacati. I didn’t have the best week but I managed to come back yesterday and today. Lena, Valerie and I were really close for three days we were only separated by a point, but today I won so I managed to finish in second. It’s a great way to end the year.”

The day also witnessed Greta Benvenuti (Patrik / Point-7 / AL360) and Marion Mortefon (AL360) sail two amazing losers finals as they both nailed their starts and take control from the very beginning to win the races.

Next Stop

The men’s wave fleet are next up on the PWA world tour, as they embark on their third stop on in 2011 taking place in Klitmoller on the 12^th-18^th September. Denmark promises insane stunts, aggressive wave rides and radical action, so make sure you tune into www.pwaworldtour.com.

The 2011 Pegasus Airlines PWA World Cup Men’s results

1^st Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear)

2^nd Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic)

3^rd Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde)

4^th Finian Maynard (RRD)

5^th Micah Buzianis (JP / NeilPryde)

6^th Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun / Dakine)

7^th Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North)

8^th Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde)

9^th Peter Volwater (Fanatic / MauiSails)

10^th Pieter Bijl (JP / NeilPryde)

The 2011 Pegasus Airlines PWA World Cup Women’s results

1^st Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)

2^nd Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)

3^rd Valerie Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic)

4^th Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft / AL360)

5^th Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde)

6^th Fanny Aubet (JP / NeilPryde)

7^th Lise Vidal (Exocet / North)

8^th Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North)

9^th Marion Mortefon (AL360)

10^th Cagla Kubat (Starboard / North)

The 2011 Men’s Overall Slalom Results (after 6 events)

1^st Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear)

2^nd Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde)

3^rd Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic)

4^th Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / North)

5^th Finian Maynard (RRD)

6^th Micah Buzianis (JP / NeilPryde)

7^th Peter Volwater (Fanatic / MauiSails)

8^th Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde)

9^th Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun / Dakine)

10^th Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North)


The 2011 Women’s Overall Slalom Results (after 4 events)

1^st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)

2^nd Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)

3^rd Valerie Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic)

4^th Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North)

5^th Fanny Aubet (JP / NeilPryde)

6^th Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft / AL360)

7^th Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde)

8^th Lise Vidal (Exocet / North)

9^th Cagla Kubat (Starboard / North)

10^th Greta Benvenuti (Patrik / Point-7 / AL3360)

Scope the action For more information on all the entrants, and to keep up to date with every piece of the action, click on www.pwaworldtour.com Here you can use our:
- Live ticker service for heat-by-heat bulletins
- Check live elimination ladders
- View results
- Read daily news summaries
- Browse awesome action photo galleries

Check out the awesome photos on the dedicated website at www.surfnsound.org

Or for more information, please contact the PWA office via info@pwaworldtour.com

Defi 2011 winners, Karin Jaggin and Patrick Diethelm

Unfortunately there was no more wind over the weekend down in Gruissan for Defi Wind 2011, so the winners of Friday’s racing have been named event winners. Steve Palier reports, pictures by Jean Souville…

DEFI WIND 2011 HIGHLIGHTS
- Great comeback from former competitor Laurent Gaüzère on this Defi Wind. Leader of the pack at the first mark, he unfortunately falls. Bieuzy Mauffret passes through and then fight with Patrick Diethelm who finally take the first place at just 100m from the finish line!
- Patrick Diethelm was not registered on the Defi. He was part of the PWA event in Costa Brava that was happening in the same time. At the last minute, the Italian finally came to Gruissan to join the 850 competitors and feel the atmosphere of the event. Great idea as he took the honours! He’ll come back, he said.
- ‘Girl Power!’: girls were honoured on this 11th Defi Wind. Pro Karin Jaggi, ranked 79°, got the 1st place in the women category but the big surprise comes from Marion Dusart, ranked 82° ahead of Sarah Hebert, 120°. Great performance from Young Alizée De Souza, 16, as she reaches the 1st place in the « Young » category thanks to a nice 141° place, ahead of Delphine Cousin (142°).
- Youths were numerous on this 11th edition. More than 100 participants full of motivation and present on all animations and contests. Ranked 8th overall, Thomas Goyard is the young rider to watch among this new generation. He got 1st in the « Young » category ahead of Steve Laubaney, and 3rd in the « Amateur » category.
- The « Movies Festival » impressed again with a great video program, radical images and with the présence of stars like Jason Polakow and Levi Siver but also Sylvain Demercastel, Julien Taboulet and Leo Ray. The best amateur reward went to Olivier Martin, whose « home made » funny movie delighted the public.
- With a dozen of local music bands playing live on the beach every afternoon, the nights were definitely really hot as groups like ‘Las Vegas Wedding’, ‘Trafiko’ and ‘Nasser’ entered the scene!

