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wThursday, August 10, 2006 | |
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Alacati PWA World Cup/IFCA Slalom World Championships Verena Fauster on top  Karin Jaggi (F2, 2.), Verena Fauster (F2, 1.), Allison Shreeve (F2, 3.), photos: Choppy Water/surfnsound.org Fresh from the testing conditions of the Fuerteventura Grand Slam, the PWA Slalom fleet descended upon the picturesque location of Alacati, on Turkeys Mediterranean coast. Famed for its reliable thermal winds, azure blue waters and luxurious hospitality, Alacati was all set to play host to the third stop on this years PWA Slalom 42 Tour. Alacati conditions were relatively simple compared to the choppy water and nuclear winds of the Canary Islands, with sailors gliding across the smooth waters, many on sails of 9 square meters or more, as much as double the sail size used by some racers in the Canaries. For the women, races were short and sharp. With only a single heat final in each race, the slightest error could spell disaster for any of the eleven girls signed up. It was Allison Shreeve (AUS-911, F2 / NeilPryde) who set the standard for races to follow, showing blistering speed in the billiard table flat conditions. Karin Jaggi (SUI-14, F2 / North Sails), who was forced to sail on borrowed equipment, as hers had not arrived, was nowhere near her recent event winning performance from Fuerteventura, having to settle for second in the first race, followed by Sarah Herbert (FRA-61, Starboard / Naish) in third. Catastrophically for Shreeve, she missed the start of the second ladies race and only crossed the line as the other girls were rounding the second mark. This was all the encouragement that Verena Fauster (ITA-31, F2 / Gaastra) needed and she pulled clear ahead, chased by Herbert and Jaggi. Jaggis bad luck then continued as she fell at the last mark, allowing Christine Johnston (GBR-93) to pass. Fauster won ahead of Herbert in second and Johnston in third. Fired up by her own mistakes, Shreeve was taking no prisoners at the start of ladies race 3. Straight off the line, she began to pull away, leaving Fauster, Hebert and Jaggi in her wake. There was confusion at the first gybe as Fauster and Herbert got tangled allowing Jaggi to stay in touch with the leaders, but there was no catching Shreeve who won clearly ahead of Fauster in second, Herbert in third and a very respectable performance from Cagla Kubat (TUR-75) who rolled in fifth behind Jaggi. Straight off the line in race 4, Jaggi was back in the game leading Fauster), Shreeve and an on-form Christine Johnston (GBR-93, Starboard / Gaastra), all the way to the mark. Fauster was pushing hard demonstrating more of the ability that has seen her frequently in the leading pack, but Jaggi was back on the pace and led all the way to the finish. Sarah Herbert (FRA-61, Starboard / Naish) made a valiant attempt to pass Johnston on the final reach but could not quite get past, leaving the finishing positions the same, Jaggi first, Fauster second and Shreeve third. With a new found lust for victory, Fauster hit the start line for ladies race 5 with renewed venom. Outstripping Switzerlands finest to reach mark number one first. Shreeve could do little apart from watch the two leaders battle it out in front of her as she tried everything she could to make ground on them, but it was to no avail. Fauster held Jaggi off through the gybes and maintained her speed along the reaches to give zero opportunity for overtaking. Fauster took the chequered flag ahead of Jaggi in second, Shreeve in third and Herbert once again holding her own in fourth.  As the wind refused to cooperate from this point Fauster was able to win the womens division ahead of Jaggi and Shreeve and thus take the IFCA World Campionship title. For the women it is all over for another year in Slalom, as there are no further PWA events on the womens tour. Karin Jaggis impressive career chalks up yet another title, but the impressive array of challengers pushing her this year has undoubtedly opened up the possibilities for the future. Verena Fausters performance in Turkey has been impressive and Allison Shreeve is an ever-present threat. Another name to watch out for is Sarah Herbert, who has definitely got the top 3 girls looking back nervously over their shoulders. In the mens competition Finian Maynard has delivered a sizeable challenge to Albeaus dominance by winning here in Turkey meaning that the 2006 PWA Slalom title will now not be decided until the final Slalom event at the Colgate World Cup Sylt. However, to stand a chance of beating Albeau, Maynard must win the Sylt event outright and hope that Albeau finishes outside of the top 8, a tall order at the best of times. (source: PWA) posted by editors at 8/10/2006 05:03:00 PM |
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