The 2007 Pegasus Airlines World Cup, Alacati, Turkey: Cesme provinces stylish coastal resort welcomed the PWA back after a joint sanctioned event with IFCA back in 2006. Now boasting full World Cup Status and impressive sponsors to boot, the stage was set for a fiesta of competition and music served parallel to the host nations Surf n Sound festival. The Womens event was always going to be billed as a mouth-watering match between Karin Jaggi (F2 / North) and the resurgent Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou). Jaggis last-gasp victory in Fuerteventura denied Ghibaudo the tour lead, but Ghibaudos lust for victory intensified after her performance in Sotavento to a totally new level. Ghibaudo and Jaggi were fairly equally matched for speed, but the clear difference was in the Frenchwomens starting skill.

If anyone thought Jaggi was letting someone else share the limelight they could not be further from the truth. This was evident as tension rose and Jaggi was forced to push the start, which resulted in two painful disqualifications. Ghibaudos superior timing earned her 9 victories from the 15 races completed against Jaggis uncharacteristically meager 3 bullets. The real excitement in womens slalom are the contenders of the future with many young and exciting names rising to the fore, plus a wealth of local talent in the fleet. It was also pleasure to see Verena Fauster (F2 / Gaastra) recover well from surgery early in the season to finish consistently high enough to claim third overall.

Turkish TV celebrity Cagla Kubat (Starboard / North) may well show at more PWA events after her impressive 4th place finish which was grafted through speed and cunning turning skill to entertain the excited local crowds. Ghibaudos victory here must have cut deep into Jaggi, but by the same token Jaggi will be amped-up and excited by the prospect of the 2008 season already. The Swiss multiple world champions second place here was enough to secure her the 2007 womens slalom title. She will lift that trophy at Sylt to mark an important leap forward for the womens sport.

Results:

1. Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou)
2. Karin Jaggi (F2 / North)
3. Verena Fauster (F2 / Gaastra)
4. Cagla Kubat (Starboard / North)
5. Marta Hlavaty

In the mens competition Antoine Albeau (Starboard / NeilPryde) touched down in Turkey with the 2007 title already secured. The French all-round master of windsurfing had the luxury of a stress-free end-of-season wind-down in Alacati, yet still managed to coast to victory ahead of two legends in the sport - Bjorn Dunkerbeck (T1 / North) and Kevin Pritchard (Starboard / MauiSails). (text: PWA/Mc Dowell, photos: PWA/Carter)