Tiberias PWA World Cup Tag 5

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Der Wind kam am letzten Tag des PWA World Cups 2021 in Tiberias etwas später auf, aber kurz nach 15 Uhr waren die Rennen vorbei. Was ein actionreicher Tag zu werden versprach, an dem Titel und Podiumsplätze auf dem Spiel standen, erwies sich als etwas enttäuschend, da die Top 3 des Slaloms der Damen und des Foils und des Slaloms der Herren den Tag so beendeten, wie er begonnen hatte. Foil Heading into the final day, Marion Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) and Helle Oppedal (NOR | Fanatic / Duotone), were the only two women left in contentions for the Women’s Foil event title, bun the end though it reached an anti-climatic end as Oppedal, for the first time this week, failed to qualify for the Winners’ Final, meaning that Mortefon would be crowned champion, no matter what happened in Elimination 4, with the discard coming into play.  Mortefon has been incredibly consistent all week - not finishing outside the top 3 (1 victory and two, thirds) - until today when she still finished 4th, so she thoroughly deserves to earn her first Foil victory.  Oppedal, may be disappointed for now, having not being able to capitalise on a golden opportunity to seal her first event win at just 19-years-old, but you can be sure that she will have plenty more chances in the future. Coming into the final day, Oppedal had won the last two races and a top two result in Elimination 4 would’ve guaranteed her the event title - however it wasn’t to be on this occasion. The young Norwegian was in the qualifying positions for much of the semifinals, but couldn’t quite hold on - just missing out in 5th. This week still represents an amazing result for her and there is now a new face firmly on the scene as she walks away with a superb second place. Blanca Alabau (Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil), also missed out on a place in the last Winners’ Final of the week, but she held on to the final place on the podium, to claim her first event top 3 on the world tour.  Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) signed off the foil contest by claiming her first bullet in the discipline, but only after an heroic effort to deny Alice Read (Fanatic / Duotone) her maiden victory on the tour. Offringa was miles back, but slowly reeled in Read, resulting in a photo finish, but the Aruban just got the nod to rise from 9th to 4th on the final day. Read, who has been struggling with an ear infection all week, also finished with aplomb as the young Brit backed up her solid second yesterday with another today, but she must be bitterly disappointed to just miss out on her first elimination victory, which looked to be well and truly hers with two gybes to go. Read finishes the event in 6th, just behind Sara Wennekes Slalom Just as in the Foil, the Women’s Slalom also proved somewhat of an anticlimax with second and third-placed - Marion Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone) & Delphine Cousin Questel (FMX Racing / S2Maui) both jumping the gun in Elimination 7 to all but gift Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) the victory. However, even with the event victory in the bag, Offringa showed the heart of a lion to come from miles back, once again, to deny another girl their maiden bullet on the world tour. This time it was Tuesday-Lou Judd (Phantom / Phantom Sails), who would succumb to Offringa in the dying metres. However, once you look at the result across the board, it starts to make more sense why Offringa pushed so hard, for a seemingly pointless victory, given she had already won the event. The 29-year-old is never one to be outdone and by winning the 7th elimination, she too walks away from the event boasting a perfect counting score of 3.5 points - matching a certain Nicolas Goyard’s (Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) record this week. With Mortefon and Cousin Questel both going over the line early the top 3 remained unchanged from the start of the day with Mortefon claiming second and reigning world champion - Cousin Questel - 3rd. Elsewhere, Sarah Jackson (Fanatic / Duotone) and Sara Wennekes both earn their best results to date - finishing 4th and 5th respectively.  