PORTRAIT of the DAY
Clement Marchand, addicted Grandpa !
We could catch him up as he was already on the way back. We did not want to miss an interview with him, the oldest competitor of the Defi ! Clement is 76. Since 3 years now, he comes from Troyes in France to be part of the Defi Wind : “I like the event because it is an unusual, competition. I like to race with other 1000 riders and see if I can still hold on my old legs for 40km ! I reached the 424th place this year and last year 544th, so I’m in progress. But it was difficult as the wind was gusty and the last run very upwind. » And as we tell him that we are about to interview the youngest local, he answers : “hey, there is a Young, he did not finish his race. I did it all!” We wish to meet him gain next year : “yes, but this I cannot decide, especially since I met this year another 70 years grandpa on the Defi. He could be the next oldest competitor!”

PARTNERS CORNER
As we were cruising on the beach, we passed by the stand of LOFT SAILS where all the 2011 sail range was on test and exhibition. MYSTIC was showing a new harness, the “Boa”, with ultra precise adjusting. Also on test, the PATRICK BOARDS 2011 range now available in the best surfshops in France.

SHORT NEWS

- Once again, 2 groups rocked the beach yesterday night. 1st part was Trafiko who played a cool latino sound, before the public started to get really hot with the great electro sound of Nasser.
- Local association GFR organized a draw lot with a Neil Pryde sail, a Soöruz wetsuit and an Exocet board to win ! More infos on www.gruissan-funboard-riders.fr
- After its ‘chic’n’choc’ parade yesterday night, Soöruz awarded the winner of its ‘crazy’ photo contest. Caroline Landelle went back home with lots of goodies from the brand, partner of the Defi Wind since the start. You can discover the photo on www.sooruz.com within the next days.
- With a good ranking on the water and very active during the parties, Bieuzy Mauffret and Sarah Hebert are the winners of the ‘Night & Day’ trophy.
- Kevin Oma-Otu wins a trip to Turkey offered by Nico Warembourg’s sponsor, Ultra Marina. Girl from New Caledonia, Sarah Delaunay, wins a VIP pass for the next édition of the Dakhla Festival in February 2012 while Sebastien Bonhomme Allaire got invited on the final of the « Wind & Snow » trophy in Chamrousse, in January 2012.

defi4_concert-foule-defi11-souville01 defi4_daynight defi4_diethelm-windsurf-defi-souville defi4_filles-general-02 defi4_jaggi-diethelm-defi-souville defi4_jaggi-diethelm-defi-souville_thumb defi4_nasser-defi11-souville02 defi4_trafiko-defi11-souville01

DEFI WIND 2011 ROOKIES
Thanks to an idea from Naish France, the organisation decided to reward this year the new entrants on the Defi Wind 2011. Among the 300 new challengers, the first 3 of the women and men catégories came back home with cool goodies from the partners.

« Rookies » Men
1/ Andrea Ferin (Italie)
2/ Arnaud Konow (France)
3/ Alain De Gendt (Belgique)

« Rookies » Women
1/ Sarah Delaunay (Nouvelle Calédonie)
2/ Marie Guilbert (France)
3/ Gaella Cano (France)

DEFI WIND 2011 RESULTS
Overall Men
1/ Patrick Diethelm (Italie)
2/ Bieuzy Mauffret (France)
3/ Laurent Gaüzère (Nouvelle Calédonie)

Overall Women
1/ Karin Jaggi (Suisse) 79^ème
2/ Marion Dusart (France) 82^ème
3/ Sarah Hébert (Arménie) 120^ème

Men Amateur
1/ Sebastien Bonhomme-Allaire
2/ Antoine Huet
3/ Thomas Goyard

Women Amateur
1/ Marion Dusart
2/ Alizée De Souza
3/ Emilie Lallement

Men Master
1/ Michel Merceur
2/ Moana Guyot
3/ Jean Louis Tay

Women Master
1/ Nadine Poncept
2/ Moeata Boosie
3/ Anne Louvet

Men Junior
1/ Thomas Goyard
2/ Steve Laubaney
3/ Gauthier Bourgeois

Women Junior
1/ Alizée de Souza
2/ Delphine Cousin
3/ Marion Mortefon

Race 1 gets underway

Steve Palier of Open Ocean Media presents the second edition of ‘Defi Mag’ on the first day of long-distance racing at Gruissan for Defi Wind 2011… All photos by Jean Souville.

