Select to expand quoteTaken from the PWA website:
Event Preview: Men's & Women's Slalom World Titles Set to be Decided Over Next 5 Days in Japan - Who Needs What to Win?
After a tough season it all boils down to the 2023 Fly! ANA Yokosuka, Miura Windsurf World Cup, which is set to decide the Men's and Women's Slalom world champions over the next 5 days with the event running between 10th-14th November. Tsukuihama Beach, Yokosuka City, is situated approximately 80km southwest of Japan's capital Tokyo. Yokosuka blends city life with the sea, while also being a Naval Port. Yokosuka occupies most of the Miura Peninsula and is bordered by the mouth of Tokyo Bay to the east and Sagami Bay on the west, which provides a beautiful backdrop. As Tsukuihama Beach is almost completely protected it can provide great flat water racing conditions. As well as its maritime connections Yokosuka is also famous for it's locally grown produce and there is even a tourist farm where you can pick your own strawberries, sweet potatoes or tangerines depending on the time of year.Women'sA Two Horse Race?Blanca Alabau (Starboard / Severne Sails) comes into Japan in search of securing a maiden Slalom world title and the Spaniard holds a healthy advantage at the top of the rankings. Alabau has enjoyed a fine season to date - finishing on the podium in each of the opening three events, including a first event win in Pozo in July earlier this year - which gives her a 200 point cushion over reigning world champion - Marion Mortefon (Duotone / Duotone Sails), who is her only challenger left standing heading into the decider. With this being the Women's fourth event - that means that a discard will come into play, so Alabau will finish on a minimum of 30,600 points no matter what happens here, which means Marion Mortefon or Justine Lemeteyer (FMX Racing / S2Maui / LOKEFOIL) must win the event to have any chance of snatching the title. World Title Race Connotations- In the event that there are less than 4 eliminations completed, Blanca Alabau will become Slalom world champion for the first time as a win with 3 or less eliminations is only worth 10,000 points.
- In the event that there are at least 4 eliminations - a top two finish would guarantee Alabau a maiden world title.
- In the event of at least 4 eliminations being completed - Marion Mortefon or Justine Lemeteyer must win the event and hope that Alabau finishes third or worse. In this instance, whoever out of Mortefon and Lemeteyer, would also finish the season on 30,600 points and the title would be decided on countbackMeanwhile, Helle Oppedal (Starboard / Severne Sails), who finished 4th overall in 2022, is set to make her first appearance of the season, while home hopes will be pinned on the likes of Fujiko Onishi (Future Fly / Point-7), Mio Anayama (FMX Racing / S2Maui), Ayako Suzuki (Tabou / GA Sails) and Yuki Sunaga (Loftsails).Men'sWinner Takes All?With just 100 points separating first to fourth in the Men's Slalom it looks like the winner of this year's world title will be whoever win's the decider here in Japan. Defending world champion - Maciek Rutkowski (FMX Racing / Challenger Sails) - holds the narrowest of leads at the top of the pack coming into Japan over Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails), who is looking to earn his first world title since 2016, having hit the crossbar so many times since then. Meanwhile, The top two will have no margin for error with both Pierre Mortefon (Duotone / Duotone Sails / Phantom Foils) and Johan S?e (FMX Racing / Point-7 / F4 Foils) breathing firmly down their necks and have an excellent shot at the title.In With a ChanceAmado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / Severne Sails) won the last event in Sylt, which gives him an outside shot of winning a first Slalom world title. However, the Bonairean currently trails Rutkowski and Iachino by 300 points, so in order to claim the title he would need to win the event, whilst hoping results elsewhere go his way. In simple terms; Rutkowski and Iachino must finish 4th or worse, while Mortefon and S?e must also finish 3rd or worse, while Vrieswijk must win the event. Just as in the women's division, there are plenty of sailors who will be looking to end the season on a high in Japan, such as; Michele Becker (Patrik / Patrik Sails / Patrik Foils), Bruno Martini (JP / NeilPryde), Nicolas Prien (JP / NeilPryde) and Alexandre Cousin (Patrik / Patrik Sails / Patrik Foils), who complete the top 10 heading into Japan. Elsewhere, Will McMillan (FMX Racing / Challenger Sails) is set to make his first appearance since winning the opening event in Italy, while defending event champion - Enrico Marotti (JP / NeilPryde) - will be absent from proceedings with the Croat and his girlfriend expecting their first baby - everyone from the PWA wishes you both well!Looking AheadThe forecast for the opening couple of days suggests that we will see a windy start to the event with moderate to strong south-southwest winds currently predicted for tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully once registration is completed we will see the first races of the event completed during the afternoon.
live ticker link below. prob best to go to the pwa website for all the details.
www.pwaworldtour.com/index.php?id=919
prob best to go to the pwa website below for all the details.
www.pwaworldtour.com/index.php?id=38&tx_pwaevent_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=343&cHash=fa398d029fb70b54b1b9d3c57168a894
i think qld is 1 hour ahead so 2pm in japan is 3pm here. could be wrong?
there is talk of gps tracking for races..... not sure what format that will be in. data or map in realtime but it sounds exciting.
