National Slalom Championship – Andrea Ferin is the new champion

by Elena Giolai on 18 Oct 2017 After a truly fought and decided only with the last race championship, it is concluded on Garda Trentino at Circolo Surf Torbole, the National Slalom Championship, FIV recognized and last event of the Windsurf Grand Slam 2017, with the assignment of the Italian titles to Andrea Ferin (AV Marina Julia-Monfalcone) and Marta Maggetti (SV GDF-Fiamme Gialle, Cagliari).

It has really been a wonderful edition that will be remembered as the one with more wind in this last years: four elimination series for men and eight races for women are a really positive result for the Slalom, a discipline which is not so simple to organize and which needs at least 11 knots of wind and full speed starts.

Perfect balance in first positions, both among men and women so that the final results of the Championship have been decided by the last race. Andrea Ferin won the Italian title with 1,6 points ahead from the outgoing national champion Bruno Martini (CSTorbole) - and from Andrea Rosati (YC Anzio), both with two second and two third positions. The second step of the podium was for Bruno Martini who closed the last race with a best result against the direct opponent Andrea Rosati, who won the title of national Master category.

Interesting is the whole top ten with a lot of young athletes: excellent fifth place for Daniel Slijk, another rider of Circolo Surf Torbole team, followed by Francesco Scagliola, native of Raggio Calabria, first in the Youth category; seventh position for Massimiliano Loncrini and eighth for the Sardinian Mattia Onali. A more than good tenth place for Jacopo Renna (CSTorbole), a little bit in trouble for the strong wind on the last day of racing. All these younger athletes will sure be among the protagonists of the next 2018 IFCA Youth Slalom World Championships, scheduled on the first week of July in Torbole.

It was the very first time for Andrea Ferin, who after the Formula Windsurfing and Raceboard titles won in the last years, finally reaches also the Slalom title. ”It went well; we’ve all been playing it nicely. Although Martini and Rosati were more consistent, with today last races I knew I would absolutely have to make a first. After the first elimination where I finished in fourth position, I was honestly a little bit demoralized, but in the last elimination serie I managed the race as I wanted, keeping the first position, only being careful not to fall during the jibe. That’s how I earned the lead with fourth winners final race, ending with 5,4 points, against the seven one of Bruno Martini and Rosati, second and third respectively. After the twice second position of the last years, I am very happy this year to have been able to win the missing title!” - commented Ferin in the early afternoon on Sunday, just at the end of the Championship.

A very big show also for the women category with the expected competition between the two RS:X Olympic Class athletes, who wanted to give themselves a challenge on slalom boards. Since the first race, it was an hard-fought battle between the two athletes of Fiamme Gialle, Marta Maggetti and Flavia Tartaglini: with the last four finals on Sunday, Marta Maggetti from Cagliari won the title. She earned three first and one second position, which allowed her to overtake the Roman Tartaglini, ending the championship with 2,5 points of advantage. Third position instead, for the Sicilian Bruna Fared (CC Marsala).

Truly exciting awards ceremony for youngsters who were rewarded by the World Champion Matteo Iachino for their achievements during the National Youth Slalom Championship concluded in September after the three stages of Cagliari, Torbole and Crotone.

Armando Bronzetti, the Chairman of the Circolo Surf Torbole commented the event just ended: 'I am very satisfied: competitive races with strong wind across all the race course, especially in the last two mornings (never less than 16 knots). Athletes gave us a great show in water and the co-operation with the Conca d'Oro allowed us to have a second location available to athletes who were closer to the race course: it was a very positive experiment. This Championship was also useful as a general test for the next IFCA Youth and Masters Slalom World Championships, expected from 2 to 7 July 2018”.

Great satisfaction also for the President of AICW (Italian Association of Windsurf Classes) Carlo Cottafavi: after thanking all the organizing staff and the Race Committee leaded by Claudio Alessandrello, he says “The conclusion of four slalom elimination series was a great result. The organizers of the Circolo Surf Torbole always offer new innovations as the big led wall placed both in the club and in Conca d'Oro with the live beautiful images: this made the difference. It was a very interesting Championship because we finally started seeing a generational change: top riders of old school had to play with young windsurfers who even in difficult windy conditions demonstrated to keep up, as well as women who gave us an exciting competitive race we don’t see for some years.'