It was 3pm yesterday when 767 competitors crossed the starting line for a very long race in the direction of Port La Nouvelle, with two ins and outs to be made. Under a moderate Tramontana (20/25 knots), a sunbeam suddenly appeared through the clouds to open the race with all this mass of colored sails gathered on the same line. Just imagine a moment that at this time, only one sport managed to unify on the water more than 25 countries, people coming from all over France, from all ages, girls and boys of all horizons! Awesome and unique ! After an incredible 40 km race (45 mn for the first competitor and almost 2h30 for the last one), Patrick Diethelm (PWA top Slalom racer from Italy), crossed the finish line in pole position followed by Bieuzy Mauffret (France), while Laurent Gaüzère (New Caledonia) scored a nice 3rd place ahead of Tine Slabe (Slovenia). The girls category saw the victory of Karin Jaggi from Switzerland (multiple PWA Slalom World Champion).
WINNERS ITWs
We immediately ran to the beach to interview the first arrivals of today’s race. Here are the impressions of the winners :
1st man – Patrick Diethelm (Italy) : “This is my 1st Defi Wind and this event is just huge ! I had a pretty bad start as I went too far down on the starting line, there was not enough wind. This is due to my lack of experience on this competition ! But I could finally escape from the group to catch fresh wind, get some good speed to overtake everybody and then fight with Bieuzy Mauffret after I overtook Laurent Gaüzère. That was pretty ok in the gusts but that was hard for my back when there was no wind. I finally ended first, just 50m ahead of Bieuzy !”
1st woman – Karin Jaggi (Switzerland) : “I already came to the Defi Wind in 2007. The most difficult thing is to choose well the equipment, as far as today, the wind raised a little before the departure ! I thus chose a smaller board with a big sail, but my fin was too small. After a bad start and a gusty wind over the end, I could finally manage to get in. But whatever is the result, the images that I keep in mind about the Defi Wind are the ones where on the way back, you see all these sails ! It is just incredible!”

PORTRAIT – LAURENT GAUZERE
“The “animal” is back!”
After having run on numerous stages of the Speed World Cup in the late 90’s (where he scored some nice performances) and on all the French championships, having travelled all around the globe and having accumulated sometimes a few bad adventures, the ” animal ” is back and registered for the first time on the Defi Wind ! Representing his country New Caledonia, ex-competitor Laurent Gaüzère, famous face of the windsurfing scene in the 90’s, got his lycra today to join the pack of challengers on the starting line. If “Gaüze” proved that he is still incredibly fast by arriving 1st at the 1st mark, he unfortunately crashed his jibe and ended the race at the 3rd place.
” Being part of the Defi Wind, I have always dreamed about it, but I did not return in France for 10 years. Regarding the organization, I’m stoked, it is the same as a French championship but 100 times bigger ! It is just great to find here all the old buddies who are still addicted to windsurfing ! Regarding the race, I jumped in the water without being pretty well set up but I took a good departure which allowed me to arrive 1st at the 1st jibe. Unfortunately I felt, blowned by a sneaky gust, but I was able to come back on the next run to insure a cool 3rd place. I like this kind of race, very long. The longer the better. The most difficult for me? The coldness !!! “”

ZOOM PARTNER
SOÖRUZ – Still going crazy !
Partner of the Defi Wind for a long time, surfwear brand Soöruz always manage to make the event a little more  “spicy” every year. On this 11th edition, if they offer every evening a “happy hour” on the beach, Soöruz also involves the public in its “parties”. At first comes the unavoidable ” Night & Day Challenge ” which always rewards the best rider as active on the water as at night. Then is suggested the “Crazy Parade “: each has to find an unusual object and show up to the crowd in order to rise up the temperature on the beach. The most applauded will be rewarded with Soöruz goodies. One photo contest is also planned: riders can bring on the Soöruz stand their most crazy pictures. The best shot will be shown every evening on the big screen set up on the concerts stage! Soöruz, a crazy brand ? No way. They are just here to bring the beach on fire all day long… and even later !

SHORT NEWS
- The young french waterman, Arthur Arutkin – 14 years, had the surprise to get the lycra with number 1111, which simply corresponds to its sail number FRA1111.
- Commissioned by the New York Times, photographer George Steinmetz arrived today in Gruissan. “I have discovered on internet impressive images of the departure of this competition, so I was curious to discover the french ” beach culture ” in order to compare it with the one that I met in California. I did not know what to expect but I know realize that windsurfing can gather many people here in France !”
- 86 windsurfers, among which half of the girls, were equipped with GPS “trackers” today. Thanks to the geo-localization system, you can watch again today’s race and follow the tracks left by the GPS of these competitors on www.defiwind.com.
AND TOMORROW?
After a possible first departure at 10am, the night will be hot tomorrow on the beach of “les Chalets” because all the participants will all be invited to the Soöruz “Happy Hour” from 7pm, followed by a concert of the local group Las Vegas Wedding. Not to be missed from 9:30 pm, the ” Amateur movie Festival ” where will be rewarded the best amateur videos. It will also be the opportunity to welcome the international windsurfing stars Jason Polakow and Levi Siver, whose sponsor Oxbow will present exclusively its new movie ” Walls of perception “. The end of the evening will be “hip-hop style” with the concert of windsurfer / composer Ruben Bang Petrisie & Pintos around midnight.