Matteo Iachino is the most consistent, 4 finals reached. The other 4 title contenders all have 1 or more poor results.
Blanca Alabau looks likely to take the women's title as it stands.
The wind looks very gusty, sometimes not much at the 1st mark, so wisely they moved that.
The forecast for the next 2 days looks lighter, and more cross-offshore.
Short highlights.
The Japanese commentary has the gps trackers at the top of the screen.
?si=gmcOcljqCQ1EXyGq
Agree. Have really enjoyed the coverage in Japan.
good to hear from Patrik today too.
That could be it for the racing.
PWA Newbie Lina Erzen wins on a junior IQ Foil board, foil, and borrowed small foil. With 8m IQ sail and 6m as a 2nd sail. As Sarah Jackson said, she had no pressure coming into the event as it was a one-off. Blanca Alabu wins the world title.
Amado Vrieswijk wins the mens event. Johan Soe the title, level on points, but on previous results as he beat Matteo Iachino more times. Amado was just 100 points (1 place) behind them, and Machiek 1 place behind him. What a year.
Thats if no wind tomorrow.
If Amado ever learns to fly level more than two races in a row... OTOH, Soe tends to fly level as an arrow and it's awesome to watch.
Lina Erzen was shocking fast. I saw the board and Starboard graphics and thought: she's winning on a 10kg 11.5 kg Starlite board? Thanks, PhilUK, for confirming that. I'll also have to remember this someone complains about how their board weight is holding them back.
Patrik D. said what I've been thinking: the racing this year has been fantastic because in any race, any one of a dozen racers can be out front (and then spectacularly blow up). It's not just a parade behind the same handful.
Plenty of chat about how in foiling youngsters can get to the top so fast. Both Cedric Bordes and Sarah Jackson saying that the older sailors have to unlearn windsurfing techniques. Its also easier for youngsters to learn new things. I agree with that. Ben was talking about gybing on the foil, saying its not that hard. I think it is, gybing in 3D. At 61 and have been sailing 33 years. I did my 1st planing gybe after 3 months. Then Ricardo Campello comments in the UT livestream that he hasnt made a proper foiling gybe yet either. Wow, Im as good (bad) as Ricardo 
Exciting racing everyday. Good to see the different lines taken in foil racing when compared to fin racing. Some spectacular crashes making no single sailor guaranteed to win. Great drone and boat footage and great commentary as usual.
Difficult to overstate Lina's performance. Showing up at your first PWA event with 1 board/2 sails/1 (borrowed) wing, and then scoring 4 bullets in a row consistently outpacing the field including the future world champion... And she barely made top 10 in the iQ Youth Worlds!
Select to expand quotePhilUK said..
That could be it for the racing.
PWA Newbie Lina Erzen wins on a junior IQ Foil board, foil, and borrowed small foil. With 8m IQ sail and 6m as a 2nd sail. As Sarah Jackson said, she had no pressure coming into the event as it was a one-off. Blanca Alabu wins the world title.
Amado Vrieswijk wins the mens event. Johan Soe the title, level on points, but on previous results as he beat Matteo Iachino more times. Amado was just 100 points (1 place) behind them, and Machiek 1 place behind him. What a year.
Thats if no wind tomorrow.
The future is here. When a 20 years old wins the overall in a racing format that used to be dominated by 40-50 years olds, or a 18 years old woman shows up with a off-class board and wins two races you know that something good is happening.
Can you imagine something like this happening ten years ago? Entering a PWA event as a junior sailor with ... what? ... a Bic Techno? and winning? One board, two sails? Man I really missed the boat when it comes to foil!!!!!
Fins are dead at PWA/Olympic level, and a new generation of very young sailors are showing what foils can do!
Select to expand quotePhilUK said..
