A perfect four firsts from four races gave Antoine Albeau a decisive slalom victory at the 2018 PWA Fuerteventura Grand Slam. Antoine’s track record in Sotavento’s choppy waters is phenomenal, winning eleven out of the last twelve years, a unique record from the twenty-four-time world champion! John Carter went round the pits to ask his rivals and the big man himself what gives him the edge over his peers at this legendary location!
MATTEO IACHINO
Somehow Albeau has won so many times in Fuerteventura. As I have said before, I think the difference of speed between the rest of the sailors these days is less. He was amazing as usual but the rest of us made many mistakes. So I guess that was the real difference. On the first day Questel crashed in front of me and I had to avoid him. I stopped and Albeau overtook. In the second final I went over early in the final with two other guys. There were only five guys in the final which made it much easier for Antoine. When he builds confidence like that he is hard to stop. For a sportsman this is the best thing that can happen. Everything comes easier. You are free with your mind and the pressure is off. When I had two bad results, I could not afford to take too many chances so settled for seconds in the final two rounds. Our mistakes made it easier for him this year. I actually think I have seen him sail better here! He did not even have to do his best. I heard he didn’t even get his hair wet in the four rounds! We let him have it. The fight through the year has been amazing. I was happy to win in Portugal in strong winds. I have never won a strong wind event against him before. I am happy with second after my mistakes on the first day. It was the best I could do and sets us up for a showdown in Sylt!
TATY FRANS
Denne historien er fra ISSUE 380 - OCTOBER 2018-utgaven av Windsurf.
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Denne historien er fra ISSUE 380 - OCTOBER 2018-utgaven av Windsurf.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
‘NO VAPOUR TRAILS TO SCAR THE SKY' *
Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!