Men and Women's slalom top 3

Adding a second Asian stop to the PWA’s globe trotting World Tour, the world’s windsurfing community shifted its focus to the south eastern Vietnamese province of Binh Thuan, where the picture perfect location of Mui Ne bay would play host to the first ever PWA Grand Slam in Vietnam.

The location had already been tried and tested with numerous local and regional events, but this was the first time Mui Ne would be projected onto the world stage to host an international competition.

When the time came to lift the curtain on the nine day freestyle and slalom extravaganza, it instantly became apparent that Mui Ne was going to deliver the goods in a big way. Cue seven days of howling thermal wind, and a collection of the world’s finest windsurfers battling it out for a piece of the event’s €85,000 prize purse.

February 25th – 28th: Men’s Freestyle

Inaugurating the South China Sea was the men’s freestyle fleet, who competed over the first four days of the event’s duration. Kicking off with a full single elimination, we were given glimpses of what was going to be possible over the coming days, as the fleet got dialed into the conditions.

As the single elimination progressed, the form-players slowly began to emerge. Mui Ne was proving to be a location that favoured powerful, aerial freestyle over sliding moves, and as a consequence, was going to favour the guys that trained in chop, over mirror-flat out-and-out freestyle locations.

As a result, it came as no surprise that the quarter finals consisted of the Frans brothers, Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra) and Jose Estredo (Fanatic / North); the four most consistent guys in the game right now.

With ramps aplenty and no shortage of wind to work with, the four went to town, nailing air chachoos, pushloops, one handed backloops and a selection of super-tech aerial rotations, ultimately rewarding Thode and Estredo with places in the final, leaving the Frans’ to go head to head for third.

This was to be first of many Thode versus Estredo finals, and saw the start of a combination move rally that continued for the next four days. This time round, Thode was the victor, handing him the early event lead ahead of Estredo. In the Frans show down, victory went to Taty (Starboard / MauiSails), placing him in third over sibling Tonky (Tabou / Gaastra) in fourth.

The ensuing double elimination saw much of the same, as the top four held off sustained attack from the likes of European Champion Steven Van Broeckhoven (F2 / Gaastra) to once again battle it out for the podium spots.

Another Frans stand off saw Taty once again over-throw his brother with some savvy sailing, giving him a shot at Estredo, and the event’s number two spot. Unfortunately, cashed moves from Frans and a methodical Estredo meant Taty would have to settle for third in the elimination, teeing up another Thode against Estredo final.

In much the same conditions to the previous day, the pair threw down in 25 knots of cross-onshore wind, and building ramps. Despite a super close heat, a unanimous 5-0 judging decision awarded Thode another victory, and a conclusive event lead at the discipline’s midway point.

The event’s second single elimination started with the bad news that Belgium’s podium hopeful, Van Broeckhoven had injured his knee doing a pushloop, and would be out the running for the remainder of the event. Seizing the situation, Canada’s Philip Soltysiak (Starboard / Dakine), Dieter Van Der Eyken (Severne / Starboard), Yarden Meir (Fanatic / Simmer) and Davy Scheffers (Tabou / Gaastra) stepped up their games to challenge the top four in the quarter finals. But with four heats down, the Bonaire-Venezuela axis could not be broken, leaving Estredo to challenge Taty Frans, and Thode to take on Tonky Frans.

The highlight would be Taty Frans, who defied both gravity and convention to pull the first double forward of the event, and arguably ever in Vietnam. Unfortunately, his mind blowing antics didn’t match Estredo’s technical ability, and Estredo advanced to take on Thode, who’d defeated Tonky Frans with a near impeccable score sheet.

The Frans versus Frans battle for third witnessed a changing of the guard, when Tonky put together a styled out routine to topple his uncharacteristically out of form brother. And, further cementing his supremacy on the Mui Ne Grand Slam, Thode again outshone Estredo to stamp his authority on first position.