Men’s  Slalom With the event victory already secured for - Nicolas Goyard - enjoyed a stress free, victory lap, final day. The 25-year-old has been a cut above all week and deservedly walks away with the event victory and with it the world title lead. The final day was all about the fight for the podium positions with the 2nd-6th place sailors still fighting for the prestigious top 3. However, that fizzled out too with Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) and William Huppert (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) both locking in their second and third places from the overnight rankings. Mortefon had been extremely consistent in the opening three days without ever really catching the eye. However, the reigning Slalom World Champion finished the event extremely strongly. Having won Elimination 6 on the fin, the 31-year-old capped off a great performance by claiming a dominant victory on the Foil in Elimination 7 to finish 6.6 points ahead of Huppert. Huppert, had to survive a few nervy moments on the final day after dropping his opening gybe in the Winners’ Final of Elimination 7 when well placed, but thankfully for him, Maciek Rutkowski (FMX Racing / Challenger Sails) was unable to win the elimination, so the 26-year-olds 7th place proved more than good enough to earn him a thoroughly deserved first podium on the world tour. Huppert has sailed amazingly all week - only missing out on two Winners’ Finals - and never finishing outside of the top 16 and he can now enjoy all of his hard work training over the last 18 months.  Maciek Rutkowski walks away with an excellent 4th place, but the Pole may feel a little bit disappointed with that as the only sailor to qualify for all 7 Winners’ Finals. Eventually, Rutkowski missed out on the podium by just 2 points, which he could’ve easily been made up for if not for being wiped out by a savage gust in Elimination 3 when just metres from the finish line and looking set for third place. And then on Day 4 the Pole was taken down at the first mark in the Winners’ Final of Elimination 6, when in second place. However, it still represents an excellent start to the season with the best consistency he has ever showed..  The biggest mover of the day is - Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) - who rises from 13th to 5th after the Frenchman’s DND (Disqualified Non Deductible) from Elimination 2 was rescinded by the Management Board on the grounds of COVID-19 meaning there are far less events, and the Frenchman offering to make a pubic apology. With the 25-time world champion being able to discard a 37 point last place, followed by finishing the event with a second-place, Albeau jumps into the top 5.  Like Rutkowski, Enrico Marotti (JP / NeilPryde), must be thinking about what could’ve been, but for a couple of costly errors. The Croat was comfortably cruising for the Winners’ Final of Elimination 7, but unexplainably wiped out whilst just metres from the last mark, whilst holding a comfortable lead. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the first time that has happened this week, and whilst he still finishes 6th, it may feel like a missed opportunity.  Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil) started the day in 6th, but completes the event in 7th place. The Italian gambled in the semifinals of Elimination 7 by taking a fin, which paid off on the opening reach as he broke into the lead, however, after being caught in a wind hold the vice-world champion was then overtaken by the rest of the fleet on Foils to end his podium chances. Multiple-time Youth World Champion - Basile Jacquin (FMX Racing / Point) - has been in the overall top 10 for the entire week, and despite a quarterfinal exit today, the 22-year-old deservedly walks away with the third top 10 performance of his career - 8th - which is a personal best so far.  The top ten is completed by Alexandre Cousin (FRA | Patrik / Phantom Sails / Chopper Fins / Phantom Foils) - 9th - and Jordy Vonk (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOil), who pips Nico Prien (Starboard / NeilPryde) to the final place in the top 10 by just 1 point.  Result 2021 Tiberias PWA World Cup - Women’s Slalom 1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Marion Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone)
3rd Delphine Cousin Questel (FRA | FMX Racing / S2Maui)
4th Sarah Jackson (GBR | Fanatic / Duotone)
5th Sara Wennekes Result 2021 Tiberias PWA World Cup - Women’s Foil 1st Marion Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
2nd Helle Oppedal (NOR | Fanatic / Duotone)
3rd Blanca Alabau (ESP | Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil)
4th Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Sara Wennekes (NED) Result 2021 Tiberias PWA World Cup - Men’s Slalom 1st Nicolas Goyard (FRA | Phantom Boards / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
2nd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone / Chopper Fins / LOKEFOIL)
3rd William Huppert (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
4th Maciek Rutkowski (POL | FMX Racing / Challenger Sails)
5th Antoine Albeau (FRA | JP / NeilPryde)
6th Enrico Marotti (CRO | JP / NeilPryde)
7th Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil)
8th Basile Jacquin (FRA | FMX Racing / Point-7)
9th Alexandre Cousin (FRA | Patrik / Phantom Sails / Chopper Fins / Phantom Foils)
10th Jordy Vonk (NED | Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)