SLALOM X RETURN OF THE FIN

Slalom X made a scintillating debut at the Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup with Pozo Izquierdo dishing up the most hardcore racing conditions seen in recent years. The world's best racers' mettle was truly tested and we hear from a selection of them about their thoughts on this new format.

- Pierre Mortefon, Matteo Iachino, Maciek Rutkowski, Jordy Vonk, Scotty Stallman, Sarah-Quita Offringa, Jenna Gibson & Marion Mortefon

PIERRE MORTEFON - 1ST - RACING MASTER CLASS

The racing was not easy as Slalom X was a new format that both the PWA and the racers had to get used to. The jumps and different elements were changing the tactics you normally have in slalom. It is good to have a bit of change and make new things in the racing, but I preferred it at the end when we had a normal slalom course. That was great... you could play with your tactics and go faster around the course. When you had an element in the middle of the legs you needed to slow down to pass them. A mix of everything was okay, but you need to keep some normal slalom I think. I loved the high wind racing though. They are the conditions that I like. I spend a lot of time racing at home in strong winds. What I like the most is that you don't really fight against the other racers in those conditions, you fight against yourself. If you manage to go well and really push, it feels great. What is super difficult is when you are on the edge of control, then when you manage to sheet-in and push, you are going super-fast. At the end of the event, it was some of the best racing I have ever done.

CHANGE OF EQUIPMENT