That left the freestylers the fourth and final day’s double elimination to climb the ranks, and state their claim on the event. Mounting their attacks, Scheffers and Van Der Ekyen came through the double in defiant style to go head to head. In the grudge match, it was Scheffers who dominated, but his advance was quickly halted by the super-slick skills of Frans, who categorically outclassed the Dutchman????.

That meant that the final heats of the second double elimination would mirror those of the previous double elimination on day two. The Frans versus Frans bout gave Tonky a shot at settling the score against his brother, but in what was dubbed ‘the closest heat of the event’, Taty edged victory by a minute margin, leaving Tonky in fourth overall, and Taty to advance one final time to challenge Estredo.

The ensuing heat saw a missed move from Frans on port tack open the door for Estredo to level the scores with Thode in the final heat of the event. As the heat ran it course, it was an unexpected, and rare spectacle to witness Estredo being categorically outclassed by Thode. When the judges announced their verdict, a humbled Estredo graciously accepted second place overall for the event, handing Thode the unanimous event victory, and early lead in the 2011 PWA Freestyle Rankings.

Kiri Thode

The 2011 Vietnam PWA Grand Slam Freestyle Results

1st Kiri Thode (Starboard / Gaastra)

2nd Jose Estredo (Fanatic / North)

3rd Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic)

4th Tonky Frans (Tabou / Gaastra)

5th Dieter Van Eyken (Starboard / Severne)

March 1st – 5th: Men’s and Women’s Slalom

Handing the baton over to the slalom crew, there was barely a breath between the fleet registration, and the first heats hitting the water to christen the opening race elimination. However, progress was to be short lived after Mui Ne’s usually super consistent thermal breeze began to falter, halting progress just short of a result in the men’s elimination, but crowning Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North) the early event leader in the women’s fleet.

The ensuing two days acted as a slow torture, as the Mui Ne micro climate felt the effect of a rogue low pressure system that plagued the local thermal wind cell, and brought hot, humid conditions that killed any hope of resuming racing.

All hopes of securing a conclusive slalom result ultimately boiled down to the competition’s final day, but a mediocre forecast and two windless days sitting fresh in the memory were anything but a positive start to proceedings.

Casting forecasts and sceptics aside, the Mui Ne wind machine chose to defy even the seasoned locals’ predictions, and graced the competition’s final day with a solid 25 knot breeze to wrap the contest up in style.

Opening the action was the men’s winners final from race one, which was won in convincing fashion by Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic) after he took the lead at the first gybe mark, and cruised to an early event lead.

The second slalom elimination saw upset for both Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / North) who false started, and Finian Maynard (RRD), who both failed to qualify for the final, leaving them to battle it out in the losers final for eleventh position. In the winners final, it was business as usual for Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) at the front of the fleet, with Dunkerbeck in hot pursuit in second, and a strong performance from Spaniard Ludovic Jossin (Starboard / Loft) in third. The heavyweight losers final was won by Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun), with Maynard recovering to take second, and Pieter Bijl (JP / NeilPryde) in third.

In the women’s second race, Karin Jaggi (Severne / Patrik) rose to the challenge to take a convincing elimination victory ahead of Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic), who was beginning to seriously threaten taking the top spot, and a consistent Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North) in third.

Moving into the men’s third elimination, the drama really began to unfold when Dunkerbeck was taken down on the start line by a catapulting Cedric Bordes (Tabou / Gaastra), crushing his chances of making the winners final. Also stumbling, Maynard uncharacteristically stuttered for a second time when he missed out on qualifying for the winners final by one position.

The men’s winners final saw yet more of Albeau’s methodical work as he one again dominated the fleet to notch up his second elimination win of the event. In his wake, the Netherlands Peter Volwater (Fanatic / MauiSails) sailed a near text book heat to award him second position, and Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde) make amends for his previous eighteenth and tenth position finishes with a solid third in the race.

The losers final saw yet more back luck for Dunkerbeck who crashed en route to the start line and snapped his mast, ruling him out of the heat. Following suit, Australia’s Steve Allen (Starboard / Severne) also came unstuck in the super choppy Mui Ne conditions, taking him out the running, leaving Benoit Moussilmani (Starboard / Simmer) to capitalise on his opponents mistakes and secure victory.

The women’s third elimination saw Offringa continue her run of form right through to the winners final, where she pieced together a stunning heat to award her victory ahead of Turkey’s Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft), who was looking like she’d found her form after posting a disappointing ninth and eighth in the previous eliminations, leaving World Champion Jaggi in third.

