PWA World Cup Catalunya Costa Brava 2011 event preview

by PWA on 31 May 2011 PWA World Cup Catalunya Costa Brava is set to start on 31st May. The event will be the first of the European slalom venues and will be featuring the men’s racing fraternity do battle on the waters of Spain’s elegant Bay of Roses.

The fleet of 58 competitors will make their bids in the quest to claim the world cup ranking points and the €40,000 that is up for grabs.

This stop will be the third stop for the men’s slalom tour, in the picturesque town of Sant Pere Pescador which is 150km to the north east of Barcelona on Spain’s stunning Mediterranean coastline. Synonymous with thermal winds and idyllic white sand beaches, it comes as no surprise that the event continues to lure record numbers of competitors to spar at the Bay of Roses’ famed slalom arena.

Historically, the event has witnessed everything from super-steady thermal breezes, producing multiple back-to-back eliminations, to sporadic bouts of white-knuckle slalom carnage in the roaring Tramontana wind, which howls down from the Pyrenees mountain range intermittently throughout the summer months.

A six day slalom spectacular, featuring the cream of the PWA’s men’s racing division unleashed on Catalunya’s breath taking Golf De Roses for their third world cup showdown of the year.

Up for grabs is a slice of the events €40,000 prize purse, and the enviable accolade of being crowned the king of the Costa Brava. Competition’s opening day of racing scheduled to commence from 14.00 UTC+2) on the 31st May with the final day of competition being 5th June.

With two events in the bag, Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear) currently sits at the top of the men’s ranks after back-to-back wins in both Vietnam and Korea. An additional win at 2010’s final slalom fixture in Sylt points to a stellar run of form from windsurfing’s most iconic athlete.

In the wings and angling for his sixth slalom world title, Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) will be aiming to put an end to Dunkerbeck’s impeccable score sheet. Victory from Dunkerbeck in last year’s Costa Brava World Cup, and a winning streak that’s showing no sign of abating, have Albeau uncharacteristically entering this event as the underdog.

On form and charging like never before, Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun / Dakine) poses a major threat to the vice like grip the Dunkerbeck-Albeau axis have over the top ranks. Following a move from Cape Verde to Boston and a positive shift in his personal life, Angulo’s got fire in his belly and the skills to deliver if he can dial into the consistency he enjoyed in Korea.

A surprise candidate emerging from outside the top ten is France’s Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North). Fourth place in Korea, including an out and out elimination victory has cast no doubt over the ability of this up and coming slalom talent.

At just 21 years old he may not have the experience of his peers, but with nothing to lose and proven race winning performance, he’s certainly not to be ruled out then the green flag goes up.

Also in the mix is the usual assortment of slalom’s a-listers: Steve Allen (Starboard / Severne), Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic), Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / North) and Finian Maynard (RRD), who relentlessly continue their assault on the hallowed podium steps.

As the countdown approaches zero hour, all that’s left to do is sit back, relax and watch in awe as slalom’s illuminati light up the Spanish coastline in the seminal 2011 Catalunya Costa Brava PWA World Cup.

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