| Bjorn Dunkerbeck and Valerie Arrighetti blast the 2011 Ulsan PWA World Cup |
| Monday, 23 May 2011 09:36 |
|
Bjorn Dunkerbeck and Valerie Arrighetti have sailed to victory in the 2011 Ulsan PWA World Cup. In the fifth anniversary of the Korean windsurfing event, Dunkerbeck negotiated a dramatic route to victory in the men’s fleet, stealing the event title from under the nose of Antoine Albeau by just a fraction of a point. In the women’s fleet, Valerie Arrighetti commanded the race course to top the ranks after four eliminations, with an unequivocal two point lead over her next closest adversary, Lise Vidal, even defying a recent injury. Moving into the final reach, Josh Angulo had done enough not to worry too much about the ferocious antics behind him, as Buzianis and Dunkerbeck continued to spar for second, and effectively the event lead for Dunkerbeck. Despite Buzianis sailing the heat of his event, he couldn’t hold off the might of Dunkerbeck, and conceded second position to windsurfing’s most highly decorated man, and in turn what would ultimately be the overall event title. Behind them, Alberto Menegatti made an massive leap up the ranks by coming home in fourth in his first foray into winners finals whilst Pierre Mortefon continued his impressively consistent event run in fifth. "It’s good to win here, the fist year I came I was third, last year I was second and this year I’m first. I’ve won three world cups in a row now, Sylt last year, Vietnam, and now Korea. It’s looking good for 2011.", says Bjorn Dunkerbeck. The fourth and final women’s elimination saw stablemates Arrighetti and Offringa duel in a super close race final as they screamed down the final reach neck and neck, leaving the finish line crew the tough job of calling a winner. Following close scrutiny, Arrighetti was rewarded with the win, and what would become the event title, handing Offringa a well fought second position, with France’s Morane Demont clinching third. "Because of my injury I’ve had no time to test and tune the new sails, so it’s been really hard to come here and have to tune them during a competition. With everything that’s gone on with me over the past winter, this win really means a lot to me", says Valerie Arrighetti. The world tour now heads back to Europe for the slalom fleets’ third bout, at the 2011 Catalunya Costa Brava World Cup, from the 31st May - 5th June. Final Event Standings: Men 1st Bjorn Dunkerbeck(Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear) Final Event Standings: Women 1st Valerie Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic) |
