La Torche PWA Grand Slam
With the wind failing to co-operate on the final day of racing in La Torche, Matteo Iachino’s (Starboard / Point-7) agonising wait was finally brought to an end just before 2pm this afternoon — meaning that the Italian is officially the 2016 Men’s PWA Slalom World Champion.
Slalom
Men’s
From the five results gained this season, Iachino triumphed on three occasions — firstly in Ulsan, South Korea before claiming further success in Hvide Sande, Denmark and Sylt, Germany and with no wind in France there was no chance for Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / NorthSails) to deny the Italian.
Iachino led the title race until the final event of 2015 and will be delighted to have written the record straight just one year later and in doing so completes his life long dream of becoming world champion — the first of many? The 26-year-old also brings Antoine Albeau’s (RRD / NeilPryde) dominance to an end as this is the first time since 2012 that Albeau has not finished the season as the slalom world champion. Could this be the start of a new era?
Upon realising his dream Iachino added: “It’s been a long and stressful wait. It’s not like there was no wind and the conditions were right on the edge at times. For me, it was the worse situation imaginable — particularly on the last day. I can’t even put into words how stressful last night and today have been for me, but to finally be standing here as the champion is more than a dream come true. I can close a chapter of my life and move on from here. It’s absolutely amazing. I think it’s going to take a bit of time to properly settle in.”
Pierre Mortefon finishes the year as the vice-world champion for the second year running and it seems only a matter of time before the Frenchman will go one better, but he will have to wait until next year to do that now.
2016 proved to be Ross Williams’ (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic / Shamal Sunglasses) most successful year to date with the Brit finishing on the prestigious overall podium for the first time in his career. Over the year’s Williams has narrowly missed out by finishing fourth overall on several occasions so will be delighted to deservedly finally claim his place in the overall top three.
Julien Quentel (Patrik / Avanti) just misses out in fourth place with Albeau fifth. Meanwhile, Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic) records his best result so far on the PWA Slalom World Tour as the Bonairean improves on his previous best result — ninth in 2014 — by three places to finish 6th this season.
The top ten is completed by Argentine Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Point-7, France’s Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne), Italian Andrea Cucchi (Starboard / Point-7) and Israeli Arnon Dagan (RRD / NeilPryde).
Ethan Westera (JP / GA Sails) continues to develop and is one of the brightest emerging talents on the tour and the 19-year-old finishes 2016 as the PWA Youth Slalom World Champion.
Wave
Women’s
With no result being gained in the waves and with the Moreno twins not attending the final event of year in Maui — Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) was crowned the Women’s PWA Wave World Champion, earlier in the week, for the third consecutive year with Daida (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) finishing second as the Moreno twins continue to dominate the waves. Iballa added: ““I’m really stoked to have won one more world title. It’s a dream come true for me. We were a bit unlucky with the conditions here, but I’ve still had a fun week enjoying the waves and I hope to come back again. I’m also really happy to share the podium again with two amazing girls — my sister (Daida) and Sarah-Quita. I’ll keep training over the winter and hope to be on the podium again next year, so let’s see what happens in 2017.”
Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Mystic) completes the overall podium for the second consecutive year and is slowly closing the gap on the Moreno twins. The Aruban gem will now look to end the season on a high in Maui, but has already had a fantastic season consisting of two world titles and a third overall.
Men’s
Title Race
Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / NorthSails / MFC) is one step closer to a second world crown with no result here meaning he is almost uncatchable However, mathematically Alex Mussolini (RRD / RRD Sails) can still deny his fellow countryman, but only if he wins the NoveNove Aloha Classic and Fernandez finishes fourth or worse.
Where’s Next on the PWA World Tour?
In just two days time the final event of the 2016 PWA World Tour will be held in the windsurfing Mecca of Maui with Ho’okipa Beach Park playing host to the world’s finest wave sailors once again. The men’s world title is on the line, as well as the prestigious NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic titles for both the men and women. Make sure you tune into www.pwaworldtour.com between the 31st October until November 13th to follow all of the radical action as it happens via the PWA live stream. You can find more event info HERE.
Overall Ranking 2016 Men's PWA Slalom World Tour:
1st Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Point-7)
2nd Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / NorthSails)
3rd Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic / Shamal Sunglasses)
4th Julien Quentel (Patrik / Avanti)
5th Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde)
6th Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic)
7th Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Point-7)
8th Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne)
9th Andrea Cucchi (Starboard / Point-7)
10th Arnon Dagan (RRD / NeilPryde)
Overall Ranking 2016 Women's PWA Wave World Tour:
1st Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Daida Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
*Top 3 places cannot change with one event to go
Current Ranking 2016 Men’s PWA Wave World Tour:
1st Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / NorthSails / MFC / Shamal Sunglasses)
2nd Alex Mussolini (RRD / RRD Sails)
3rd Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails)
4th Jaeger Stone (Starboard / Severne / SWOX / Shamal Sunglasses)
5th Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / SWOX)
6th Dany Bruch (Starboard / Flight Sails / AL360 / Shamal Sunglasses)
7th Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC)
8th Leon Jamaer (JP / NeilPryde)
9th Alessio Stillrich (Fanatic / NorthSails)
9th Antoine Martin (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)