The final race elimination of the final day stood poised to deliver some seriously intense race action, as the men’s event title lay wide open for numerous challengers to make their bid. Things got even more heated when the number one challenger for the event title, Albeau, fell during his semi final, placing him in the losers final and his title hopes at the mercy of Dunkerbeck’s performance in the winners final.

Following a scramble to get a calculator and compute exactly what implications Albeau’s fall would have on his event title hopes, it was deducted that if Dunkerbeck finished eighth or above, he’d steal the title from Albeau, ninth or lower, and Albeau secured it for himself.

Cue arguably the most exciting race final witnessed in recent years, as the normally collected Dunkerbeck had a catastrophic error and went down mid race, placing him at the back of the fleet, and leaving Albeau rubbing his hands together. But, Dunkerbeck remained defiant, and proceeded to systematically reign in eighth place, leaving a final charge to the finish line between him and Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Fanatic / North). With barely inches in the call, Dunkerbeck had secured the vital eighth position, in turn handing him the event title, and early season lead ahead of Albeau.

The winners final was won by Maynard, his best result of the event, with Cyril Moussilmani in second, and Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North), who rounded off a consistent performance in third, securing him third overall for the event. The subsequent losers final was taken by Albeau, who was no doubt reeling from his previous semi final crash.

The women’s final elimination saw Offringa cement her reputation as a serious slalom World Title contender when she scooped another race victory, ahead of Jaggi in second, and Morane Demont (Starboard / Severne) in third, handing her the event victory by a comprehensive points margin. The women’s losers final marked the final heat of the event, which was won by France’s Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde).

The 2011 Vietnam PWA Grand Slam Men’s Slalom Results

1st Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic)

2nd Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde)

3rd Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North)

4th Ludovic Jossin (Starboard / Loft)

5th Steve Allen (Starboard / Severne)

Bjorn Dunkerbeck

The 2011 Vietnam PWA Grand Slam Women’s Slalom Results

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)

2nd Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)

3rd Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North)

4th Morane Demont (Starboard / Severne)

5th Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft / Mystic)

The PWA circus now moves onto Austria, where the men’s freestyle fleet will take to the waters of Lake Neusiedler from the 29th April – 4th May. For more information, please contact the PWA office via info@pwaworldtour.com

Bjorn Dunkerbeck

Following the frustration of the two previous windless days, all hopes boiled down to the competition’s final day to deliver suitable conditions for the racers to take to the water. With a mediocre forecast and talk of pressure systems interfering with the local thermal effect, the outlook looked bleak.

Roll on 10.30am, and the trusty Mui Ne thermal breeze was back in full effect, teeing up a climactic final day of slalom competition in winds gusting up to 25 knots. Opening the action was the men’s winners final from race one, which was won in convincing fashion by Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic) after he took the lead at the first gybe mark, with Sylvain Moussilmani in second (Tabou / Simmer), and Steven Allen (Starboard Severne) in third. Also completed was the women’s losers final which was won by Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft / Mystic), to finish race one.

The second slalom elimination saw upset for both Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / North) who false started, and Finian Maynard (RRD), who both failed to qualify for the final, leaving them to battle it out in the losers final for eleventh position. In the winners final, it was business as usual for Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) at the front of the fleet, with Dunkerbeck in hot pursuit in second, and a strong performance from Spaniard Ludovic Jossin (Starboard / Loft) in third. The heavyweight losers final was won by Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun), with Maynard recovering to take second, and Pieter Bijl (JP / NeilPryde) in third.

In the women’s second race, Karin Jaggi (Severne / Patrik) rose to the challenge to take a convincing elimination victory ahead of Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic), who was beginning to seriously threaten taking the top spot, and a consistent Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North) in third.

Moving into the men’s third elimination, the drama really began to unfold when Dunkerbeck was taken down on the start line by a catapulting Cedric Bordes (Tabou / Gaastra), crushing his chances of making the winners final. Also stumbling, Maynard uncharacteristically stuttered for a second time when he missed out on qualifying for the winners final by one position.

The men’s winners final saw yet more of Albeau’s methodical work as he one again dominated the fleet to notch up his second elimination win of the event. In his wake, the Netherlands Peter Volwater (Fanatic / MauiSails) sailed a near text book heat to award him second position, and Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde) make amends for his previous eighteenth and tenth position finishes with a solid third in the race.

The losers final saw yet more back luck for Dunkerbeck who crashed en route to the start line and snapped his mast, ruling him out of the heat. Following suit, Australia’s Steve Allen (Starboard / Severne) also came unstuck in the super choppy Mui Ne conditions, taking him out the running, leaving Benoit Moussilmani (Starboard / Simmer) to capitalise on his opponents mistakes and secure victory.