Plenty of chat about how in foiling youngsters can get to the top so fast. Both Cedric Bordes and Sarah Jackson saying that the older sailors have to unlearn windsurfing techniques. Its also easier for youngsters to learn new things. I agree with that. Ben was talking about gybing on the foil, saying its not that hard. I think it is, gybing in 3D. At 61 and have been sailing 33 years. I did my 1st planing gybe after 3 months. Then Ricardo Campello comments in the UT livestream that he hasnt made a proper foiling gybe yet either. Wow, Im as good (bad) as Ricardo
Interesting comment. In my case I think windfoiling has improved my windsurfing, especially gybing. Gybing on foil reinforces the importance of maintaining speed during the gybe.
Am I right in thinking Johan Soe has been disqualified and therefore Iachino takes the title. Amazing circumstances and leaves a bit of a smell
yes, we was disqualified. One of his sails (which was not used in Japan as P7 wrote on their facebook side) was out of it's registration sizes.
From pwa
Following equipment inspection of the top riders at the PWA Slalom Finals in Japan, Danish sailor Johan Soe, DEN-37, was unfortunately found to have been using a sail that had been modified from its original factory specification and that did not meet the registered specification for the sail, including allowances for all measurement tolerances.
As such, under the rules regarding production equipment on the PWA Slalom Tour, the protest committee had no choice but to disqualify Johan from the final event in Japan.
Whilst we sympathise with Johan to have lost the World Title under such circumstances, the rules are clear and the facts surrounding the modification of the sails, and the discrepancy between the registered specifications of the sails, and the sails Johan was using, are not in question.
The PWA takes the rules surrounding production equipment seriously and respects the efforts of the vast majority of brands and riders to adhere to the rules and compete fairly. As such, to ignore the use of equipment that had been physically modified and that did not meet the registered specification would have been unacceptable with respect to the fundamental principles of the rules.
Hi
This is a very bad situation from P7 and Andrea Cucchi, he was making changes to the sails during the year and that is forbiddin by the PWA Rules
So the brand / sailors got disqualified.
It is a shame that a brand does this behind the scenes things and ruined the deserved world title for Johan Soe!!
But rules are rules and you cant do anything to win trying to break the rules and cheating to win!!
It is a shame for the brand!! A lot of disrespect for everyone involved in the PWA
Similar situations have occurred in F1 and Moto GP and the teams and riders were disqualified and got a huge huge fine
Congrats for Iachino, Blanca, Severne and Starboard
Severne and Starboard made the double this year!!
Cheers
Yup. Not a good look at all. Felt real sorry for Johan. He looked gutted in the photos.
looks like Maciek drew for second and got 3rd on countback.
Hi
This is not the first time that P7 does this
As i remember Alberto Menegati was also disqualified in Sylt i think for the same reason, they changed the sails during the year.
Second time with same brand trying to break the rules 
What a shame!! Wining at all cost is not nice and honest!!
Gutted for Johan Soe. Also also board brand, FMX, foil brand F4, and P7 if it was a genuine mistake. But rules are rules, and if they arent seen to be followed then thats bad news for everyone, brands, sailors and us the watching public.
I dont like all these accusations of cheating, when the actual reason for the DSQ hasnt been made clear.
Following equipment inspection of the top riders at the PWA Slalom Finals in Japan, Danish sailor Johan Soe, DEN-37, was unfortunately found to have been using a sail that had been modified from its original factory specification and that did not meet the registered specification for the sail, including allowances for all measurement tolerances.
That could mean the sail was repaired and the repair took it out of spec. It could mean a sail was replaced with a new one after a write-off, and the new one wasnt the same as declared in some way. But if the new one is passed by the PWA scrutineer when they declare it, then there shouldnt be an issue. At the end of the season, they might be running low on stock for race items, they dont make 1000s.
On the Point-7 FB page, Wind Kuki stated one batten in a 7.8 was off specs. All the rest was in specs.
Wind Kuki seems to be Andrea Cucci, the owner.
The rules state battens can be modified. www.pwaworldtour.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Rule_changes.pdf
(c) Batten types and tension, mast type and tension, adjustment of camber inducers including sanding / filing and the addition of any spacers or other optional devices that are supplied as standard for the adjustment of battens, masts or camber inducers, shall be excluded from this rule and may be adjusted at the discretion of the sailor in question.
I think it is important that we have clarity on this.
edit Point 7 FB page www.facebook.com/point7windsurf
Select to expand quotemmilhazes said..
Hi
This is not the first time that P7 does this
As i remember Alberto Menegati was also disqualified in Sylt i think for the same reason, they changed the sails during the year.
Second time with same brand trying to break the rules What a shame!! Wining at all cost is not nice and honest!!
