ALACATI PWA WORLD CUP
The next instalment of furious slalom is just around the corner with the 2014 Pegasus Airlines Alacati PWA World Cup beginning on the 26th August - just four days away. Now we take a quick look back at how last year’s event played out.
Men's
Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) claimed the overall event title in 2013 meaning that he has now won in Turkey for the last two years. The big Frenchman secured two bullets out of the five races completed and he’ll be a massive threat again over the next week as he goes in search of a famous hat-trick. Albeau will be even more motivated to win than usual as he knows victory here will guarantee him the top spot in the overall world rankings.
Alberto Menegatti (Starboard / Point-7) finished in second place in Alacati last year, but will be absent from proceedings this time around as he recovers from an ongoing injury, which will open up the door for many of his rivals.
Completing the prestigious podium in 2013 was Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde) and he’ll be desperate to find the same sort of form he showed here last year. Up until now Quentel has suffered a disappointing season in comparison to last year, but showed signs of returning to his best in Fuerteventura - where he was able to claim his first top ten finish of 2014.
Argentinian Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Loft Sails) missed out on the podium by the narrowest of margins last year as he finished on equal points with Julien Quentel - only Costa Hoevel’s worse discard cost him a place in the prestigious top three, but he’ll be determined to go one better this time around.
The current world tour leader - Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne) - claimed fifth in Alacati, but he’ll be hoping to break into the top three as he looks to keep his title challenge on track. So far the fiery Frenchman has been in imperious form with a joint first and two second places thus far. Moussilmani will be tipped for the top again over the next week of contest.
Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North) was right in the thick of the action in Alacati last year as he led the event going into the final day. However, things weren’t to be on this occasion as the Frenchman missed out on the final two winners’ finals of the week and with that his chances of his first ever event victory disintegrated as well. Mortefon admits that he prefers the mirror flat waters of Alacati to anywhere else, and he’ll be a serious threat again.
The top ten was completed by Antoine Questel (Starboard / Loft Sails), Micah Buzianis (JP / MauiSails), Ben Van Der Steen (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic) and Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic).
Women’s
Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Chris Benz / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) only competed in one slalom event last year, but she simply blew the rest of the competition away in Alacati. The 2011 PWA Slalom World Champion sailed almost perfectly as she claimed an outstanding four bullets out of five to storm to the event title. Offringa loves to win and it’s hard to see anyone stopping her if she shows the same kind of form.
The reigning PWA Slalom World Champion - Delphine Cousin (Starboard / Loft Sails) - will be hoping Alacati treats her well again after she was crowned champion of the world for the first time. Cousin clinched one elimination victory here in 2013 to finish second overall, but she’ll be hoping to go one better this time around as she looks to keep her title charge on track.
Turkey’s very own Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Loft Sails) completed the heralded podium last year as she qualified for three winners’ finals out of five - including two excellent second places. Kubat will be hoping she can make full use of her home advantage again, as she prepares to make her first appearance since becoming a mother for the first time.
Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic) suffered a slightly disappointing display - by her high standards - in Alacati last year as she finished in fourth place. However, the French woman will be a major threat as always and looked dangerous in Turkmenistan where she claimed second overall.
Japan’s Ayako Suzuki (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic) completed last year’s top five, closely followed by Turk’s Dilara Uralp (JP / NeilPryde) and Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic / AL360).
Find out how the upcoming Pegasus Airlines Alacati PWA World Cup plays out by tuning into www.pwaworldtour.com from the 26th August. Here you’ll be able to follow the high octane slalom as it happens via the PWA live stream and live ticker.