The women’s third elimination saw Offringa continue her run of form right through to the winners final, where she pieced together a stunning heat to award her victory ahead of Turkey’s Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft), who was looking like she’d found her form after posting a disappointing ninth and eighth in the previous eliminations, leaving World Champion Jaggi in third.

The final race elimination of the day stood poised to deliver some seriously intense race action, as the men’s event title lay wide open for numerous challengers to make their bid. Things got even more heated when the number one challenger for the event title, Albeau, fell during his semi final, placing him in the losers final and his title hopes at the mercy of Dunkerbeck’s performance in the winners final.

Following a scramble to get a calculator and compute exactly what implications Albeau’s fall would have on his event title hopes, it was deducted that if Dunkerbeck finished eighth or above, he’d steal the title from Albeau, ninth or lower, and Albeau secured it for himself.

Cue arguably the most exciting race final witnessed in recent years, as the normally collected Dunkerbeck had a catastrophic error and went down mid race, placing him at the back of the fleet, and leaving Albeau rubbing his hands together. But, never rule the terminator out the running; Dunkerbeck proceeded to systematically reign in eighth place, leaving a final charge to the finish line between him and Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Fanatic / North). With barely inches in the call, Dunkerbeck had secured the vital eighth position, in turn handing him the event title, and early season lead ahead of Albeau.

The winners final was won by Maynard, his best result of the event, with Cyril Moussilmani in second, and Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North), who rounded off a consistent performance in third, securing him third overall for the event. The subsequent losers final was taken by Albeau, who was no doubt reeling from his previous semi final crash.

The women’s final elimination saw Offringa cement her reputation as a serious slalom World Title contender when she scooped another race victory, ahead of Jaggi in second, and Morane Demont (Starboard / Severne) in third, handing her the event victory by a comprehensive points margin. The women’s losers final marked the final heat of the event, which was won by France’s Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde).

Sarah Quita-Offrgina

The 2011 Vietnam PWA Grand Slam Final Standings: Men’s Slalom

1st Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic)

2nd Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde)

3rd Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North)

4th Ludovic Jossin (Starboard / Loft)

5th Steve Allen (Starboard / Severne)

The 2011 Vietnam PWA Grand Slam Final Standings: Women’s Slalom

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)

2nd Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)

3rd Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North)

4th Morane Demont (Starboard / Severne)

5th Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft / Mystic)

The PWA circus now moves onto Austria, where the men’s freestyle fleet with take to the waters of Lake Neusiedler from the 29th April – 4th May. For more information, please contact the PWA office via info@pwaworldtour.com

The Marathon start at Ledge Point, by John Carter

Bjorn Dunkerbeck and Karin Jaggi rule the Ledge to Lancelin Marathon

Dutchman Bjorn Dunkerbeck lived up to his legendary status by winning Western Australia’s Ledge Point to Lancelin marathon today, finishing 44 seconds ahead of his nearest rival Chris Lockwood from Perth.

Dunkerbeck, 41, said he had a great race, finishing in 33 minutes 11 seconds, and choosing the right equipment this year helped him over the line.

Bjorn crosses the finish line, by Travis Hayto

“Last year was my first time in the Lancelin Ocean Classic and I learnt a lot.  I knew with the right equipment I would have a good chance at winning.

“The conditions were similar to last year and in the first leg I was fighting with Dan (Daniel Engdahl) for the lead on the way to the first buoy.

“On the second buoy the wind picked up and I managed to grow my lead.

“It’s a great race, all about long distance and tough conditions and if I can be back here next year I will for sure,” Dunkerbeck said.

At last count Dunkerbeck holds an incredible 40 world titles in the sport so coming second was a huge success for Chris Lockwood.

Bjorn Dunkerbeck, by John Carter

The 25km downwind marathon race started with 215 registered competitors and 197 starting. Strong contender for the event Peter Volwater did not start the race.

Conditions in Lancelin were perfect today with 26kn winds and a 2.5m swell.

Third fastest in the marathon was Jesper Orth, who was competing in his 11th Lancelin Ocean Classic.

“It’s great to be here again.  This race is pure enjoyment and the competition again provided top racing,” Orth said.

Switzerland’s Karin Jaggi was the fastest woman across the line at 38 minutes 8 seconds, keeping her reputation as world’s best female windsurfer intact.

“It was a tough race again and the last two legs felt really long.  I’m pleased with my finish, it’s always good to race with the guys and it’s not just about speed but also about being able to last the distance,” Jaggi said.

Daniel Engdahl managed to retain his fourth placing from 2010. First youth across the line was Matthew Gwynne.