Calm down fanboy... Do you have all the details?
It's strange it wasn't picked up at registration, or earlier in the event....
Wait till he wins the world title and then the DSQ?
Select to expand quotewindsurftom said..
It's strange it wasn't picked up at registration, or earlier in the event....
Wait till he wins the world title and then the DSQ?
I think they also check at the end of the event to make sure nobody has sneaked in new undeclared kit. A few PWA sailors on FB said they check quite often on the kit during the event. But he didnt use the 7.8 during the event, so didnt check during the competition. Maybe.
Select to expand quotewindsurftom said..mmilhazes said..
Hi
This is not the first time that P7 does this
As i remember Alberto Menegati was also disqualified in Sylt i think for the same reason, they changed the sails during the year.
Second time with same brand trying to break the rules What a shame!! Wining at all cost is not nice and honest!!
Calm down fanboy... Do you have all the details?
It's strange it wasn't picked up at registration, or earlier in the event....
Wait till he wins the world title and then the DSQ?
I am not a fanboy.....i am just against people that try to bend or break the rules
Maybe the fanboy is you and don't see what happened.
The sail was changed and that is a fact and is against rules.
Wake up
Select to expand quotePhilUK said..
Gutted for Johan Soe. Also also board brand, FMX, foil brand F4, and P7 if it was a genuine mistake. But rules are rules, and if they arent seen to be followed then thats bad news for everyone, brands, sailors and us the watching public.
I dont like all these accusations of cheating, when the actual reason for the DSQ hasnt been made clear.
Following equipment inspection of the top riders at the PWA Slalom Finals in Japan, Danish sailor Johan Soe, DEN-37, was unfortunately found to have been using a sail that had been modified from its original factory specification and that did not meet the registered specification for the sail, including allowances for all measurement tolerances.
That could mean the sail was repaired and the repair took it out of spec. It could mean a sail was replaced with a new one after a write-off, and the new one wasnt the same as declared in some way. But if the new one is passed by the PWA scrutineer when they declare it, then there shouldnt be an issue. At the end of the season, they might be running low on stock for race items, they dont make 1000s.
On the Point-7 FB page, Wind Kuki stated one batten in a 7.8 was off specs. All the rest was in specs.
Wind Kuki seems to be Andrea Cucci, the owner.
The rules state battens can be modified. www.pwaworldtour.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Rule_changes.pdf
(c) Batten types and tension, mast type and tension, adjustment of camber inducers including sanding / filing and the addition of any spacers or other optional devices that are supplied as standard for the adjustment of battens, masts or camber inducers, shall be excluded from this rule and may be adjusted at the discretion of the sailor in question.
I think it is important that we have clarity on this.
edit Point 7 FB page www.facebook.com/point7windsurf
Hi Phil
Why do you say that was a batten that was changed?
From what i have been told that was not the problem, it was the sails dimensions that were off from production sail that was registered in the begining of the season
Also the PWA rules say you can change the battens so that is not a problem
Cheers
Select to expand quotemmilhazes said..
Hi Phil
Why do you say that was a batten that was changed?
From what i have been told that was not the problem, it was the sails dimensions that were off from production sail that was registered in the begining of the season
Also the PWA rules say you can change the battens so that is not a problem
Cheers
Why do I say it was the batten? Because Andrea Cucci said so on FB, and I said there battens can be changed.
"From what i have been told " - who told you? Or did you read that statement the PWA gave, which could be a sail was altered to alter its performance, repaired but was out of spec in a genuine mistake.
Select to expand quotePhilUK said..mmilhazes said..
Hi Phil
Why do you say that was a batten that was changed?
From what i have been told that was not the problem, it was the sails dimensions that were off from production sail that was registered in the begining of the season
Also the PWA rules say you can change the battens so that is not a problem
Cheers
Why do I say it was the batten? Because Andrea Cucci said so on FB, and I said there battens can be changed.
"From what i have been told " - who told you? Or did you read that statement the PWA gave, which could be a sail was altered to alter its performance, repaired but was out of spec in a genuine mistake.
Yes the battens can be changed so i don't know why Cucci said that, because that is not a reason to be DSQ
I was told by a PWA sailor that was at the event that the problem was the sail dimensions that where different from the original
All the riders have to inform the committee if the sail has had a big repair that could change the characteristics of the sail and that was never done, so i can assume it could be a mistake from the rider or the brand changed the sail during the year to improve performance and that's against the rules
Only Cucchi can tell why was the sails dimensions different....
Complete mixed bag today.