The race follows a set zig-zag course of eight legs down the coast, with anchored crayfishing boats acting as marker buoys, starting at the beach at Ledge Point and ending at the beach outside the Endeavour Tavern in Lancelin.

The biggest enemy for competitors is fatigue, and other challenges include the crowd of sailors at the start, reef, and just being able to navigate the buoys through the swell.

Many competitors will celebrate with a cold beer at the Endeavour Tavern at the end of the race – but not all as several of the elite racers are competing in the wave sailing competition held over due to yesterday’s light wind conditions.

Top contenders in the wavesailing include last year’s winner Perth’s Ben Severne.  Severne said his biggest threat in this year’s competition would be 20-year-old Jaeger Stone from Geraldton, WA.  Past winner and European Champion Peter Volwater will also be tough to beat.

The Lancelin Ocean Classic wraps up on Sunday with the high-speed Slalom events.

Presented by KineticIT, The Lancelin Ocean Classic has been held since 1986 and is Australia’s longest-running windsurfing event. It is made possible thanks to the enthusiastic Lancelin community, Eventscorp, Bendigo Bank, Endeavour Tavern, Shire of Gingin, 92.9, and a team of dedicated volunteers.

Lancelin’s population of 800 can swell to more than 4000 over the four days of the event with competitors, spectators, media and supporters descending on the crayfishing town, which boasts long stretches of white sand beaches ideal for all forms of watersports and water-based activities.

For event details visit www.lancelinoceanclassic.com.au

Karin Jaggi, by John Carter

With strong swells today off the coast of Lancelin in Western Australia, local and international wave sailors competing in the Lancelin Ocean Classic had a good time on the waves but would have preferred a bit more wind to really show off their skills.

In divisions of Masters, Women, Junior, and Open, 33 sailors took to the waves to out-manoeuvre each other with the highest aerials and radical wave sailing under clear blue skies.

While it is too early to know results for the day’s wave sailing, competitors said they had a good time out on the water with a swell of four metres and winds of up to 13kn.

World’s best female windsurfer, Karin Jaggi from Switzerland, said she caught some good waves in the light onshore winds.

“I had a good time on the waves but found the wind conditions pretty hard as I prefer more offshore conditions, but I think it would be the same for everyone.

The elite competitors including titleholder Ben Severne from Perth and 2010 second place winner and European Champion Peter Volwater will have to wait until tomorrow to compete for the wave sailing title.

Peter Volwater, by John Carter

Volwater said he was looking forward to getting out on the waves for the elite wave sailing plus the Ledge Point to Lancelin Marathon and challenging 2010 marathon winner, multi world champion and fellow Dutchman, Bjorn Dunkerbeck, to the prize.

“It will be like the lion showing up and being harassed by the fly!  I’m looking forward to getting out there again.  It’s always a bit crazy at the start with hundreds of us out there, but once we get going it’s great fun – but always good to get back to the beach at the end.

“It’s great to be in Lancelin again for the event, catching up with windsurfing friends to start the year and enjoying the great welcome the town puts on for us.”

Organisers are expecting more than 200 windsurfers to compete in tomorrow’s 25km event, all hoping to take home a share of the $25,000 prize pool.  Winds are expected to be stronger with speeds of up to 25kn forecast and a slightly smaller swell.

The Lancelin Ocean Classic wraps up on Sunday with the high-speed Slalom events.

Ben Severne, by John Carter

Presented by KineticIT, The Lancelin Ocean Classic has been held since 1986 and is Australia’s longest-running windsurfing event. It is made possible thanks to the enthusiastic Lancelin community, Eventscorp, Bendigo Bank, Endeavour Tavern, Shire of Gingin, 92.9, and a team of dedicated volunteers.

Lancelin’s population of 800 can swell to more than 4000 over the four days of the event with competitors, spectators, media and supporters descending on the crayfishing town, which boasts long stretches of white sand beaches ideal for all forms of watersports and water-based activities.

For event details visit www.lancelinoceanclassic.com.au

Severne Reflex II

In 2010 Severne launched the Living Wing concept. Based on the auto-adjusting properties of bird wings, this concept revolutionised the way we think about sails: no longer are they static, lifeless foils, they have evolved into dynamic wings with active flex. They have become alive.

The proven performance of the program ensured an incredibly successful season, with Karin Jaggi winning the 2010 PWA Overall World Championship Title while Bjoern Dunkerbeck took the Costa Brava event by storm, is widely regarded to have the fastest straight line speed on the slalom course and is now totally dominating the final event of the year in Sylt.

Severne is now a leading brand in racing.

Severne’s goal for 2011 was clear; refine and perfect a proven performer.

More at www.severnesails.com